The Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) announces that the 2018 minimum and maximum temporary total disability (TTD) rates will increase on January 1, 2018. The minimum TTD rate will increase from $175.88 to $182.29, and the maximum TTD rate will increase from $1,172.57 to $1215.27 per week.
Labor Code section 4453(a)(10) requires the rate for TTD to be increased by an amount equal to the percentage increase in the State Average Weekly Wage (SAWW) as compared to the prior year. The SAWW is defined as the average weekly wage paid to employees covered by unemployment insurance as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor for California for the 12 months ending March 31 in the year preceding the injury. In the 12 months ending March 31, 2017, the SAWW increased from $1,164.51 to $1,206.92—an increase of 3.642 percent.
Under Labor Code section 4659(c), workers with a date of injury on or after January 1, 2003 who are receiving life pension (LP) or permanent total disability (PTD) benefits are also entitled to have their weekly LP or PTD rate adjusted based on the SAWW.
The first quarter 2016 SAWW figures may be verified at the U.S. Department of Labor website as can the first quarter 2017 SAWW figures.