Maine Workers' Compensation Settlement Calculator
Estimate Maine workers' comp — Maximum Weekly Compensation Rate, Waiting Period, Specific-Loss Schedule
Maine workers' compensation claims are governed by 39-A M.R.S. §211 (Maximum Weekly Compensation Rate): Max $1,561.40/wk (125% of state average weekly wage) for injuries on/after Jan 1, 2020 — one of the highest wage-replacement ceilings in New England. Of the 3 landmark Maine workers' compensation awards documented on this page, the largest is $1.2M (Permanent total incapacity — 800-week conclusive-presumption period at 2026 max rate; 2026).
🦞 MAINE: 125% SAWW Max Rate | 7-Day Waiting Period | 800-Wk PTD Presumption
Your Injury
Your Estimated Settlement
$6,000 — $6,000
Pain and suffering = $15,000 in medical bills × 0.0 severity multiplier. Your bills are already included in that figure, so they are not added again.
Workers' compensation is a no-fault system: your benefits are not reduced because you were partly or fully responsible for the accident.
Workers' compensation does not pay pain and suffering. Unlike a personal injury claim, it covers medical treatment and a portion of your lost wages only — so no pain-and-suffering amount is included above.
This figure does not include a permanent impairment award. If your injury leaves lasting limitations, most states add a separate payment based on a doctor's impairment rating and a statutory schedule.
If someone other than your employer caused the injury — a subcontractor, a driver, a defective machine — you may also have a separate personal injury claim against that party, and that claim can include pain and suffering.
Keep this estimate — it is gone when you close the tab.
Workers' Compensation Wage Benchmark — New York State claims only
Across New York State claims only, this benchmark is based on 5,586,588 real payments totaling $139.7B from official New York State workers' comp claims.
Average
$25K
Median
$20K
25th %ile
$13K
90th %ile
$44K
Source: New York State Workers' Compensation Board (via data.ny.gov). These figures come from New York State claims only and do not describe benefit levels in other states. Actual payouts may vary based on individual circumstances.
Editorially Reviewed — Content reviewed for accuracy using published legal research, government data, and verified court records. See our methodology
Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor
Maine Workers' Compensation Law
Maine workers' compensation benefits are governed by 39-A M.R.S. §211 (Maximum Weekly Compensation Rate): for injuries on or after January 1, 2020, the maximum is the greater of $441 or 125% of the state average weekly wage (SAWW) — one of the highest wage-replacement ceilings in New England. The Maine Workers' Compensation Board set the SAWW at $1,249.12 effective July 1, 2026, putting the 2026 maximum at $1,561.40/week. There is no separate statutory minimum weekly benefit — compensation is simply 2/3 of gross average weekly wage with no floor.
Total Incapacity and Specific-Loss Schedule (39-A M.R.S. §212): total incapacity benefits pay 2/3 of gross average weekly wage for injuries on or after January 1, 2013. Separately, scheduled losses are paid in fixed weeks regardless of proven wage loss — thumb 65 weeks, first finger 38, hand 215, arm 269, leg 215, foot 162, eye 162. Catastrophic injuries (total blindness in both eyes, loss of both hands, feet, legs, or arms, complete paralysis of multiple limbs) trigger an 800-week conclusive presumption of permanent total incapacity.
Partial Incapacity Duration Cap (39-A M.R.S. §213): partial incapacity pays 2/3 of the wage-loss difference, capped at 624 weeks for injuries on or after January 1, 2020 (520 weeks for 2013-2019 injuries). Workers whose whole-person impairment exceeds the Board's biennially adjusted threshold (18% for 2013-2019 injuries) and whose post-injury earnings remain 65% or less of pre-injury wages may petition to extend benefits past the durational cap.
Key Maine Workers' Compensation Statutes
Maine workers' compensation benefits operates under these critical legal rules:
39-A M.R.S. §211
Maximum Weekly Compensation RateStandard: Max $1,561.40/wk (125% of state average weekly wage) for injuries on/after Jan 1, 2020 — one of the highest wage-replacement ceilings in New England
Scope: Formula: greater of $441 (1993 nominal base, now obsolete) or 125% of the state average weekly wage (SAWW), adjusted every July 1. WCB set the SAWW at $1,249.12 effective July 1, 2026, putting the 2026 max at $1,561.40/wk. Earlier injury dates use lower multipliers: 100% SAWW (2013-2019 injuries), 90% SAWW (pre-2013). No separate statutory minimum weekly benefit — compensation is simply 2/3 of gross AWW with no floor.
39-A M.R.S. §212
Total Incapacity (TTD/PTD) + Specific-Loss ScheduleStandard: 2/3 of gross AWW for total incapacity (injuries 2013+); scheduled losses paid in fixed weeks regardless of proven wage loss
Scope: Specific-loss weeks under §212(3): thumb 65, first finger 38, second finger 33, third finger 22, fourth finger 16, hand 215, arm 269, great toe 33, other toe 11, foot 162, leg 215, eye 162. Catastrophic injuries — total blindness in both eyes, loss of both hands, feet, legs, or arms, complete paralysis of multiple limbs, or permanent loss of industrial use of both limbs — trigger an 800-week conclusive presumption of permanent total incapacity.
39-A M.R.S. §213
Partial Incapacity (PPD) Duration Cap + Impairment Escape HatchStandard: 2/3 of the wage-loss difference, capped at 624 weeks for injuries on/after Jan 1, 2020 (520 weeks for 2013-2019 injuries)
Scope: For 2013-2019 injuries, workers whose whole-person impairment exceeds 18% (Board's most recently confirmed threshold, adjusted biennially) and whose post-injury earnings remain 65% or less of pre-injury wages may petition to extend benefits past the 520-week cap. The 2020+ injury cap is 624 weeks with a similarly structured hardship-extension provision; the exact 2026 impairment percentage for that cohort has not been independently confirmed.
39-A M.R.S. §204
Waiting PeriodStandard: No compensation for the first 7 days of incapacity — longer than Washington's 3-day wait
Scope: Retroactive to day one if the incapacity continues beyond 14 days. Firefighters are exempt from the waiting period entirely and are compensated from the date incapacity begins.
39-A M.R.S. §104
Exclusive RemedyStandard: Workers' comp is the employee's sole remedy against an employer that has secured coverage — bars common-law and most statutory civil suits
Scope: Immunity extends to employees, supervisors, officers and directors, and — notably — to companies using temporary staffing agencies, as long as the staffing agency's coverage is in force. Exceptions: illegally employed minors (§408(2)) and design professionals for negligent on-site conduct (not negligent plan preparation). Third-party tort claims against non-employer defendants remain available alongside a WC claim.
39-A M.R.S. §301
Notice of Injury DeadlineStandard: 60 days to notify the employer for injuries on/after Jan 1, 2020
Scope: Deadline shortened over time: 90 days pre-2013, 30 days for 2013-2019 injuries, 60 days for 2020+ injuries. Notice must state the time, place, cause, and nature of the injury plus the worker's name and address. May be given to the employer, any corporate official, the designated accident reporter, a supervisor, or on-site medical personnel.
Recovery Structure
Medical treatment (typically unlimited), lost wages at 2/3 of gross average weekly wage subject to the state maximum, specific-loss (scheduled) awards for enumerated body-part losses, partial-incapacity awards for ongoing wage loss, vocational rehabilitation, and death/dependent benefits (2/3 of AWW for up to 500 weeks). No pain-and-suffering award under workers' comp — the trade-off for exclusive remedy. Claims may be resolved via lump-sum Compromise & Release under §352, but only after 6 months from the date of injury and with Board approval that the settlement is in the employee's best interest.
Key Maine Doctrines
Exclusive Remedy (39-A §104): workers' comp is the employee's sole remedy against an employer that has secured coverage — bars common-law and most statutory civil suits, and the immunity extends to companies that use temporary staffing agencies whose coverage is in force. Federal Preemption of Medical Marijuana Reimbursement: in Bourgoin v. Twin Rivers Paper Co., LLC, 2018 ME 77, the Law Court held the federal Controlled Substances Act preempts a Board order requiring an employer to reimburse an injured worker's medical marijuana costs, since compliance would require the employer to 'aid and abet' federally prohibited conduct.
Damage Structure + Caps
Medical benefits (typically full, no dollar cap), wage-replacement at 2/3 of AWW up to $1,561.40/week (2026, injuries 2020+), partial-incapacity benefits capped at 624 weeks unless the impairment/earnings escape hatch applies, specific-loss schedule payouts (65-269 weeks depending on body part), death benefits for up to 500 weeks to dependents.
Maine Workers' Compensation Benefit Examples
Maine does not publicly disclose case-by-case lump-sum settlement amounts — Compromise & Release approvals under §352 are confidential Board proceedings. The figures below are calculated directly from the current statutory rate and specific-loss schedule to illustrate benefit scale at the 2026 maximum:
| Amount | Year | Case / Injury |
|---|---|---|
| $336K | 2026 | Specific-loss schedule maximum — traumatic hand loss (215 wks at 2026 max rate) — Hand amputation, scheduled-loss award under §212(3) |
| $420K | 2026 | Specific-loss schedule maximum — traumatic arm loss (269 wks at 2026 max rate) — Arm amputation, scheduled-loss award under §212(3) |
| $1.2M | 2026 | Permanent total incapacity — 800-week conclusive-presumption period at 2026 max rate — Catastrophic injury (e.g., loss of both legs/arms, total blindness both eyes) under §212(1) |
Maine Workers' Compensation FAQs
What is the maximum weekly workers' comp benefit in Maine for 2026?
The Maine 2026 maximum is $1,561.40/week for injuries on or after January 1, 2020 (39-A M.R.S. §211) — 125% of the state average weekly wage (SAWW), which the Workers' Compensation Board set at $1,249.12 effective July 1, 2026. Your actual benefit is 2/3 of your gross average weekly wage, up to this cap. There is no statutory minimum weekly benefit.
How long do I have to report my Maine work injury?
For injuries on or after January 1, 2020, Maine requires notice to your employer within 60 days (39-A M.R.S. §301) — down from 90 days pre-2013 and 30 days for 2013-2019 injuries. Notice must include the time, place, cause, and nature of the injury plus your name and address, and can be given to your employer, a supervisor, the designated accident reporter, or on-site medical staff.
Can I sue my employer in Maine in addition to workers' comp?
Generally NO — 39-A M.R.S. §104 makes workers' comp the exclusive remedy against an employer that has secured coverage, and this immunity extends to businesses using temporary staffing agencies. Exceptions are narrow: illegally employed minors, and design professionals for negligent on-site conduct (not negligent plan preparation). Third-party claims against non-employer defendants — equipment manufacturers, subcontractors, drivers — can run parallel to a WC claim.
What is a lump-sum settlement (Compromise & Release) in Maine workers' comp?
Under 39-A M.R.S. §352, a lump-sum settlement resolves all or part of a claim for a one-time payment. It requires a petition filed at least six months after the injury date and Board approval — the Board must discuss the settlement's effect on the employee's rights, the purpose of the payment, post-injury earning capacity, and personal factors like age and dependents before approving. Settlements releasing future medical liability face additional scrutiny.
How is a permanent injury (specific loss) paid in Maine?
Maine pays certain permanent losses on a fixed schedule regardless of proven wage loss (39-A M.R.S. §212(3)): thumb 65 weeks, first finger 38 weeks, hand 215 weeks, arm 269 weeks, leg 215 weeks, foot 162 weeks, eye 162 weeks. Catastrophic injuries — total blindness in both eyes, loss of both hands, feet, arms, or legs, or complete paralysis of multiple limbs — trigger an 800-week conclusive presumption of permanent total incapacity.
Pending Maine Workers' Compensation Issues
Active legal developments (as of April 2026):
- Maine's max weekly rate is pegged to the state average weekly wage (SAWW) and adjusts every July 1; the $1,561.40/wk figure reflects the July 1, 2026 SAWW ($1,249.12) published by the Workers' Compensation Board and applies to injuries on/after Jan 1, 2020 — older injury dates use lower multipliers.
- A May 2026 Maine Law Court dispute over whether a Massachusetts staffing agency's client retained §104 exclusive-remedy immunity for a worker injured at a Maine jobsite was reported by trade press (WorkersCompensation.com, May 28, 2026); the full published opinion/citation has not been independently confirmed as of August 2026 — monitor for a formal decision that could confirm or narrow temp-staffing immunity.
- Landmark-verdict figures above are calculated directly from the §211 maximum rate and the §212(3) specific-loss/presumption schedule, not individually reported settlements — Maine does not publicly disclose case-by-case §352 lump-sum (Compromise & Release) settlement amounts, since those approvals are confidential Board proceedings.
- The whole-person-impairment percentage that unlocks extended partial-incapacity benefits beyond the durational cap is adjusted biennially by the Board; the August 2026 review confirmed 18% for 2013-2019 injuries but could not independently confirm the current 2026 threshold applicable to 2020+ injuries.
- Current operative status of Maine's historical Second Injury Fund and MEMIC's exact market-share role for 2026 has not been confirmed from reachable sources as of August 2026 — neither is referenced in the content below.
Informational only — consult a licensed attorney for case-specific advice.
Primary Sources
- legislature.maine.gov/statutes/39-A/title39-Asec211.html
- legislature.maine.gov/statutes/39-A/title39-Asec212.html
- legislature.maine.gov/statutes/39-A/title39-Asec213.html
- legislature.maine.gov/statutes/39-A/title39-Asec204.html
- legislature.maine.gov/statutes/39-A/title39-Asec104.html
- legislature.maine.gov/statutes/39-A/title39-Asec301.html
- legislature.maine.gov/statutes/39-A/title39-Asec215.html
- legislature.maine.gov/statutes/39-A/title39-Asec352.html
- www.maine.gov/wcb
- law.justia.com/cases/maine/supreme-court/2018/2018-me-77.html
Other State Workers' Compensation Calculators
Washington
L&I state fund + self-insure, PPD dollar-amount schedule, $2,303.31/wk equiv
California
SIBTF reform 2026, $1,764/wk max, QME + SB 636
New York
$1,281.50/wk max, LWEC non-schedule PPD, 2025 Protection in Workplace Act
Texas
Non-subscriber option, $1,271/wk, IBR
Illinois
Lifetime uncapped medical, $2,045.63/wk (2026)
Florida
$1,358/wk, 104-week TTD cap, narrow catastrophic definition
Michigan
PIWEC phantom wages, 80% after-tax AWW, $1,201/wk max 2026
New Jersey
Second Injury Fund, 400/450-wk caps, $1,199/wk max 2026
Ohio
BWC monopoly fund, Industrial Commission PTD, $1,281/wk
Pennsylvania
Act 111 (2017), 500-wk partial cap, $1,394/wk max 2026
Alabama
Max $1,219/wk TTD, but non-scheduled PPD (back injuries) capped at just $220/wk
Arizona
$6,131/mo max AMW (66⅔% TTD/PTD), PPD paid in months not weeks
Colorado
Competitive state fund, $1,464/wk max (91% SAWW), 4-day notice deadline
Connecticut
Max $1,716/wk (2026), 28-day contest deadline, SIF closed since 1995
Georgia
Exclusive remedy, $800/wk TTD cap, catastrophic designation unlocks lifetime benefits
Iowa
80% spendable earnings, $2,431/wk max, active Second Injury Fund
Indiana
$877/wk max (66⅔% AWW), 8-day wait, Second Injury Fund
Kentucky
Impairment-factor PPD formula, $1,277.99/wk max, coal black-lung claims
Louisiana
Second Injury Fund, SEB to 520wks, $903/wk max (Sept 2026)
Massachusetts
Opt-out exclusive remedy, $1,922/wk max rate, PPD paid in statewide-wage multiples
Maryland
Exclusive remedy, $1,537/wk max (2026), Uninsured Employers' Fund safety net
Minnesota
Private-carrier market, $1,536.84/wk max, PTSD presumption for first responders
Missouri
Strict-construction state, TTD/PTD capped 105% SAWW, PPD capped 55% SAWW
North Carolina
500-week TTD/PPD cap, $1,446/wk max (2026), 66 2/3% AWW
Oklahoma
TTD/PTD capped at $1,128.66/wk, opt-out struck down, Multiple Injury Trust Fund
Oregon
3-way market (SAIF+private+self-insure), $1,943/wk max, CDA keeps medical open
South Carolina
Exclusive remedy, $1,189.94/wk max (2026), 500-wk TTD cap, lifetime for TBI/spinal
Tennessee
$1,488.30/wk max (FY26-27), 15-day notice, PPD = rating × 450 wks, no jury trials
Virginia
500-week comp cap (PTD lifetime), $1,507/wk max, 66 2/3% AWW
Wisconsin
Dual-track cap: $1,375/wk TTD (110% SAWW) vs just $454/wk PPD; 6/12-yr SOL
Alaska
PPI = $273K × WPI%, TTD/PTD 80% of wage, max $1,627/wk (2026)
Arkansas
Max $953/wk (85% SAWW), odd-lot doctrine barred, 450-wk wage-loss cap
Washington DC
Max $1,852.07/wk (Jan 2025), 30-day notice, LHWCA-style weeks-based PPD schedule
Delaware
Max $962.72/wk (2026), 90-day notice, Medicare-based HCPS fee caps
Hawaii
66⅔% AWW, $1,240/wk max (2026), Special Compensation Fund after 104wks
Idaho
Max $1,021.50/wk (90% ASW), 500-week whole man, ISIF second-injury fund
Kansas
$905/wk max TTD/PTD, 415-wk PPD cap, SB 430 (2024) raised PTD cap $155K→$400K
Mississippi
Max $654.63/wk, 5-day wait, Second Injury Trust Fund
Montana
$1,192/wk max, 400-week PPD formula, 60-mo medical closure
North Dakota
Monopolistic state fund (WSI), $1,614/wk max, no private insurance or self-insurance
Nebraska
Max $1,166/wk (2026), Espinoza multi-member LOEC rule, exclusive remedy
New Hampshire
$2,309/wk cap (150% SAWW); Second Injury Fund; 3-yr claim filing deadline
New Mexico
100% SAWW cap, $1,146.66/wk max, $36/wk min since 1975
Nevada
Privatized market, monthly PPD annuity (0.6%/1% WPI), max $5,691.79/mo (FY27)
Rhode Island
62% AWW formula, $1,622/wk max, dedicated Workers' Compensation Court
South Dakota
No insurance mandate • $1,152/wk max (2026) • Subsequent Injury Fund repealed 1999
Utah
Max $1,376/wk (2026), 6-yr/12-yr filing window, narrow intentional-injury exception
Vermont
Max $1,914/wk (2026), 6-mo. filing deadline, whole-person PPD schedule
West Virginia
Deliberate-intent exception, $1,150.91/wk max, no punitive damages, privatized market
Wyoming
Monopolistic state fund, no private insurance; PTD capped at 80 months, not lifetime
Main Workers' Comp Calculator
Nationwide WC benefits overview