2020 Arkansas Code
Title 11 - Labor and Industrial Relations
Chapter 9 - Workers' Compensation
Subchapter 5 - Accidental Injury or Death
§ 11-9-501. Limitations on compensation — Death and disability

(a)

1. (1) Compensation to the injured employee shall not be allowed for the first seven (7) days' disability resulting from injury, excluding the day of injury.

2. (2) If a disability extends beyond that period, compensation shall commence with the ninth day of disability.

3. (3) If a disability extends for a period of two (2) weeks, compensation shall be allowed beginning the first day of disability, excluding the day of injury.

(b) Compensation payable to an injured employee for disability, other than permanent partial disability as specified in subsection (d) of this section, and compensation payable to surviving dependents of a deceased employee, the total disability rate shall not exceed sixty-six and two-thirds percent (662/3%) of the employee's average weekly wage with a twenty dollar ($20.00) per week minimum, subject to the following maximums:

1. (1) For disability or death due to an injury occurring on and after July 1, 1987, through December 31, 1988, the maximum weekly benefits payable shall be one hundred eighty-nine dollars ($189);

2. (2) For disability or death due to an injury occurring on and after January 1, 1989, through December 31, 1989, the maximum weekly benefits payable shall be sixty-six and two-thirds percent (662/3%) of the state average weekly wage;

3. (3) For a disability or death which results from an injury occurring on and after January 1, 1990, the maximum weekly benefit payable shall be seventy percent (70%) of the state average weekly wage;

4. (4) For a disability or death which results from an injury occurring during a calendar year beginning on or after January 1, 1996, the maximum weekly benefit payable shall be eighty-five percent (85%) of the state average weekly wage if, and only if, the Insurance Commissioner certifies to the Workers' Compensation Commission during December 1995, that the overall workers' compensation insurance rates for Arkansas have decreased by at least ten percent (10%) subsequent to July 1, 1993;

5. (5) After January 1, 1994, the weekly benefit rate shall be rounded to the nearest whole dollar, i.e., if the actual rate be a dollar amount plus forty-nine cents (49¢) or less, the rate for compensation purposes shall be the next lower whole dollar amount, and, if the actual rate be a dollar amount plus fifty cents (50¢) or more, then the rate for compensation purposes shall be the next higher whole dollar amount.

(c)

1. (1) Upon request of the respondent or carrier, the commission shall review the claim and determine the necessity for additional temporary total benefits after forty (40) weeks or after any thirteen-week interval thereafter and may, if warranted by the preponderance of the evidence on the basis of the record as a whole, extend the period of payment for temporary total disability.

2. (2) Any weekly benefit payments made after the commission has terminated temporary total benefits shall be classified as warranted by the facts in the case and as otherwise provided for in this chapter.

(d)

1. (1) The permanent partial disability rate for compensation payable to an employee for permanent partial disability which results from an injury occurring on or after July 1, 1986, shall not exceed sixty-six and two-thirds percent (662/3%) of the employee's average weekly wage, with a twenty-dollar-per-week minimum, subject to a maximum of one hundred fifty-four dollars ($154). However, if the employee's total disability rate for the injury would be two hundred five dollars and thirty-five cents ($205.35) per week or greater, then the maximum permanent partial disability rate shall be seventy-five percent (75%) of the employee's total disability rate.

2. (2)

   1. (A) The permanent partial disability rate provided herein shall also apply to scheduled permanent injuries except those resulting in amputation or permanent total loss of use of a member.

   2. (B) The permanent partial disability rate for amputation or permanent total loss of use of a member shall be the same as the employee's total disability rate as specified in subsection (b) of this section, subject to the maximum as set forth in subdivision (b)(4) of this section.

3. (3) The provisions of this subsection shall apply only to those injuries which occur on or after January 1, 1996.

(e) Compensation payable to the dependents of a deceased employee shall be in addition to the funeral allowance and those benefits which were paid or to which the injured employee was entitled in his or her lifetime under §§ 11-9-508 — 11-9-517 and §§ 11-9-519 — 11-9-526.