In this guide11 sections
- Key takeaways
- Why PD pays less per week than temporary disability
- 2026 permanent disability chart: what each rating pays
- How the weeks are counted
- How your weekly PD rate is calculated
- Life pension and 100% permanent total disability
- When PD payments start
- Lump sum or biweekly payments
- Other money: the voucher and the $5,000 supplement
- Frequently asked questions
- Talk to a California workers’ comp lawyer
Permanent disability in California pays two-thirds of your average weekly earnings, between $160 and $290 a week for injuries on or after January 1, 2014, for a number of weeks set by your permanent disability rating. A 10% rating pays 30.25 weeks, or $4,840 to $8,772.50 in total. A 50% rating pays 271.25 weeks, or $43,400 to $78,662.50. Ratings of 70% or more also add a life pension, and a 100% rating is paid for life.
Key takeaways
- For injuries on or after January 1, 2014, the weekly permanent disability (PD) rate is $160 to $290, fixed by statute and not adjusted for inflation (Labor Code §§4453(b)(9), 4658).
- The number of weeks comes from your rating under Labor Code §4658(e), and it grows faster as the rating rises.
- Ratings of 70% to 99.75% add a life pension after the PD weeks end; 100% is permanent total disability, paid for life (Labor Code §4659).
- The first PD payment is generally due within 14 days after your last temporary disability payment, then every two weeks, with a 10% increase for late payments (Labor Code §4650).
- For 2013 and later injuries, you may also qualify for a $6,000 job displacement voucher and a one-time $5,000 Return-to-Work Supplement.
Why PD pays less per week than temporary disability
Many injured workers are surprised that PD pays far less per week than temporary disability (TD). In 2026, TD can pay up to $1,764.11 a week, according to the Division of Workers’ Compensation’s 2026 rate announcement, while PD is capped at $290 a week no matter how much you earned. TD replaces wages while you recover. PD compensates for the lasting effect of the injury after your condition stabilizes.
This guide covers what each rating pays. To understand how the rating percentage itself is built, read how permanent disability ratings are calculated in California.
2026 permanent disability chart: what each rating pays
This chart applies to injuries on or after January 1, 2014. The weeks come from Labor Code §4658(e). The totals are the weeks multiplied by the minimum ($160) and maximum ($290) weekly rates; your total falls in that range depending on your earnings.
| PD rating | Weeks of PD | Total at $160/week | Total at $290/week | Life pension? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1% | 3 | $480 | $870 | No |
| 5% | 15 | $2,400 | $4,350 | No |
| 10% | 30.25 | $4,840 | $8,772.50 | No |
| 15% | 50.5 | $8,080 | $14,645 | No |
| 20% | 75.5 | $12,080 | $21,895 | No |
| 25% | 100.75 | $16,120 | $29,217.50 | No |
| 30% | 131 | $20,960 | $37,990 | No |
| 35% | 166 | $26,560 | $48,140 | No |
| 40% | 201 | $32,160 | $58,290 | No |
| 45% | 236 | $37,760 | $68,440 | No |
| 50% | 271.25 | $43,400 | $78,662.50 | No |
| 55% | 311.25 | $49,800 | $90,262.50 | No |
| 60% | 351.25 | $56,200 | $101,862.50 | No |
| 65% | 391.25 | $62,600 | $113,462.50 | No |
| 70% | 433.25 | $69,320 | $125,642.50 | Yes, up to $77.31/week to start |
| 75% | 513.25 | $82,120 | $148,842.50 | Yes, up to $115.96/week to start |
| 80% | 593.25 | $94,920 | $172,042.50 | Yes, up to $154.61/week to start |
| 85% | 673.25 | $107,720 | $195,242.50 | Yes, up to $193.27/week to start |
| 90% | 753.25 | $120,520 | $218,442.50 | Yes, up to $231.92/week to start |
| 95% | 833.25 | $133,320 | $241,642.50 | Yes, up to $270.57/week to start |
| 99% | 897.25 | $143,560 | $260,202.50 | Yes, up to $301.50/week to start |
| 100% | For life | Not a set total | Not a set total | No; paid for life at your temporary disability rate instead |
- Ratings are set in quarter-percent steps, so yours may fall between rows. Our workers’ comp benefits calculator can estimate it.
- These are gross amounts, before any deductions and before credit for PD advances already paid.
- Injuries in 2013 used lower maximums for ratings under 70% ($230 a week under 55%, $270 a week from 55% to 69.75%). Injuries before 2013 follow older tables.
How the weeks are counted
Labor Code §4658(e) assigns a number of weeks to each 1% of disability within each range, and the weeks are cumulative:
| Rating range | Weeks for each 1% |
|---|---|
| 0.25% to 9.75% | 3 |
| 10% to 14.75% | 4 |
| 15% to 24.75% | 5 |
| 25% to 29.75% | 6 |
| 30% to 49.75% | 7 |
| 50% to 69.75% | 8 |
| 70% to 99.75% | 16 |
So a 10% rating is 9.75% at 3 weeks (29.25 weeks) plus the next quarter point at 4 weeks (1 week), for 30.25 weeks. That is why moving from 69% to 70% adds 10 weeks, while moving from 4% to 5% adds only 3.
How your weekly PD rate is calculated
Your weekly PD rate is two-thirds of your average weekly earnings (AWE) at the time of injury (Labor Code §4658). For PD only, the AWE used is limited to between $240 and $435 for injuries on or after January 1, 2014 (Labor Code §4453(b)(9)). Two-thirds of those limits gives the $160 minimum and $290 maximum.
- If you earned $300 a week, your rate is $200 a week.
- If you earned $435 a week or more, your rate is the $290 maximum.
- If you earned $240 a week or less, your rate is the $160 minimum.
Average weekly earnings include more than base pay. Overtime, a second job and the value of some benefits can count, and mistakes are common. A 2025 bill to raise the PD limits, SB 555, had not been enacted as of October 2026.
Example (hypothetical): Carlos, a delivery driver injured in 2024, earned $900 a week and receives a final rating of 20%. Two-thirds of $900 is $600, which is above the cap, so his PD rate is $290 a week. A 20% rating is 75.5 weeks, so his PD totals 75.5 × $290 = $21,895.
Life pension and 100% permanent total disability
If your rating is at least 70% but under 100%, you receive a life pension after all your PD weeks have been paid (Labor Code §4659(a)). The pension is 1.5% of your average weekly earnings for each 1% of disability above 60%, with average weekly earnings capped at $515.38 for injuries on or after January 1, 2006. That puts the maximum starting pension at $77.31 a week at 70%, $154.61 at 80% and $307.30 at 99.75%. For injuries on or after January 1, 2003, the pension rises each January 1 with the state average weekly wage (§4659(c)).
Example (hypothetical): Ana earns more than $515.38 a week and is rated 80%. She first receives 593.25 weeks of PD, up to $172,042.50 at $290 a week. After that, her life pension starts at 1.5% × 20 × $515.38 = $154.61 a week.
A 100% rating is permanent total disability, paid for the rest of your life at your temporary disability rate (§4659(b)), with the same annual increases. See our permanent total disability guide.
When PD payments start
- First payment. Due within 14 days after your last TD payment, even if the extent of your permanent disability isn’t known yet. The insurer must keep paying until its reasonable estimate is paid or the amount is decided (Labor Code §4650(b)). These are often called PD advances.
- Every two weeks after that, on the day set with the first payment (§4650(c)).
- Late payments are increased by 10% and paid to you automatically, with limited exceptions (§4650(d)).
- Back at work. Before an award, PD advances aren’t required if your employer offered you a job paying at least 85% of your wages and compensation at injury, or you are working at 100% or more (§4650(b)(2)).
Lump sum or biweekly payments
How you receive the rest of your PD depends on how your case ends. With a stipulated award, PD continues every two weeks until paid, future medical care usually stays open, and you can generally seek new and further disability within five years of the injury (Labor Code §5410). With a compromise and release, you receive one negotiated lump sum and the case usually closes, often including future medical care. Compare the two in our settlement options guide. In limited situations, the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board can also order future payments paid as a lump sum (Labor Code §5100).
Other money: the voucher and the $5,000 supplement
For injuries on or after January 1, 2013, if you have permanent partial disability and your employer doesn’t offer qualifying regular, modified or alternative work, you are entitled to a Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit voucher of up to $6,000 for retraining or skill enhancement (Labor Code §4658.7). Voucher recipients can also apply to the Return-to-Work Supplement Program for a one-time $5,000 payment, within one year of the date the voucher was served.
Frequently asked questions
How much does permanent disability pay in California?
For injuries on or after January 1, 2014, $160 to $290 a week for the number of weeks set by your rating. Totals range from $480 to $870 at 1% up to $145,480 to $263,682.50 at 99.75%, plus a life pension at 70% or more.
How much is a 20% permanent disability rating worth?
A 20% rating is 75.5 weeks of PD, or $12,080 to $21,895 depending on your earnings.
Is permanent disability taxable?
Workers’ comp benefits are generally exempt from federal income tax under IRS guidance. If you also receive Social Security disability benefits, part may be treated differently, so check with a tax professional.
Does my PD go up every year?
Regular PD does not. The life pension and permanent total disability payments rise each January 1 for injuries on or after January 1, 2003.
Do I have to wait for my case to settle to get PD?
No. PD advances generally start within 14 days after temporary disability ends, even before your rating is final.
Talk to a California workers’ comp lawyer
Employees First Labor Law represents workers exclusively in workers’ compensation and employment cases. We offer free virtual consultations to check your rating, your average weekly earnings and whether your PD payments are correct. Contact us online or call (310) 853-3461.
This article is general information about California law as of 2026, not legal advice for your situation. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.
