How Much Workers' Comp Pays in Colorado

Temporary total disability lasting more than three regular working days pays 66 2/3% of the employee's average weekly wage for as long as the disability is total, up to a maximum of 91% of the state average weekly wage. Benefits are reduced by a portion of any federal Social Security disability benefits.

Colorado does not set a fixed number of weeks for temporary benefits. Temporary total disability continues until the first of these: the worker reaches maximum medical improvement, returns to regular or modified work, gets a written release to return to regular work, or is released to modified work that is offered in writing and does not start it. Temporary partial disability ends at maximum medical improvement or if the worker fails to start an offered modified job. Instead of a week limit, the law caps the combined total of temporary and permanent partial disability payments by dollar amount, with a higher cap for impairment ratings above 19 percent; for claims arising on or after January 1, 2025 the caps are $185,000 and $300,000, adjusted each July 1. Permanent total disability continues until the worker's death.

If the disability lasts three days or less from the day the employee leaves work because of the injury, no wage benefits are paid (only medical benefits). If the disability lasts longer than two weeks, wage benefits are paid back to the day the employee left work.

Scheduled injuries (loss or loss of use of listed body parts, such as 208 weeks for an arm at the shoulder or 104 weeks for a hand below the wrist) are paid for the number of weeks in the statutory schedule. Other (whole-person) impairments are paid by multiplying the medical impairment rating by an age factor and by 400 weeks, at the temporary total disability rate; up to $10,000 of an award can be taken as a lump sum on written request. Permanent total disability pays 66 2/3% of the average weekly wage, up to the weekly maximum, until death.