Workers' Comp Settlements in Kansas

Yes. If the parties agree, an administrative law judge may allow the employer to pay off (redeem) all or part of its liability in a lump sum when the judge finds it is in the best interest of the injured employee or a deceased employee's dependents; the employer is then released from liability for the redeemed portion. Compromise lump-sum settlements in permanent total or permanent partial disability cases require approval of an administrative law judge. When both parties have lawyers and the claimant is over 18, they may submit a settlement award on written stipulations, which the administrative law judge must approve or reject within five business days of electronic filing.

Temporary total disability is paid weekly for as long as the temporary total disability lasts; the statute sets no fixed maximum number of weeks. It is suspended if the worker returns to substantial and gainful employment before an award, and is not paid for weeks in which the worker receives unemployment benefits. Permanent total disability continues for the duration of the disability, subject to review and modification, and a worker may receive only one permanent total disability award in a lifetime. Instead of week limits, Kansas caps total compensation per injury: $400,000 for permanent total disability, $225,000 for temporary total disability (including other disability payments), $225,000 for permanent or temporary partial disability, and $100,000 for permanent partial disability based on functional impairment only. These caps apply until June 30, 2027 and are adjusted each July 1 after that.

In Kansas, an attorney's fee for securing compensation may not exceed a reasonable amount for the services or 25% of the compensation recovered and paid, whichever is less, plus actual expenses (with a separate 25% limit beyond 415 weeks in death and permanent total disability cases). The Director of Workers' Compensation reviews every attorney fee contract and approves it only if it complies with the statute; fee disputes are decided by an administrative law judge.