How Much Workers' Comp Pays in Illinois

Temporary total disability is two-thirds (66 2/3%) of the employee's gross average weekly wage over the 52 weeks before the injury, subject to minimum and maximum limits. It is paid while the employee cannot work (or is on light duty the employer cannot accommodate) until the employee returns to work or reaches maximum medical improvement. Benefits are not taxable.

For injuries from July 15, 2026 through January 14, 2027, the maximum weekly temporary total disability benefit is $2,045.63 (it was $2,008.60 from January 15 to July 14, 2026). The TTD minimum depends on the number of dependents, from $400 (no spouse or children) to $600 (four or more), but is never more than the employee's average weekly wage. Rates change every January 15 and July 15 based on the statewide average weekly wage.

Temporary total disability (TTD) is paid until the employee returns to work or reaches maximum medical improvement; temporary partial disability is paid until the employee returns to the regular job or reaches maximum medical improvement. There is no set maximum number of weeks for either. Permanent partial disability is paid for a set number of weeks: scheduled body parts have a fixed number of weeks each, injuries to the person as a whole are a percentage of 500 weeks, and serious disfigurement is up to 162 weeks. Wage-differential benefits for injuries on or after September 1, 2011 are paid for five years after the award or until age 67, whichever is later (for life for earlier injuries). Permanent total disability is paid for life.

Temporary total disability is not paid for the first three lost workdays unless the employee misses 14 or more calendar days because of the injury. The employer should make the first payment within 14 days after receiving notice of the injury.

Permanent partial disability is decided after maximum medical improvement and takes one of four forms: a wage-differential award (two-thirds of the difference between pre-injury and post-injury earnings; for injuries on or after September 1, 2011, paid for five years or until age 67, whichever is later); scheduled losses of body parts (a set number of weeks per body part times the percentage of loss, paid at 60% of the average weekly wage); person-as-a-whole injuries (a percentage of 500 weeks at 60% of the average weekly wage); or serious disfigurement (up to 162 weeks). Permanent total disability is paid to an employee who is rendered permanently unable to work.