Workers' Comp: Lump Sum vs. Weekly Benefits

See what your remaining weekly workers' comp benefits are worth today as a lump sum, then compare any settlement offer against that number — and see how many weeks (or years) of benefits that offer actually represents.

This tool does not know your state's benefit caps or how many weeks you're entitled to. Workers' comp weekly minimums, maximums, and permanent-disability schedules are set by each state, change annually, and depend on your body part and impairment rating. Enter your state's current figures below — confirm them with your claims adjuster, your state workers' comp board, or an attorney. This is an educational estimate, not legal or financial advice.

Average weekly wage — AWW ($)

Compensation rate (% of AWW)

Most states use two-thirds (66.67%) of AWW for temporary or permanent disability benefits — confirm your state's exact rule.

State weekly minimum ($)

State weekly maximum ($)

Check your state workers' comp board for the current statutory min/max — these are updated yearly and vary widely by state.

Weeks of benefit entitlement remaining

Confirm this with your adjuster or attorney — it depends on your disability rating, body part, and state's schedule.

Discount rate for today's value

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Your weekly compensation rate

Total remaining benefits (undiscounted)

Present value of full benefit stream

Compare a settlement offer

Enter a lump-sum offer to see how it stacks up against the present value of your full weekly benefit stream above.

Lump-sum offer amount ($)

Compared to the present value of your benefits

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This offer represents about

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How this calculator works

Your weekly compensation rate is your average weekly wage multiplied by your state's benefit percentage (typically two-thirds), clamped between your state's statutory weekly minimum and maximum:

CompRate = clamp(AWW × %, min, max)

The remaining weekly payments are then valued as an ordinary annuity — the same present-value math used across these tools — to get what the full stream is worth today: PV = CompRate × [1 − (1+r)⁻ⁿ] ÷ r, where r is the weekly discount rate and n is weeks remaining. A lump-sum offer is compared against that PV, and converted back into an equivalent number of weeks using the same formula solved in reverse.

Frequently asked questions

Why would I take a lump sum for less than the present value of my weekly benefits? You usually shouldn't, unless you have a specific need for cash now, expect your case to end early anyway, or your state applies a mandated discount for early buyouts. This tool exists to help you see exactly how much less an offer is, in plain dollars and equivalent time.

Where do I find my state's weekly minimum and maximum? Search "[your state] workers compensation maximum weekly benefit [current year]" or check your state's Department of Labor / workers' comp board website — these figures are published and updated annually.