Kansas Workers’ Compensation Payout Data Report (2026)

The average workers’ compensation claim in Kansas costs $12,725 across all claim types, according to the NCCI Annual Statistical Bulletin 2026, Exhibit 11. That figure is 19.3% below the national average of $15,761. For lost-time claims specifically — the category that includes most serious injuries — the average jumps to $51,072. Permanent total disability claims average $2,066,797. These are not settlement projections; they are actuarial cost averages used by insurers to price risk and evaluate claims. Understanding them puts you on equal footing with the adjuster sitting across from you.

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Kansas Workers’ Comp Claim Cost Data (2026)

The table below presents average total costs per claim in Kansas, broken down by claim category. These figures are derived from NCCI’s closed-claim database, which aggregates data from carriers writing workers’ compensation insurance in NCCI-member states, including Kansas.

Claim Category	Average Total Cost per Claim
All claims (combined)	$12,725
Lost-time claims (all)	$51,072
Medical-only claims	$1,448
Temporary Total Disability (TTD)	$32,265
Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)	$67,577
Permanent Total Disability (PTD)	$2,066,797
Fatal claims	$300,241

Source: NCCI Annual Statistical Bulletin 2026, Exhibit 11. “Average total cost per case” includes indemnity payments, medical payments, and allocated loss adjustment expenses as recorded at claim closure.

Key takeaway: The $12,725 all-claims average is heavily weighted by high-volume, low-cost medical-only claims, which represent approximately 75–80% of all filed claims nationally (NCCI). If your claim involves lost time from work, the more relevant benchmark is $51,072 — and if your injury is permanent in any degree, the numbers escalate dramatically.

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How Kansas Compares to the National Average

Kansas claims cost 19.3% less than the national all-claims average of $15,761. Several factors contribute to this: Kansas has a relatively active agricultural and manufacturing workforce with established safety cultures at large employers, state benefit caps that limit indemnity exposure, and a dispute resolution system through the Kansas Division of Workers Compensation that tends toward negotiated settlements rather than prolonged litigation.

But averages mask the full picture. When you look at specific injury categories, Kansas injured workers face the same devastating physical and financial realities as workers anywhere in the country.

Kansas vs. National Average — Injury Type Comparison

The table below uses national benchmarks from the NSC Injury Facts 2024 (citing NCCI data) as comparators. Kansas-specific breakdowns by injury type are not published at the state level by NCCI; the national figures represent the best available benchmark for injury-type comparisons.

Injury / Claim Type	Kansas Average	National Benchmark	Difference
All claims (combined)	$12,725	$15,761	–19.3%
Lost-time claims	$51,072	$47,316*	+8.0%
Amputation	N/A (state)	$125,058	—
Head / CNS injuries	N/A (state)	$90,043	—
Motor vehicle accidents	N/A (state)	$91,433	—
Neck injuries	N/A (state)	$70,575	—
Multiple body parts	N/A (state)	$77,614	—
Leg injuries	N/A (state)	$61,977	—
Fractures / crush / dislocation	N/A (state)	$66,467	—
Arm / shoulder injuries	N/A (state)	$55,115	—
Burns	N/A (state)	$64,973	—
Falls / slips	N/A (state)	$54,499	—

Sources: NCCI Annual Statistical Bulletin 2026, Exhibit 11 (Kansas figures); NSC Injury Facts 2024 (national benchmarks). *The NSC national lost-time benchmark of $47,316 reflects a different population cut than the NCCI lost-time-only figure; both are cited here for transparency.

Analysis: The fact that Kansas lost-time claim costs run slightly above the national lost-time benchmark — despite an overall lower all-claims average — is significant. It suggests that once a Kansas worker’s injury is severe enough to result in lost work time, the medical and indemnity costs are on par with or slightly above national norms. The below-average all-claims figure is driven by cheaper medical-only claims, not by reduced severity in serious cases.

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Kansas Benefit Rate Schedule (2026)

Kansas workers’ compensation benefits are governed by the Kansas Workers Compensation Act, K.S.A. 44-501 et seq. Benefit rates are calculated as a percentage of the worker’s average weekly wage (AWW), subject to statutory maximums tied to the state average weekly wage (SAWW).

Important Note: The Kansas Division of Workers Compensation updates the maximum weekly benefit rate annually based on the state average weekly wage. As of the publication date of this report, readers should verify the current maximum at https://www.dol.ks.gov/wc, as the 2026 maximum had not been officially confirmed in all published sources at time of writing.

Benefit Type	Benefit Rate	Maximum Weekly Benefit	Minimum Weekly Benefit	Notes
Temporary Total Disability (TTD)	66.67% of AWW	Verify at KS DOL (tied to SAWW)	No statutory minimum specified	Paid during healing period; subject to waiting period
Temporary Partial Disability (TPD)	66.67% of difference between pre- and post-injury wage	Same maximum as TTD	—	Applies when worker returns at reduced wage/hours
Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) — Scheduled	Set by K.S.A. 44-510d schedule	Varies by body part	—	Specific body parts have set week amounts (e.g., 225 weeks for loss of arm)
Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) — General	66.67% of AWW × functional impairment %	Capped by statute	—	Non-scheduled injuries to spine, head, etc.
Permanent Total Disability (PTD)	66.67% of AWW	Verify at KS DOL	—	Lifetime benefits; subject to Social Security offset
Death Benefits	66.67% of AWW to eligible dependents	Verify at KS DOL	—	Plus burial expenses up to statutory cap
Waiting Period	—	—	—	Benefits begin after 7-day waiting period; retroactive if disability exceeds 3 weeks

Sources: K.S.A. 44-510b, 44-510c, 44-510d, 44-510e; Kansas Department of Labor, Division of Workers Compensation, https://www.dol.ks.gov/wc. Verify current maximum weekly rates directly with the Kansas DOL before using these figures in any legal or financial calculation.

The 7-day waiting period matters practically: if you miss only three days of work, you collect no indemnity benefits for those days. If your disability extends beyond three weeks, benefits become retroactive to day one of lost time — a provision that protects seriously injured workers.

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What These Numbers Mean for Your Claim

How to Use Average Cost Data When Evaluating a Settlement

When I got my settlement offer in 2019 — my second serious injury, this time a torn rotator cuff that required surgery — the insurance adjuster presented a number that felt substantial until I sat down and actually compared it against what the data said comparable claims were worth. The offer was roughly 40% below what NCCI data for my injury type suggested was average. I didn’t have this table in front of me then. You do.

Here’s how to use it:

Step 1: Identify your claim category. Are you a lost-time claim? Do you have permanent impairment? Locate your closest category in the tables above. The NCCI $51,072 lost-time average and $67,577 PPD average are your starting benchmarks — not ceilings, not floors, but the actuarial midpoint of real closed claims.

Step 2: Adjust for your specific facts. Averages include claims with minor soft-tissue injuries and claims involving spinal fusion. If your surgery was complex, your recovery extended, or your functional impairment rating is above average for your injury type, you are above-average in this dataset. A $67,577 PPD average means half of PPD claimants received more than that.

Step 3: Watch how insurers use this data against you. Insurance adjusters have access to the same NCCI data — and proprietary databases far more granular than anything publicly available. They will use average cost data to set reserves and cap settlement offers at or below the mean. The counter-move is understanding that averages include claims that settled early, claimants without attorneys, and claims where the full medical picture wasn’t established. Your claim, fully developed, may sit well above the average.

Step 4: Account for Kansas-specific factors. Kansas’s statute of limitations for workers’ comp claims is two years — two years from the date of the accident, or two years from the date of the last authorized medical treatment, whichever is later (K.S.A. 44-534). This is a hard deadline. A claim filed on day 731 is a dead claim.

Warning: Do not accept a settlement before you have reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) unless you fully understand the value of your future medical needs. In Kansas, a settlement that closes your medical benefits is permanent. Future surgery costs, pain management, and physical therapy all disappear with your signature.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average workers’ comp settlement in Kansas?

The NCCI Annual Statistical Bulletin 2026 reports an average total cost per claim in Kansas of $12,725 across all claim types, and $51,072 for lost-time claims specifically. However, “average cost per case” is an actuarial measure that includes insurer reserves, medical payments, and indemnity — it is not a settlement figure in the legal sense.

Settlements in Kansas workers’ compensation are formally called “lump sum settlements” under K.S.A. 44-521. The actual settlement amount an injured worker receives depends on multiple variables: the extent of permanent impairment, the worker’s pre-injury average weekly wage, the projected cost of future medical care, and whether liability for the injury is disputed. A worker with a 10% whole-body impairment rating earning the Kansas median wage will receive a fundamentally different settlement than one with a 40% rating or a spinal fusion. The $51,072 lost-time average is a reasonable anchor for evaluating offers on moderate-severity claims, but permanent total disability claims average $2,066,797 — reflecting the lifetime income replacement involved in catastrophic cases. Use the injury-type data in this report as a starting benchmark, then adjust for your specific impairment rating, wage, and medical cost projections.

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How long does a workers’ comp claim take in Kansas?

The timeline varies significantly by claim severity. Medical-only claims — which represent the majority of filed claims — are often resolved within weeks to a few months. Lost-time claims involving permanent impairment typically take longer because settlement cannot reasonably occur before the injured worker reaches Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI), which itself may take 12–24 months or more following a serious surgery.

In Kansas, once a claim is disputed, it proceeds through the Division of Workers Compensation’s administrative process. A preliminary hearing can be scheduled relatively quickly, but a full evidentiary hearing may be set 12–18 months out in contested cases. The full pipeline from injury to final settlement on a complex PPD or PTD claim commonly runs 2–4 years.

The statute of limitations creates an important deadline: under K.S.A. 44-534, a claim must be filed within two years of the accident or two years from the last authorized treatment. Workers who delay seeking formal legal protection risk losing their claim entirely. Filing a claim does not mean you are in litigation — it protects your rights while medical treatment continues.

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What factors affect my settlement amount in Kansas?

Settlement value in Kansas workers’ compensation is driven by a specific set of actuarial and legal variables:

1. Functional Impairment Rating. A physician — typically selected through a process involving both sides — assigns a percentage impairment rating under the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment. This rating directly determines PPD benefit calculations. A higher rating means higher benefits.

2. Average Weekly Wage (AWW). Benefits are calculated at 66.67% of your AWW. A worker earning $1,200/week receives higher weekly benefits — and a higher settlement multiple — than one earning $600/week, subject to the statutory maximum.

3. Scheduled vs. Non-Scheduled Injuries. Kansas K.S.A. 44-510d assigns specific week values to scheduled body parts (e.g., fingers, hands, arms, feet, legs, eyes). These are more predictable to calculate. Non-scheduled injuries to the back, neck, or head are calculated differently and are often higher in dispute.

4. Future Medical Costs. If significant future treatment is anticipated — additional surgeries, long-term pain management, durable medical equipment — these projected costs increase settlement value substantially.

5. Liability Disputes. Disputed claims — where the employer contests that the injury was work-related — typically settle at a discount relative to undisputed claims of equal severity, reflecting the litigation risk.

6. Attorney Representation. Studies consistently show represented claimants receive higher gross settlements, even after attorney fees (typically capped at 25% in Kansas under K.S.A. 44-536).

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How do I know if my settlement offer is fair?

Start with the benchmarks in this report, then stress-test the offer against your specific facts. The NCCI data gives you the actuarial midpoint — half of closed claims in your category paid more, half paid less. If your offer is materially below the relevant average for your injury type, that is not disqualifying, but it demands explanation.

Ask yourself four questions: (1) Have I reached Maximum Medical Improvement? Settling before MMI is established means you may be accepting a number before your full medical picture is known. (2) Does the settlement cover future medical costs? In Kansas, you can settle with or without closing future medical benefits — understand which you are signing. (3) Is the impairment rating being used accurate? Insurance-selected physicians have documented tendencies toward lower impairment ratings. You have the right to seek an Independent Medical Examination. (4) Is my AWW calculated correctly? Average weekly wage errors are common — particularly for workers with variable hours, overtime, or multiple jobs — and they compound through the entire benefit calculation.

If you cannot confidently answer all four questions, the offer’s fairness cannot be determined from the number alone. This is precisely why the data in this report is a starting point, not a final answer.

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Should I hire a workers’ comp attorney in Kansas?

For medical-only claims with no lost time and no permanent impairment, attorney representation may not be necessary. For any claim involving lost wages, surgery, permanent impairment, or a disputed injury, the data supports hiring an attorney.

In Kansas, workers’ compensation attorneys work on contingency — you pay no upfront fee. Attorney fees are capped by statute at 25% of the amount recovered (K.S.A. 44-536), and fees must be approved by the Workers Compensation Board. This means an attorney’s financial incentive is aligned with maximizing your recovery.

The practical case for representation: insurers have experienced adjusters, access to proprietary claim databases, and dedicated defense counsel. An unrepresented injured worker navigating a permanent impairment claim is at a structural disadvantage. Research on workers’ compensation outcomes consistently shows that represented claimants receive higher total recoveries on complex claims even after fees — because the gross settlement is larger, not because the math is different. My own experience confirmed this. The second time I hired an attorney for a workers’ comp claim, my net recovery after fees exceeded what I had been offered unrepresented by a significant margin. That is not universally true of every claim, but it is the dominant finding in the research. Consult with at least one workers’ comp attorney before making any final decision — initial consultations are universally free in this practice area.

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Data Sources and Methodology

Primary Sources

1. NCCI Annual Statistical Bulletin 2026, Exhibit 11
National Council on Compensation Insurance (NCCI), Annual Statistical Bulletin, 2026 Edition, Exhibit 11: “Average Cost Per Case by State and Injury Type.” NCCI collects data from insurance carriers writing workers’ compensation in the 38 states (plus D.C.) where it serves as the designated statistical agent, including Kansas. Exhibit 11 data reflects closed claims and includes indemnity payments, medical payments, and allocated loss adjustment expenses. Data typically reflects claims from a policy year 4–6 years prior to publication date, reflecting the time required for claims to close. Available to subscribers at ncci.com.

2. NSC Injury Facts 2024
National Safety Council, Injury Facts, 2024 Edition, Workers’ Compensation chapter (citing NCCI data). Used for national injury-type benchmarks not published at the state level. Available at injuryfacts.nsc.org.

3. Kansas Department of Labor, Division of Workers Compensation
Official regulatory source for Kansas benefit rates, statutes, and administrative procedures. https://www.dol.ks.gov/wc

4. Kansas Workers Compensation Act
K.S.A. 44-501 et seq., including K.S.A. 44-510b (TTD), 44-510c (PTD), 44-510d (PPD scheduled), 44-510e (PPD general), 44-521 (lump sum settlements), 44-534 (statute of limitations), 44-536 (attorney fees).

Methodology Note: What “Average Cost Per Case” Means — and Its Limits

NCCI’s “average cost per case” is an actuarial figure representing the mean total insurer expenditure on closed claims within a category. It includes medical payments and indemnity payments, but it does not capture non-economic damages (pain and suffering), which are not compensable in workers’ compensation in Kansas or any state. It also does not reflect third-party tort settlements that may accompany a workers’ comp claim (e.g., a product liability suit against equipment manufacturer).

Critically: averages include both represented and unrepresented claimants, disputed and undisputed claims, and claims that settled early and late. They are useful benchmarks for orientation — not precise valuations of individual claims. A specific claim with above-average impairment, above-average wage, complex future medical needs, and strong liability should be expected to exceed these averages. Use them as a floor for inquiry, not a ceiling for expectation.

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About This Report

WorkCompWiki.com was built by Shane Good, a former construction worker who was injured on the job three times and spent years researching the workers’ compensation system from the inside. This report is updated annually as new NCCI data becomes available. If you identify a data error or have a more current official source for Kansas maximum weekly rates, contact us through the site.

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This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Workers’ compensation law is highly fact-specific and varies by jurisdiction. The data presented here represents statistical averages and benchmarks, not valuations of any individual claim. Always consult a licensed Kansas workers’ compensation attorney for advice specific to your situation. Attorney-client relationships are not formed by reading this report.