Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Guide

How Arkansas Calculates Workers’ Comp Benefits

Arkansas calculates workers’ compensation benefits as a percentage of your average weekly wage (AWW) in the period immediately before your injury. Arkansas uses a 66.67% wage-replacement rate for temporary total disability (TTD), subject to a minimum and maximum weekly cap that the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission adjusts annually.

For 2026 injuries, the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission has set:

• Maximum weekly TTD rate: $1,059
• Minimum weekly TTD rate: $260

Arkansas operates a private insurance, no state fund model. The Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission administers the system and oversees benefit disputes. Arkansas’s workers’ comp statutes are codified in Arkansas Code Annotated Title 11, Chapter 9, with implementing rules in Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission Rule 099.00.

Important: - Arkansas has a relatively low maximum weekly benefit ($1,059 for 2026), reflecting the state’s lower wage base.

Weekly Benefit Formula

The Arkansas TTD formula is:

TTD weekly rate = min(max, max(min, 66.67% × AWW))

Where:

• AWW = average weekly wage calculated as the average of the year before the injury. Arkansas’s AWW calculation includes overtime, bonuses, and other compensation as defined in Arkansas Code Annotated Title 11, Chapter 9. If the worker was employed less than a full year, the AWW is calculated using the actual period of employment.
• min = the current minimum TTD rate ($260/week for 2026)
• max = the current maximum TTD rate ($1,059/week for 2026)

The 66.67% wage-replacement rate replaces roughly two-thirds to four-fifths of your pre-injury wage, depending on the state. Arkansas’s maximum of $1,059 reflects the state’s median wage base and overall cost of living.

Worked example (2026 injury, Little Rock worker)

A mid-wage worker in Little Rock earning $1,000/week is injured and cannot work:

• 66.67% × $1,000 = $666.70/week raw rate
• $666.70 is below the 2026 max of $1,059, and above the 2026 min of $260
• The worker receives $666.70/week in TTD benefits

A higher-earning worker at $2,500/week:

• 66.67% × $2,500 = $1,666.75/week raw rate
• $1,666.75 is above the 2026 max of $1,059
• The worker receives the capped $1,059/week in TTD

A lower-wage worker earning $400/week:

• 66.67% × $400 = $266.68/week raw rate
• $266.68 is below the 2026 min of $260
• The worker receives the floored $260/week in TTD (the minimum)

Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)

Arkansas uses the AMA Guides, 5th Edition to assign impairment ratings. The PPD weekly rate is the same 66.67% of AWW, capped at the same maximum as TTD. Total weeks payable are determined by the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission’s schedule of disability or, in some cases, by a percentage-based formula tied to the impairment rating.

For scheduled injuries (amputation, loss of use, total loss of function of a specific body part), Arkansas pays a fixed number of weeks of benefits at the PPD rate. For non-scheduled injuries (back, neck, internal organs, occupational disease), the duration of PPD depends on the impairment rating, age, occupation, and other factors assessed by the treating physician and reviewed by the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission.

Permanent Total Disability (PTD)

For workers who are permanently and totally disabled and unable to perform any kind of work, Arkansas pays PTD benefits at the same 66.67% of AWW (capped at the same maximum) for the duration of the disability. PTD is reserved for the most severe injuries — e.g., paralysis, severe brain injury, blindness, or loss of multiple limbs.

Max Weekly Benefit (2026)

Source: Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission, “Rate Schedule” or “Maximum/Minimum Compensation Rates” — verified at https://www.awcc.state.ar.us/ each year. Caps usually adjust annually based on the state’s average weekly wage.

For TPD (Temporary Partial Disability) the rate is 66.67% of the difference between your pre-injury AWW and your post-injury earnings, capped at the standard maximum. TPD typically continues for the duration of the disability.

Settlement Estimates by Injury Type

Settlement amounts in Arkansas depend on the type and severity of injury, the level of permanent impairment, the strength of medical evidence, and the specifics of the insurance carrier’s reserve. Below are rough ranges based on industry data and NCCI reports for 2025–2026.

These figures are illustrative — your actual settlement depends on the unique facts of your claim. Arkansas law, your impairment rating, and your pre-injury wage all play a role.

How to File a Workers’ Comp Claim in Arkansas

Arkansas has a structured process for filing a workers’ comp claim. Missing any step can delay benefits or result in denial. Here is the typical sequence:

1. Report the injury to your employer immediately. Arkansas law generally requires you to notify your employer within 30 days of the injury. In practice, report the same day if possible. Verbal notice is acceptable initially, but follow up in writing for your records.

2. Seek medical treatment from an authorized provider. Arkansas generally allows your employer to control the initial choice of treating physician through a panel of physicians or a managed care arrangement. For emergency treatment, you can go to the nearest emergency room.

3. Employer reports to the insurance carrier. Your employer has a short window (often 7 to 10 days) to report the injury to their workers’ comp insurance carrier. The carrier has 14 to 21 days to begin paying benefits or formally deny the claim.

4. File the formal claim. File the appropriate employee claim form with the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission (often called an Employee’s Claim for Compensation, Employee’s First Report of Injury, or similar). This triggers the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission’s tracking and dispute-resolution timelines.

5. If denied or disputed, request mediation or a hearing. The Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission generally requires mediation before a formal hearing for all disputed claims. If mediation does not resolve the dispute, you can request a hearing before an administrative law judge (ALJ).

6. Track all paperwork. Keep copies of: claim forms, all medical reports, pay stubs (pre and post injury), correspondence with the insurer, witness statements, and any other documentation. These will be essential if you dispute the claim.

7. Consult a Arkansas workers’ comp attorney if:

   • Your claim is denied
   • You have a permanent impairment rating
   • You are offered a settlement
   • Your employer is retaliating against you
   • You disagree with the impairment rating
   • You are approaching maximum medical improvement (MMI)

   Most Arkansas workers’ comp attorneys offer free consultations and work on contingency (typically 15–25% of settlement, subject to agency fee approval).

Frequently Asked Questions

How long do TTD benefits last in Arkansas?

TTD continues until you reach Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) — the point at which your condition is not expected to improve further with treatment — or until you return to work.

In Arkansas, TTD is generally capped at 104 weeks (2 years) for most non-catastrophic injuries. There is no hard time limit on TTD for catastrophic injuries (e.g., severe brain injury, spinal cord injury, severe burns, loss of multiple limbs). For permanent total disability (PTD), benefits continue for the duration of the disability, with no hard time limit in most cases.

Are Arkansas workers’ comp benefits taxable?

No. Workers’ compensation benefits in Arkansas are not subject to federal or Arkansas state income tax under Internal Revenue Code Section 104(a)(1). They also do not count as earned income for Social Security purposes. You will not receive a W-2 or 1099 for TTD/PPD payments, but structured settlements may have different tax treatment if you assign the future payments to a third party.

Can I be fired for filing a workers’ comp claim in Arkansas?

Ark. Code §11-9-1007 prohibits employers from discriminating or retaliating against an employee for filing a workers’ comp claim in good faith. If you are fired, demoted, harassed, or have hours cut after filing, you may have a separate workers’ comp retaliation claim with damages including reinstatement, back pay, lost benefits, and (in some cases) punitive damages.

The statute of limitations on a retaliation claim is typically 1 to 2 years from the retaliatory act — contact an employment attorney promptly if you suspect retaliation.

How do Arkansas workers’ comp settlements work?

Arkansas allows negotiated settlements, often called Compromise and Release (C&R) agreements, in many cases. A C&R is a lump-sum payment that closes your medical and income benefits for the injury. The carrier typically requires you to sign a release waiving future medical treatment for the injury.

Never sign a C&R without consulting an attorney — the first offer is rarely the best deal, especially for injuries requiring future medical care (back injuries, joint replacements, etc.). The Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission must approve all settlements, and an administrative law judge reviews the settlement to ensure it is in the worker’s interest.

For a more conservative option, Arkansas also allows settlements that leave medical benefits open while paying out the future income benefits portion in a lump sum. Discuss both options with an attorney.

What is the difference between TTD, TPD, PTD, and death benefits?

• TTD (Temporary Total Disability): Paid when you are completely unable to work for a temporary period. 66.67% of AWW, capped. Paid until MMI, generally subject to a 104-week cap.
• TPD (Temporary Partial Disability): Paid when you can do some work but earn less than pre-injury. 66.67% of (AWW - current earnings), capped. Paid for the duration of the disability.
• PPD (Permanent Partial Disability): Paid after MMI when you have a permanent partial disability. 66.67% of AWW, capped, paid for a fixed number of weeks based on the impairment rating and the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission’s schedule.
• PTD (Permanent Total Disability): Paid after MMI when you have a permanent total disability. 66.67% of AWW, capped, paid for the duration of the disability.
• Death benefits: Paid to dependents if a work injury causes death. Burial allowance up to $6,000 plus 66.67% of AWW to surviving spouse, until remarriage. Children share in the benefit until age 18 (or older if a full-time student).

What is the Arkansas workers’ comp appeals process?

If your claim is denied or you disagree with a benefit amount, the process is:

1. Mediation — informal dispute resolution (typically 30–60 days from request)
2. Hearing before an ALJ — formal hearing with testimony and evidence (typically 4–8 months from request)
3. Review by the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission — administrative review of the ALJ decision (typically 3–6 months)
4. Appeal to Arkansas Court of Appeals — final appeal (typically 12–18 months)

Most claims settle before the Arkansas Court of Appeals stage. The entire process from initial denial to final decision typically takes 12–24 months.

Sources

• Arkansas Code Annotated Title 11, Chapter 9 — Arkansas State Legislature — verified June 2026
• Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission Rule 099.00 — Arkansas Administrative Code — verified June 2026
• Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission — https://www.awcc.state.ar.us/ — verified June 2026
• AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 5th Edition
• U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Survey of Occupational Injuries and Illnesses (SOII) — Arkansas data series
• NCCI Workers’ Compensation Industry Report — Arkansas state profile

Disclaimer: This information is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Workers’ comp laws vary by state and individual circumstances. For advice specific to your situation, consult a licensed workers’ compensation attorney in Arkansas.