California workers comp settlements are shaped by a system unlike any other state: the Permanent Disability Rating Schedule (PDRS), Medical Provider Networks, Qualified Medical Evaluators, and apportionment rules all affect your final number. This calculator uses DWC-published 2026 rates to estimate your TTD and PD benefits under California Labor Code.
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. All rates below are sourced from the California Division of Workers' Compensation (DWC) benefit tables and California Labor Code. Verify current rates at dir.ca.gov/dwc.
| Item | California rule | Authority |
|---|---|---|
| TTD rate | 2/3 of AWW | Labor Code 4653 |
| Max TTD (2026 injuries) | $1,764.11/week | DWC benefit table, 1/1/2026 |
| Min TTD (2026 injuries) | $264.61/week | DWC benefit table, 1/1/2026 |
| TTD duration cap | 104 weeks within 5 years of injury (most injuries) | Labor Code 4656 |
| PD weekly rate (2026) | $160 min / $290 max | DWC benefit table, 1/1/2026 |
| SJDB voucher (2026) | $6,000 | DWC, Labor Code 4658.7 |
| Waiting period | 3 calendar days | Labor Code 4652 |
| Retroactive threshold | 14 days (first 3 days then also paid) | Labor Code 4652 |
| Statute of limitations | 1 year from injury date | Labor Code 5405 |
| System | Exclusive remedy, no-fault | Labor Code 3600 |
| PD rating method | PDRS (not fixed body-part schedule) | Labor Code 4660 |
| Doctor choice | MPN controlled by employer; predesignation allowed | Labor Code 4600-4616 |
| Settlement types | Compromise and Release (C&R) or Stipulated Award | Labor Code 5001-5003 |
| Approval authority | Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB) judge | Labor Code 5001 |
California pays temporary total disability (TTD) at two-thirds of your pre-injury average weekly wage (AWW), subject to a minimum and maximum that the DWC adjusts annually. For injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2026, the maximum TTD rate is $1,764.11 per week and the minimum is $264.61 per week, based on the DWC benefit tables published at dir.ca.gov. These figures come from the maximum insurable AWW of $2,646.17 for 2026.
TTD benefits generally last up to 104 compensable weeks within a five-year period from the date of injury (Labor Code 4656). Some injuries, such as severe burns, hepatitis B or C, amputations, and certain eye injuries, qualify for up to 240 weeks of TTD. If you are still temporarily disabled beyond 104 weeks, your benefits stop unless you qualify for permanent total disability.
During the first three calendar days of disability, no TTD is paid (the "waiting period" under Labor Code 4652). If your disability extends beyond 14 days, the insurer must retroactively pay for those first three days as well.
Unlike most states that use a fixed schedule of weeks per body part, California rates permanent disability through the Permanent Disability Rating Schedule (PDRS). The process works in stages:
First, a physician evaluates your whole-person impairment using the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment (5th Edition for most current claims). This produces a whole-person impairment percentage.
Second, California adjusts that rating for your specific occupation and age using occupation and age adjustment factors built into the PDRS. A 15% whole-person impairment means different things for a construction laborer and a desk worker, and California's system accounts for this.
Third, the adjusted PD rating is converted into a number of weeks of PD benefits. The weekly PD rate for 2026 injuries ranges from $160 to $290, depending on the PD percentage (Labor Code 4658). Higher PD ratings receive the higher weekly rate. The total PD benefit equals the weekly rate multiplied by the number of weeks for your PD percentage.
California is one of the few states that actively apportions permanent disability to pre-existing conditions. Under Labor Code sections 4663 and 4664, the evaluating physician must determine what percentage of your current PD rating is caused by the industrial injury versus pre-existing conditions, prior injuries, or natural degeneration. If a QME determines that 30% of your back impairment existed before the work injury, the PD award is reduced by that 30%.
Apportionment is one of the most contested issues in California workers comp settlements. A Compromise and Release agreement often reflects a negotiated apportionment figure rather than the strict percentage a QME assigned. This is a significant reason why California settlements can differ dramatically from what the raw PD rating suggests.
When an injured worker receives a permanent work restriction and the employer does not offer modified or alternative work within 60 days, the worker qualifies for a Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit voucher. For injuries on or after January 1, 2026, this voucher is worth $6,000 and can be used at state-approved schools for retraining, skill enhancement, or licensing programs. The SJDB is non-transferable, non-assignable, and cannot be converted to cash (Labor Code 4658.7).
Uses DWC 2026 rates. Educational estimate only.
When the injured worker and insurer disagree about the PD rating, causation, or treatment, the dispute goes to a medical evaluator. If the parties cannot agree on a physician, the DWC Medical Unit assigns a panel of three Qualified Medical Evaluators (QMEs). The injured worker picks one from the panel. If the parties agree on a physician, that doctor is an Agreed Medical Evaluator (AME).
The distinction matters because AME reports are given strong presumptive weight by WCAB judges. A QME report can be rebutted more easily. The choice of evaluator often determines the PD rating, which drives the settlement value. Represented workers generally have more leverage to negotiate an AME, while unrepresented workers use the QME panel process.
California offers two settlement paths. A Compromise and Release (C&R) closes the entire claim, including future medical care, in exchange for a lump sum. The injured worker takes responsibility for future medical costs. A Stipulated Award keeps the right to future medical treatment open while fixing the PD percentage and weekly rate. The insurer continues paying medical bills for the life of the claim.
Most settlements in California are C&R agreements because insurers prefer finality and injured workers often prefer cash. However, workers with ongoing treatment needs (such as spinal hardware, chronic pain management, or future surgeries) should carefully evaluate whether a C&R amount adequately covers future medical exposure before signing. All settlements require WCAB judge approval.
For injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2026, the maximum temporary disability rate is $1,764.11 per week, based on two-thirds of the maximum average weekly wage of $2,646.17, as published by the California DWC.
California uses the Permanent Disability Rating Schedule (PDRS) instead of a fixed body-part schedule. A physician rates your whole-person impairment using AMA Guides, then California adjusts for occupation, age, and diminished future earning capacity. The resulting PD percentage determines weeks and weekly rate of PD benefits.
The Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit is a $6,000 voucher for retraining or skill enhancement, available when an injured worker has permanent restrictions and the employer does not offer modified or alternative work within 60 days of the PD award. This amount applies to injuries on or after January 1, 2026, per CA DWC.
Apportionment under Labor Code sections 4663 and 4664 allows the employer or insurer to reduce the PD award by the portion attributable to pre-existing conditions, prior injuries, or natural aging. California is one of the few states that actively apportions permanent disability, which can significantly reduce the settlement amount.
A Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME) is a state-certified physician assigned through the DWC Medical Unit when the parties cannot agree on an evaluator. An Agreed Medical Evaluator (AME) is a physician chosen by mutual agreement. The AME report typically carries more weight because both sides selected the evaluator.
Under California Labor Code section 5405, you must file a claim within one year of the date of injury or, for cumulative trauma, within one year of the date you knew or should have known the injury was work-related. Report the injury to your employer within 30 days.
A Medical Provider Network (MPN) is a group of physicians selected by the employer or insurer. Your initial treatment must generally be within the MPN. After the first visit, you may switch to another MPN physician. You may also predesignate your personal physician before an injury if your employer has an MPN, under Labor Code section 4600.
No. This page is operated by Mustafa Bilgic, a non-attorney individual operator. It provides educational research only and is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Consult a licensed California workers compensation attorney for advice specific to your claim.