Utah Workers' Compensation Benefits and Weekly Rates (July 2026–June 2027)
General information, not legal advice. Read the full disclaimer.
Short answer: Utah workers' compensation pays medical benefits for life (as long as the treatment is related to the work injury and bills are submitted within one year), plus wage-replacement benefits that depend on the type of disability. For the period July 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027, the Utah Labor Commission reports a state average weekly wage of $1,376, so the maximum weekly benefits are: temporary total disability $1,376, permanent partial disability $917, and permanent total disability $1,169. Temporary benefits generally pay 66⅔% of your average weekly wage, subject to those maximums.
Who this guide is for
Utah workers with accepted (or pending) workers' compensation claims who want to understand what each benefit is, how it's calculated, and how long it lasts.
Medical benefits
Workers' compensation pays reasonable and necessary medical care to treat the injury or illness: doctor visits, hospital bills, medicine, prosthetic devices, and mileage reimbursement to travel for treatment. Per the Labor Commission, medical care is a lifetime benefit as long as it is necessary to treat the work injury and bills are submitted to the carrier or employer within one year. Prosthetics are paid on a "reasonable and necessary" basis, without the old maximums.
Temporary total disability (TTD)
Paid if you cannot do any work because of the injury, at 66⅔% of your average weekly wage, not more than 100% of the state average weekly wage — $1,376 for July 2026–June 2027. There's a minimum of $45 per week, plus $20 for a dependent spouse and $20 for each dependent child under 18 (up to four children), not to exceed your actual average weekly wage. Key rules:
- Waiting period: nothing is paid for the first three days unless the disability lasts more than 14 days, in which case the first three days are paid.
- Duration: a maximum of 312 weeks within 12 years of the injury.
- Ends when you return to work, reach medical stability, or are offered suitable light-duty work.
Temporary partial disability (TPD)
Paid when you can work but earn less because of the injury — for example, fewer hours or a lower-paying light-duty job: 66⅔% of the difference between your pre-injury and post-injury weekly wages, subject to the same maximum, plus dependent amounts. It is limited to 312 weeks and 12 years from the injury. The three-day waiting period doesn't apply to TPD.
Permanent partial disability (PPD)
Paid if the injury leaves a permanent impairment once you've reached medical stability, based on an impairment rating from an authorized physician (and, after maximum medical improvement, an independent medical evaluation). The rate is 66⅔% of your average weekly wage, up to $917 per week for July 2026–June 2027 (66⅔% of the state average), with a minimum of $45 plus dependent amounts. The number of weeks depends on your impairment rating. See Utah Workers' Compensation Impairment Ratings and Lump Sum Settlements.
Permanent total disability (PTD)
Paid if you are permanently unable to return to your former work or do other work reasonably available to you. During the initial 312 weeks the rate is 66⅔% of your average weekly wage, up to 85% of the state average weekly wage — $1,169 per week for 2026–27. After the initial 312 weeks the minimum weekly rate is 36% of the current state average weekly wage. For injuries on or after July 1, 1994, the carrier or self-insured employer pays PTD for life.
Death and burial benefits
If a work injury or illness causes a death, dependent benefits are paid at 66⅔% of the worker's average weekly wage when there are wholly dependent persons, with $20 added for a dependent spouse and for each dependent child up to $100 total, capped at 85% of the state average weekly wage ($1,169 for 2026–27) or the worker's own average weekly wage, whichever is less. They continue for 312 weeks, with the possibility of continuation after that subject to reductions and a dependency determination. The Labor Commission's guide says burial expenses in ordinary cases are paid up to $12,500.
A claim for death benefits is barred unless an application for hearing is filed within one year of the date of death (Utah Code § 34A-2-417(3)). See Utah Wrongful Death Claims for the interaction with third-party claims.
Taxes and garnishment
The Labor Commission states that workers' compensation disability payments are not taxable and cannot be garnished to pay debts, except for child support.
Things that can reduce or end disability benefits
Disability compensation can be reduced or terminated if the employee is terminated for: criminal conduct, violent conduct, violation of workplace health, safety, licensure, or nondiscrimination rules, or failing a drug or alcohol test. Medical benefits continue even if disability compensation ends.
Rates change every July 1
The figures above apply to July 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027. They're recalculated each year from the Department of Workforce Services' state average weekly wage. Use the benefit rate in effect on your date of injury when evaluating a claim, and confirm figures on the Labor Commission's current Quick Reference Guide.
Frequently asked questions
How much does workers' comp pay in Utah?
Generally two-thirds of your average weekly wage for temporary and partial benefits, subject to weekly maximums set each July (for 2026–27: $1,376 TTD, $917 PPD, $1,169 PTD).
Is there a waiting period?
Yes. Nothing is paid for the first three days unless the disability lasts more than 14 days, in which case those days are paid.
Are workers' comp benefits taxable?
The Labor Commission says disability payments are not taxable.
Do medical benefits expire?
Not as long as treatment is necessary and connected to the injury, and bills are submitted within one year.
What if I can't return to my old job?
You may be eligible for permanent partial or total disability benefits, and for rehabilitation services through the Utah State Office of Rehabilitation.