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Labor and Workforce Development

The Maximum and Minimum Compensation Rate for Workers' Compensation Benefits

NOTE:   The maximum and minimum compensation rate for workers' compensation benefits are set each year on October 1st by the Commissioner of the Division of Unemployment Assistance, as defined in MGL c. 152, § 1, as follows:

(10) "Maximum weekly compensation rate", one hundred per cent of the average weekly wage in the commonwealth according to the calculation on or next prior to the date of injury by the deputy director of the division of employment and training."

(11) "Minimum weekly compensation rate", twenty per cent of the average weekly wage in the commonwealth according to the calculation on or next prior to the date of injury by the deputy director of the division of employment and training."

As of 12/24/91, § 34 benefits run for up to 156 weeks.

 Date Of Change  Maximum Rate  Minimum Rate 
 10/1/09 $ 1,094.70 $ 218.94
 10/1/08 $ 1,093.27 $ 218.65
 10/1/07 $ 1,043.54 $ 208.71
 10/1/06 $ 1,000.43 $ 200.09
 10/1/05 $    958.58 $ 191.72
 10/1/04 $    918.78 $ 183.76
 10/1/03 $    884.46 $ 176.89
 10/1/02 $    882.57 $ 176.51
 10/1/01 $    890.94 $ 178.18
 10/1/00 $    830.89 $ 166.18
 10/1/99 $    749.69 $ 149.94
 10/1/98 $    699.91 $ 139.98
 10/1/97 $    665.55 $ 133.11
 10/1/96 $    631.03 $ 126.21
 10/1/95 $    604.03 $ 120.81
 10/1/94 $    585.66 $ 117.13
 10/1/93 $    565.94 $ 108.79
 10/1/92 $    543.30 $ 108.66
   

Between 1/1/86 and 12/24/91, §34 benefits ran for up to 260 weeks.

 Date Of Change Weekly Maximum 
 10/1/91 $   515.52
 10/1/90 $   490.57
 10/1/89 $   474.47
 10/1/88 $   444.20
 10/1/87 $   411.00
 10/1/86 $   383.57

 Date Of Change Weekly Maximum Total Maximum (Sec. 34 and 35)
 10/2/85 $   360.50 $  90,125
 10/1/84 $   341.06 $  85,265
 10/1/83 $   320.29 $  80,072.50
 10/1/82 $   297.85 $  74,462.50
 10/1/81 $   269.93 $  67,282.50
 10/1/80 $   245.48 $  45,000
 10/1/79 $   227.31 $  45,000
 10/1/78 $   211.37 $  45,000
 10/1/77 $   199.31 $  37,500