As the 2025 Washington state legislative session wraps up, Governor Bob Ferguson signed HB 1788 to increase benefits to workers and their families after a workplace injury. The new law Consolidates the worker’s compensation calculation for workers who are permanently or temporarily totally disabled, and for workers’ surviving spouses, and standardizes payments between married and unmarried workers.
Past Law
Under past law, workers who is permanently or temporarily totally disabled—meaning incapacitated from performing any gainful occupation—or a worker’s surviving spouse, is entitled to compensatory benefits based on the following percentages of the worker’s monthly wages, from all employment, at the time of injury. For instance, an unmarried worker with no children would receive time-loss in the amount of 60%, a married worker with no children received 65%, and an unmarried worker with one child received 62%. The past law created an inequitable situation where married workers with no children were earning more than unmarried workers with a child.
New Law
Workers’ Compensation claims with a date of injury or disease manifestation on or after July 1, 2026, that result in a determination of permanent or temporary total disability, shall entitle the worker to receive a percentage of the worker’s wages. The calculation of the percentage of wages that the worker is entitled to are as follows:
Ensuring injured workers can maintain coverage and maintain relationships with current providers is vital to ensuring that these workers recover fully and quickly. Increasing the payment parity between married and unmarried workers is good and equitable.
Free Legal Help
For a free consultation to discuss your workplace injury, rights, and benefits, call Althauser Rayan Abbarno at (360) 736-1301 or e-mail our office TODAY at [email protected]!
Recent Comments