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Georgia workers' comp settlement chart
Georgia pays a permanent injury to a listed body part for a set number of weeks. A thumb is 60 weeks.
Each week pays 66.67% of your average weekly wage, up to $800 a week (accidents on or after 2023-07-01).
At the maximum rate, that comes to $48,000; partial loss of use pays that share of the weeks.
Quoted from Georgia law and the Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation, checked October 2, 2026 · not legal advice
Weeks of benefits by body part
For total loss or total loss of use. The next column is the weeks times the $800 weekly maximum; enter your wage above for your own amount.
| Body part | Weeks | At the maximum | At your wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| disability to the body as a whole | 300 | $240,000 | |
| arm | 225 | $180,000 | |
| leg | 225 | $180,000 | |
| hand | 160 | $128,000 | |
| loss of hearing, traumatic, both ears | 150 | $120,000 | |
| loss of vision of one eye | 150 | $120,000 | |
| foot | 135 | $108,000 | |
| loss of hearing, traumatic, one ear | 75 | $60,000 | |
| thumb | 60 | $48,000 | |
| index finger | 40 | $32,000 | |
| middle finger | 35 | $28,000 | |
| ring finger | 30 | $24,000 | |
| great toe | 30 | $24,000 | |
| little finger | 25 | $20,000 | |
| any toe other than the great toe | 20 | $16,000 |
Maximum weeks for total loss or loss of use; the award is the percentage of bodily loss or loss of use times the maximum weeks. Matches the SBWC Summary of Workers' Compensation Provisions (revised 07/01/25).
Injuries not on the chart
Weekly benefit = two-thirds of average weekly wage (max $800, min $50) x number of weeks, where weeks = percentage of bodily loss or loss of use x the maximum weeks for that member; disability to the body as a whole (e.g. back) uses 300 maximum weeks (34-9-263(c)(14)). PPD benefits are not payable while TTD or TPD benefits are payable.
Rates and deadlines
| Temporary disability rate | two-thirds of your average weekly wage (13 weeks before the accident), up to $800 a week, for up to 400 weeks | O.C.G.A. 34-9-261 |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly maximum | $800 (accidents on or after 2023-07-01 (no change since; SBWC summary revised 07/01/25 states 'No benefit rate changes in 2024/2025')); applies to TTD and PPD (temporary partial disability maximum is $533) | O.C.G.A. 34-9-261; Georgia SBWC FAQ |
| Weekly minimum | $50 (statutory); TTD (if the weekly wage is under $50, the employee receives the average weekly wage); the PPD schedule is subject to the same maximum and minimum | O.C.G.A. 34-9-261 |
| Permanent partial rate | two-thirds of your average weekly wage, subject to the same $800 maximum and $50 minimum as TTD, paid for the maximum weeks x percentage of bodily loss or loss of use | O.C.G.A. 34-9-263(c) |
| Waiting period | 7 days, paid back if you are out more than 21 days | Georgia SBWC FAQ (O.C.G.A. 34-9-220) |
| Tell your employer | report to the employer immediately; waiting longer than 30 days may cost the employee benefits (34-9-80) | O.C.G.A. 34-9-80 and 34-9-82(a); Georgia SBWC FAQ |
| File your claim | claim (Form WC-14) within 1 year after the injury; if weekly benefits were paid or remedial treatment furnished by the employer, within 1 year after the last remedial treatment or 2 years after the last weekly benefit payment | O.C.G.A. 34-9-80 and 34-9-82(a); Georgia SBWC FAQ |
What a settlement adds or takes away
The chart is the statute's payment for a permanent injury. A lump-sum settlement can differ: it may also close out future medical care or wage loss, and the insurer and the judge must agree. A workers' comp lawyer in Georgia can tell you what your rating is likely to be.
Questions
How much is a thumb worth in Georgia workers' comp?
60 weeks of benefits for total loss or loss of use, up to $48,000 at the $800 weekly maximum. A partial loss pays the same share of the weeks.
What is the maximum workers' comp benefit in Georgia?
$800 a week for accidents on or after 2023-07-01 (no change since; SBWC summary revised 07/01/25 states 'No benefit rate changes in 2024/2025').
How long do I have to file a workers' comp claim in Georgia?
claim (Form WC-14) within 1 year after the injury; if weekly benefits were paid or remedial treatment furnished by the employer, within 1 year after the last remedial treatment or 2 years after the last weekly benefit payment.
Sources
- Schedule (O.C.G.A. 34-9-263(c)): law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-34/chapter-9/article-7/section-34-9-263/
| (1) Arm | 225 | | (2) Leg | 225 | | (3) Hand | 160 | | (4) Foot | 135 | | (5) Thumb | 60 | | (6) Index finger | 40 | | (7) Middle finger | 35 | | (8) Ring finger | 30 | | (9) Little finger | 25 | | (10) Great toe | 30 | | (11) Any toe other than the great toe | 20 | | (12) Loss of hearing, traumatic | | One ear | 75 | | Both ears | 150 | | (13) Loss of vision of one eye | 150 | | (14) Disability to the body as a whole | 300 |
- Weekly maximum (O.C.G.A. 34-9-261; Georgia SBWC FAQ): sbwc.georgia.gov/frequently-asked-questions/workers-compensation-law-faqs
You will receive two-thirds of your average weekly wage, but not more than $800.00 per week for an accident which occurred on or after July 1, 2023.
- Permanent partial rate (O.C.G.A. 34-9-263(c)): law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-34/chapter-9/article-7/section-34-9-263/
(c) Schedule of income benefits. Subject to the maximum and minimum limitations on weekly income benefits specified in Code Section 34-9-261, the employer shall pay weekly income benefits equal to two-thirds of the employee's average weekly wage for the number of weeks determined by the percentage of bodily loss or loss of use times the maximum weeks as follows:
- Temporary disability rate (O.C.G.A. 34-9-261): law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-34/chapter-9/article-7/section-34-9-261/
a weekly benefit equal to two-thirds of the employee's average weekly wage but not more than $800.00 per week nor less than $50.00 per week
- Deadlines (O.C.G.A. 34-9-80 and 34-9-82(a); Georgia SBWC FAQ): law.justia.com/codes/georgia/title-34/chapter-9/article-3/part-1/section-34-9-82
The right to compensation shall be barred unless a claim therefor is filed within one year after injury, except that if payment of weekly benefits has been made or remedial treatment has been furnished by the employer on account of the injury the claim may be filed within one year after the date of the last remedial treatment furnished by the employer or within two years after the date of the last payment of weekly benefits.
Read October 2, 2026. Laws and fees change; the linked page is the authority.