Disability benefits -- annual adjustment of benefits

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Workers' compensation benefits for temporary total disability, temporary partial disability, permanent total disability and dependency benefits may be eligible to receive annual increases to the weekly rate during the life of a claim. The date of injury determines if any adjustments are due, when the first adjustment is made and the percent increase that is applied.

176.654 Adjustment of benefits (1999)

Subd. 1. Amount. For injuries occurring after Oct. 1, 1975, for which benefits are payable under section 176.101, subdivisions 1, 2 and 4, and section 176.111, subdivision 5, the total benefits due the employee or any dependents shall be adjusted in accordance with this section. On Oct. 1, 1981, and thereafter on the anniversary of the date of the employee's injury with total benefits due shall be adjusted by multiplying the total benefits due prior to each adjustment by a fraction, the denominator of which is the statewide average weekly wage for Dec. 31 of the year two years previous to the adjustment and the numerator of which is the statewide average weekly wage for Dec. 31 of the year previous to the adjustment. For injuries occurring after Oct. 1, 1975, all adjustments provided for in this section shall be included in computing any benefit due under this section. Any limitations of amounts due for daily or weekly compensation under this chapter shall not apply to adjustments made under this section. No adjustment increase made on or after Oct. 1, 1977, but prior to Oct. 1, 1992, under this section shall exceed six percent a year; in those instances where the adjustment under the formula of this section would exceed the maximum, the increase shall be deemed to be six percent. No adjustment increase made on or after Oct. 1, 1992, under this section shall exceed four percent a year; in those instances where the adjustment under the formula of this section would exceed this maximum, the increase shall be deemed to be four percent. For injuries occurring on and after Oct. 1, 1995, no adjustment increase made on or after Oct. 1, 1995, shall exceed two percent a year; in those instances where the adjustment under the formula of this section would exceed this maximum, the increase shall be deemed to be two percent. The Workers' Compensation Advisory Council may consider adjustment or other further increases and make recommendations to the Legislature.

Sub. 2. Time of first adjustment. For injuries occurring on or after Oct. 1, 1981, the initial adjustment made pursuant to subdivision 1 is deferred until the first anniversary of the date of the injury. For injuries occurring on or after Oct. 1, 1992, the initial adjustment under subdivision 1 is deferred until the second anniversary of the date of the injury. The adjustment made at that time shall be that of the last year only. For injuries occurring on or after Oct. 1, 1995, the initial adjustment under subdivision 1 is deferred until the fourth anniversary of the date of injury. The adjustment at that time shall be that of the last year only.