Workers' Comp Disability Benefits Are Going Up in 2026 — Here's What That Means

California Workers' Compensation Benefit Increases in 2026

Starting January 1, 2026, California workers' temporary disability and, in some cases, permanent total disability compensation benefits will increase by almost 5%. This is the automatic result of wages rising statewide.

What Changes in 2026

If you're hurt at work on or after January 1, 2026, the weekly temporary disability benefit limits are higher, or if you are receiving permanent total disability benefits from a Workers' Compensation Award with a date of injury after January 1, 2003, as that's when the new rates take effect.

At the top end, the maximum Temporary Total Disability and Permanent Total Disability rate increases by a little over $80 per week, moving from $1,680.28 to $1,764.11. That difference may not seem dramatic on its own, but over the life of a serious injury, it can add up quickly.

Minimum weekly disability benefits also rise, and other benefit categories that track statewide wages, including certain long-term disability payments, life pensions, and structured death benefits, increase by the same percentage.

Why the Injury Date Matters

This is one of the most important—and most misunderstood—parts of the system.

Workers' compensation does not adjust temporary disability based on when your case settles or when benefit checks start arriving. Your rate is locked in based on the date you were injured. An accident on December 31, 2025 is governed by the old numbers. The same injury one day later falls under the higher 2026 limits.

That single calendar date can make a real difference in the total value of a claim.

When the Math Isn't as Simple as It Looks

On paper, benefit formulas appear straightforward. In real cases, they rarely are. Wage calculations get missed, benefit caps are applied incorrectly, and delays can muddy the numbers. It's not uncommon for injured workers to receive less than they should simply because no one ever went back and verified the calculations.

Questions About Your Benefits?

If you were injured at work and aren't sure how these changes apply to your case—or whether your benefits were calculated correctly—it's worth getting clarity sooner rather than later.

GEKLAW has represented injured California workers for decades and stays current on benefit changes because they directly affect what our clients receive.