Vermont Workers' Compensation Settlement Calculator
Estimate Vermont workers' comp — Maximum & Minimum Weekly Rate, Temporary Total Disability, PPD — Whole-Person Schedule
Vermont workers' compensation claims are governed by 21 V.S.A. § 601 / DOL Form 28 (FY2027, eff. 7/1/2026) (Maximum & Minimum Weekly Compensation Rate): Max $1,914/wk; Min $638/wk (not including dependent benefits) — effective July 1, 2026. Of the 3 landmark Vermont workers' compensation awards documented on this page, the largest is $230K (Bonanno v. Verizon Business Network Systems, 2014 VT 24; 2014).
🍁 VERMONT: Maximum & Minimum Weekly Compensation Rate | Temporary Total Disability | PPD — Whole-Person Schedule
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
Vermont Workers' Compensation Law
Vermont workers' compensation benefits is governed by 21 V.S.A. § 601 / DOL Form 28 (FY2027, eff. 7/1/2026) (Maximum & Minimum Weekly Compensation Rate): Max $1,914/wk; Min $638/wk (not including dependent benefits) — effective July 1, 2026. Max = 150% of the statewide 'average compensation,' min = 50%, both rounded to the next higher dollar under § 601; recalculated every July 1. For dates of injury July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026, the rate was Max $1,836/wk, Min $612/wk.
Temporary Total Disability (TTD) (21 V.S.A. § 642): 66⅔% (2/3) of average weekly wage, subject to the state max/min. 3-day waiting period (day of injury excluded); the first 3 days are paid retroactively if disability continues 7 or more consecutive days. Add $20/week per dependent child under 21 (through June 30, 2028), with total wage-replacement capped at 90% of AWW before any cost-of-living adjustment.
Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) — Whole-Person Schedule (21 V.S.A. § 648): 66⅔% of AWW × (impairment percentage × 330 weeks). UNLIKE most states — Vermont rates impairment using the AMA Guides, 5th Edition, whole-person method rather than a body-part-by-body-part weeks chart. Spine injuries: 60% whole-person impairment equals the full 330 weeks.
Key Vermont Workers' Compensation Statutes
Vermont workers' compensation benefits operates under these critical legal rules:
21 V.S.A. § 601 / DOL Form 28 (FY2027, eff. 7/1/2026)
Maximum & Minimum Weekly Compensation RateStandard: Max $1,914/wk; Min $638/wk (not including dependent benefits) — effective July 1, 2026
Scope: Max = 150% of the statewide 'average compensation,' min = 50%, both rounded to the next higher dollar (§601). Rate recalculated every July 1. For dates of injury 7/1/2025–6/30/2026, the rate was Max $1,836/wk, Min $612/wk.
21 V.S.A. § 642
Temporary Total Disability (TTD)Standard: 66⅔% (2/3) of average weekly wage, subject to the state max/min
Scope: 3-day waiting period (day of injury excluded); first 3 days paid retroactively if disability continues 7+ consecutive days. Add $20/wk per dependent child under 21 (through 6/30/2028, then $10/wk). Total wage-replacement incl. dependent benefit capped at 90% of AWW before any COLA. Rate re-set every July 1 after 26 weeks of benefits to track statewide AWW changes.
21 V.S.A. §§ 644-645
Permanent Total Disability (PTD)Standard: 66⅔% of AWW, minimum 330 weeks — extends indefinitely (lifetime) if no reasonable prospect of regular employment
Scope: §644 lists 6 injuries deemed automatically total & permanent: loss of sight in both eyes; loss of both feet at/above the ankle; loss of both hands at/above the wrist; loss of one hand + one foot; spinal paralysis of both legs/arms or one of each; severe traumatic brain injury causing permanent cognitive/physical/psychiatric disability. Other cases assessed via age/experience/training/education/mental-capacity test.
21 V.S.A. § 648
Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) — Whole-Person ScheduleStandard: 66⅔% of AWW × (impairment % × 330 weeks)
Scope: Impairment rated under the AMA Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment, 5th Edition, whole-person method — UNLIKE most states, Vermont has no separate weeks-per-body-part chart. Spine injuries: 60% whole-person impairment equals the full 330 weeks.
21 V.S.A. § 622 (with §§ 618(b), 624)
Exclusive RemedyStandard: WC benefits are the injured worker's exclusive remedy against the employer — bars all other common-law claims
Scope: Two statutory exceptions: (1) §618(b) — if the employer illegally failed to carry required WC insurance, the employee may elect a civil suit instead, with the burden shifted to the employer to prove the injury did NOT result from its negligence; (2) §624 — dual-liability/settlement procedure where a third party is also at fault (third-party tort claims run alongside WC, subject to the insurer's subrogation lien).
21 V.S.A. § 656
Notice & Claim Filing DeadlineStandard: Claim for compensation must be filed within 6 months (180 days) of the injury (or death)
Scope: Notice to employer required 'as soon as practicable' after injury. Formal written claim is waived while the employer voluntarily pays benefits; if payments are later denied, the claimant then has 6 months from the denial date to file. 'Date of injury' for discovery-rule purposes = when the injury and its work-relationship become 'reasonably discoverable and apparent.'
Recovery Structure
Medical treatment (typically unlimited, including assistive devices and home/auto modifications), lost wages at 66⅔% of average weekly wage (AWW) subject to the state max/min, permanent impairment awards under the whole-person schedule, vocational rehabilitation, death/survivor benefits and burial expenses. No pain and suffering under WC (trade-off of exclusive remedy).
Key Vermont Doctrines
Permanent Total Disability (PTD): 66⅔% of AWW, minimum 330 weeks — extends indefinitely (lifetime) if there is no reasonable prospect of regular employment. Exclusive Remedy: WC benefits are the injured worker's exclusive remedy against the employer — bars all other common-law claims, except (1) uninsured-employer civil suits (§618(b): employee may sue civilly, burden shifts to employer to disprove negligence), and (2) third-party tort claims running alongside WC (§624).
Damage Structure + Caps
Medical benefits (usually full), lost-wage replacement (66⅔% of AWW, capped between $638/wk min and $1,914/wk max as of July 1, 2026), permanent disability award (impairment % × 330 weeks), death benefits.
Vermont Workers' Compensation Verdicts + Averages
Recent Vermont workers' compensation benefits outcomes:
| Amount | Year | Case / Injury |
|---|---|---|
| $230K | 2014 | Bonanno v. Verizon Business Network Systems, 2014 VT 24 — Spinal cord injury (multiple work-related motor-vehicle accidents) requiring surgery, DVT and postphlebitic syndrome — lump-sum settlement dispute over employer's TTD credit |
| $207K | 1997 | Close v. Superior Excavating Co., 96-072 (VT Sup. Ct. 1997) — Traumatic brain injury (Oct. 1988 workplace accident; seizures + severe cognitive/memory impairment) — 6-year spousal in-home attendant-care award |
| $20K | 2008 | Smith v. Desautels, op2006-146 (VT Sup. Ct. 2008) — Crushed hand (falling acetylene tank), 17% whole-person impairment — PPD award ($296/wk x 68.85 wks) against an uninsured employer under §618(b) |
Vermont Workers' Compensation FAQs
What is the maximum weekly workers' comp benefit in Vermont for 2026?
For dates of injury on or after July 1, 2026, Vermont's maximum weekly compensation rate is $1,914 (minimum $638), per Department of Labor Form 28 for Fiscal Year 2027 (21 V.S.A. § 601). This cap applies to TTD, TPD, PTD and PPD benefits alike. Your actual weekly benefit = 66⅔% of your average weekly wage (AWW), up to this maximum. The rate resets every July 1, so injuries dated July 1, 2025–June 30, 2026 use the prior rate: $1,836 max / $612 min.
How long do I have to report my Vermont work injury?
Notice to your employer is required 'as soon as practicable' after the injury, and your formal claim for compensation must be filed within 6 months (180 days) of the injury date — or within 6 months of death, in a fatal case (21 V.S.A. § 656). If your employer voluntarily pays benefits, the 6-month claim deadline is tolled while payments continue; if payments are later denied, you then have 6 months from the denial date to file.
Can I sue my employer in Vermont in addition to workers' comp?
Generally NO — workers' comp is the 'exclusive remedy' in Vermont (21 V.S.A. § 622), meaning WC is your only claim against your employer for a work injury. Two exceptions: (1) if your employer illegally failed to carry required WC insurance, you may elect to sue in civil court instead, and the employer then bears the burden of proving the injury did NOT result from its negligence (§618(b)); (2) claims against a negligent third party (e.g., equipment maker, subcontractor, other driver) can proceed alongside your WC claim (§624), subject to the insurer's subrogation lien.
What is a lump-sum settlement in Vermont workers' comp?
Vermont allows periodic (weekly) or lump-sum payment of compensation under 21 V.S.A. § 652, typically resolving permanent disability and sometimes future medical exposure in a single payment. Lump sums require Commissioner approval and, for larger or long-term awards, a trustee appointed under § 654 to manage payment. As in Bonanno v. Verizon (2014 VT 24), disputes often arise over how much of an employer's prior TTD payments may be credited against the lump sum.
Should I accept the first settlement offer in my Vermont WC claim?
Almost never without review. Initial offers often undervalue permanent impairment (rated under the AMA Guides 5th Edition, whole-person method) and future medical needs. Before accepting, get an independent medical evaluation and consult a Vermont workers' comp attorney — fees are regulated and typically contingent, and the Department of Labor must approve any settlement agreement before it becomes final.
Pending Vermont Workers' Compensation Issues
Active legal developments (as of April 2026):
- FY2027 rate ($1,914 max / $638 min) is effective July 1, 2026 per DOL Form 28; the rate for July 2027 onward has not yet been published — verify at labor.vermont.gov before relying on it after 6/30/2027.
- Dependent-child benefit drops from $20/wk to $10/wk effective July 1, 2028 (21 V.S.A. §642) — a scheduled future statutory change, not yet in effect.
- Sabbeth Law (VT WC/PI firm) publicly advertises a $2.4M workers' compensation result and a $1.325M workers' comp/third-party result on its homepage, but neither year nor injury type is disclosed — too thin to verify as a landmark verdict, excluded.
- No monopolistic state fund and no employer opt-out in Vermont — coverage is via private insurance or DOL-approved self-insurance (21 V.S.A. §687 et seq.); unlike WA/OH/ND/WY there is no state-run WC fund. No standalone Second Injury Fund statute was located in Title 21 Ch. 9.
Informational only — consult a licensed attorney for case-specific advice.
Primary Sources
- law.justia.com/codes/vermont/title-21/chapter-9
- labor.vermont.gov/sites/labor/files/documents/LABOR/WC/Form28FY27.pdf
- labor.vermont.gov/document/min-max-compensation-rates-annual-change
- law.justia.com/cases/vermont/supreme-court/2014/2012-261.html
- law.justia.com/cases/vermont/supreme-court/2008/op2006-146.html
- law.justia.com/cases/vermont/supreme-court/1997/96-072op.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
Maine
Max $1,561/wk (125% of SAWW), 7-day wait, no statutory minimum, exclusive remedy
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
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