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Iowa Workers Compensation - Employee Benefits

Workers compensation employee benefit information for the State of Iowa

Iowa Workers Compensation Medical Benefits -

  • The Iowa workers compensation law provides for the payment of all reasonable and necessary medical care incurred to treat the injury. This includes reasonably necessary transportation expenses.

Who Chooses the Physician for Injured Workers in Iowa-

  • The employer provides medical care reasonably suited to treat the employee’s injury, and has the right to choose the medical care. If the employee is dissatisfied with the care offered, the employee should discuss the problem with the employer or insurance carrier. In certain situations the employee may wish to request alternate care. If the employer, or insurance carrier, does not allow alternate care, the employee (through appropriate proceedings) may apply to the workers' compensation commissioner for alternate medical care. (85.27)

Iowa Workers Compensation Disability Benefits -

  • Temporary Total Disability (TTD) Benefits:
    • TTD benefits are paid for the time period an Iowa employee is completely unable to perform his or her regular work because of an injury.
    • Compensation is 80 percent of the injured workers spendable (after taxes) wage.
    • Minimum weekly payment is $239 or actual wage if less.
    • Maximum weekly payment is 200% of the state average weekly wage or $1366.
    • Maximum number of payments is no limit.
    • Note:
      • When an injury results in more than three calendar days of disability, the employee may be entitled to TTD benefits beginning on the fourth day and continuing until the employee has returned to work or is medically capable of returning to substantially similar employment, whichever occurs first.

  • Permanent Total Disability (PTD) Benefits:
    • PTD benefits are paid for the time period an Iowa employee is completely unable to perform his or her regular work because of an injury.
    • Compensation is 80 percent of the injured workers spendable (after taxes) wage.
    • Minimum weekly payment is $239 or actual wage if less.
    • Maximum weekly payment is 200% of the state average weekly wage or $1366.
    • Maximum number of payments is no limit.

  • Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) Benefits:
    • Compensation is 80 percent of the injured workers spendable (after tax) wage.
    • Minimum weekly payment is $239 or actual wage if less.
    • Maximum weekly payment is 184% of the state average weekly wage or $1257.
    • Non-scheduled injuries maximum number of payments is a ratio to scheduled injuries based on a maximum of 500 weeks.
    • Maximum payment amount is $603,000.
    • There are two types of PPD:
      • Scheduled Member Disabilities – An employee’s entitlement to PPD benefits when a scheduled member is involved is based on functional impairment. Appendix A sets out a list of the scheduled body members (i.e., arm, leg, etc.) along with the value (in number of weeks) for each member.
      • Unscheduled (Body As A Whole) Disabilities – When an injury results in a permanent disability to a part of the person that is not a scheduled member, it is referred to as an industrial disability that is compensated according to the percent that the disability reduced the person's earning capacity. These typically include back, neck, shoulder, and hip injuries. Factors to be considered in determining industrial disability are: any change in the employee's earnings caused by the injury; employee’s medical condition prior to injury, immediately after the injury and presently; the situs of the injury; its severity and the length of healing period; the work experience of the employee prior to the injury, after the injury and potential for rehabilitation; the employees qualifications intellectually, emotionally, and physically; age; education; motivation; functional impairment as a result of the injury; loss of earnings caused by a job transfer for reasons related to the injury; and inability because of the injury to engage in employment for which the employee is fitted.


Iowa Workers Death/Dependency Benefits -

  • Death benefits are payable to the dependents of the employee. Benefits are first payable to the surviving spouse for life or until remarriage. Dependent children are entitled to the benefits until they reach age 18, or age 25 if they are actually dependent. Others may qualify, if there is a showing of actual dependency. Upon remarriage, if there are no dependent children, the surviving spouse is entitled to a two-year lump sum settlement. Burial expenses not to exceed twelve times the statewide average weekly wage in effect at the time of death are paid in addition to the weekly death benefits.


Iowa Workers Compensation Attorney Fees -

  • Attorney fees are permitted on an individual case basis.

More specific workers compensation employee benefit information for this state can be found by following the link below. It will take you directly to the state web page containing employee's workers compensation rights and benefits:

http://www.iowaworkforce.org/wc/



Important Notice Please Read: All information on this page is provided only as a reference. While we strive to mantain accurate information on this site please realize workers compensation laws are complicated and subject to change at any time. If you need help with a workers compensation problem or have a specific situation or question please contact our office. Otherwise please consult your states governing authority or an attorney in your state of residency for assistance.


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