Arizona is one of few states where workers compensation is a constitutional right. Use the 2026 Arizona calculator to estimate TTD and PPD under ICA rules, with A.R.S. Title 23 rates and schedules.
This site is operated by Mustafa Bilgic, an individual based in Adiyaman, Turkiye. The operator is NOT a licensed attorney, NOT a law firm, and does NOT provide legal advice. Always verify current law and consult a licensed attorney in Arizona.
Address: Malazgirt No: 225, 02000 Adiyaman, Turkiye
Email: [email protected]
| Category | Arizona (AZ) Rule |
|---|---|
| System type | Exclusive remedy, no-fault. WC is a constitutional right under Arizona Constitution Article 18, Section 8. |
| TTD benefit rate | 66 2/3% of average monthly wage (converted to weekly). Set annually by ICA based on SAWW. Verify current max at azica.gov. |
| Waiting period | 7 days. If disability exceeds 14 days, the first 7 days are paid retroactively. |
| PPD method | Scheduled losses per A.R.S. 23-1044. Unscheduled injuries use loss of earning capacity. |
| Notice to employer | 1 year. |
| Claim filing deadline | 1 year from injury (A.R.S. 23-1061). |
| Doctor choice | Employer may direct first visit; employee can request change through ICA. |
| Settlement type | Full and Final Settlement or Agreement to Compensate, approved by ICA. |
| Unique rule | Constitutional protection: Arizona enshrines workers comp in its state constitution (Art. 18, Sec. 8), providing structural legal protection that cannot be removed by ordinary legislation. |
Arizona's workers compensation system carries a distinction most states lack: it is anchored in the state constitution. Article 18, Section 8 of the Arizona Constitution explicitly directs the Legislature to enact a workers compensation law and declares that the right of action to recover damages for injuries shall never be abrogated. This constitutional mandate means that Arizona's workers comp system cannot be dismantled by a simple legislative vote, and courts have used the provision to strike down laws that excessively restrict injured workers' rights.
The practical effect is that Arizona courts review workers comp statutes against a constitutional floor. If a statute reduces benefits below what the constitution contemplates as adequate, it can be challenged. This has produced a system that, while not the most generous in dollar terms, provides structural legal protection for the existence of benefits that few other states match.
Arizona also operates under a no-fault exclusive remedy framework: the injured worker does not need to prove the employer was negligent, and in exchange, the worker cannot sue the employer in tort. Exceptions exist for intentional misconduct or where a third party caused the injury.
Temporary total disability benefits in Arizona are paid at 66 2/3 percent of the injured worker's average monthly wage, converted to a weekly payment. Arizona calculates compensation on a monthly basis, which is unusual among states. The ICA sets the maximum average monthly wage each year based on the statewide average weekly wage.
Benefits begin on the 8th day after the injury. If the disability lasts more than 14 consecutive days, the first 7 waiting-period days are paid retroactively. Medical treatment is covered from the first day. TTD continues until the worker reaches maximum medical improvement, returns to work, or is released by the treating physician. There is no statutory cap on the duration of TTD in Arizona, unlike some states that limit it to 104 or 156 weeks.
If the worker can perform some work at reduced capacity, temporary partial disability benefits may apply, calculated as 66 2/3 percent of the difference between the pre-injury and post-injury earning capacity.
Arizona handles permanent partial disability differently depending on whether the injury falls under the statutory schedule or is an unscheduled injury. Scheduled injuries cover specific body parts listed in A.R.S. Section 23-1044, such as hands, arms, feet, legs, eyes, and hearing. For scheduled injuries, benefits are paid for a fixed number of months at the TTD rate.
Unscheduled injuries, which include back injuries, internal organ injuries, and head injuries, are compensated based on the worker's loss of earning capacity. This is determined by considering the worker's age, education, work history, transferable skills, and the medical impairment rating. The final PPD award for unscheduled injuries is not tied purely to the impairment percentage. Instead, the ICA evaluates the practical impact on the worker's ability to earn wages.
This earning-capacity approach means two workers with the same medical impairment can receive different PPD awards. A 50-year-old manual laborer with a 20 percent back impairment will typically receive a larger PPD award than a 30-year-old office worker with the same impairment.
Arizona settlements typically take two forms: a Full and Final Settlement or an Agreement to Compensate. A Full and Final closes all future rights to benefits, including future medical care. An Agreement to Compensate may leave medical benefits open. Both require ICA approval.
The ICA reviews settlement terms to ensure the injured worker's interests are protected and can reject settlements it considers inadequate. Disputed claims go to an ICA Administrative Law Judge for a hearing. The ALJ issues an award, which either party can appeal to the ICA Review Board within 30 days. Further appeal goes to the Arizona Court of Appeals.
TTD: 66 2/3% of average monthly wage (converted to weekly)
Yes. Arizona Constitution Article 18, Section 8 directs the Legislature to maintain a workers compensation system. This constitutional mandate provides structural protection that cannot be eliminated by ordinary legislation.
TTD is paid at 66 2/3 percent of average monthly wage, converted to weekly. Benefits begin on the 8th day. If disability exceeds 14 days, the first 7 days are paid retroactively.
Scheduled injuries cover specific body parts in A.R.S. 23-1044 with fixed benefit periods. Unscheduled injuries are compensated based on loss of earning capacity, considering age, education, and work history.
You must file within 1 year of injury under A.R.S. 23-1061.
Your employer may require an initial visit with their chosen physician. After that, you may request a change through the ICA.
Arizona does not impose a specific statutory cap on TTD weeks, unlike states that limit TTD to 104 or 156 weeks. TTD continues until MMI or return to work.
A Full and Final closes all future rights to workers comp benefits, including future medical care. It requires ICA approval.
No. SettlementCalculator.xyz is operated by Mustafa Bilgic, a non-attorney individual operator. Consult a licensed attorney in Arizona for legal advice.