2021 Wyoming Statutes
Title 27 - Labor and Employment
Chapter 14 - Worker's Compensation
Article 4 - Employee Benefits
Section 27-14-403 - Awards Generally; Method of Payment.

27-14-403. Awards generally; method of payment.

(a) In addition to payment of medical and hospital care and artificial replacement, an injured employee and his dependents may be entitled to one (1) or more awards for:

(i) Temporary total disability or temporary light duty;

(ii) Permanent partial impairment;

(iii) Permanent partial disability or vocational rehabilitation as provided under W.S. 27-14-408;

(iv) Permanent total disability; or

(v) Death.

(b) Notwithstanding the date of death or the date of the determination of permanent total disability, in the case of permanent total disability or death, each child of an employee shall be paid two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) per month for payments made after July 1, 2009, until the child dies or reaches the age of twenty-one (21) years, whichever first occurs, or if the child is physically or mentally incapacitated until the child dies unless qualified for and receiving benefits under the Medicaid home and community based waiver program. If the child is enrolled or preregistered in a post secondary educational institution including a four-year college, community college or private trade school licensed pursuant to W.S. 21-2-401 through 21-2-407 and providing career, technical or apprenticeship training, the child shall receive the amount provided by this section until the child attains the age of twenty-five (25) years. The amount awarded under this subsection shall be adjusted for inflation annually by the division, using the consumer price index or its successor index of the United States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics, or three percent (3%), whichever is less.

(c) All awards stated in this section except awards under paragraph (a)(i), subsection (b) and paragraphs (e)(ii), (iv) and (v) and (h)(ii) and subsection (k) of this section shall be paid monthly at the rates prescribed by this subsection. For permanent partial impairment under paragraph (a)(ii) of this section, the award shall be calculated at the rate of two-thirds (2/3) of the statewide average monthly wage for the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding the quarterly period in which the benefits are first paid as determined pursuant to W.S. 27-14-802. For temporary total disability under paragraph (a)(i) of this section, the award shall be paid monthly at the rate of thirty percent (30%) of the statewide average monthly wage or two-thirds (2/3) of the injured employee's actual monthly earnings at the time of injury, whichever is greater, but shall not exceed the lesser of one hundred percent (100%) of the injured employee's actual monthly earnings at the time of the injury or the statewide average monthly wage for the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding the quarterly period in which the injury occurred as determined pursuant to W.S. 27-14-802 with one-half (1/2) of the monthly award paid on or about the fifteenth of the month and one-half (1/2) paid on or about the thirtieth of the month. For temporary light duty under paragraph (a)(i) of this section, the award shall be paid monthly at the rate of eighty percent (80%) of the difference between the employee's light duty wage and the employee's actual monthly earnings at the time of injury. For permanent partial and permanent total disability or death under paragraphs (a)(iii), (iv) and (v) of this section, the award shall be paid monthly computed as follows:

(i) For those employees whose actual monthly earnings are less than seventy-three percent (73%) of the statewide average monthly wage, the award shall be ninety-two percent (92%) of the injured employee's actual monthly earnings;

(ii) For those employees whose actual monthly earnings are equal to or greater than seventy-three percent (73%) of the statewide average monthly wage, but less than the statewide average monthly wage, the award shall be two-thirds (2/3) of the statewide average monthly wage;

(iii) For those employees whose actual monthly earnings are greater than or equal to the statewide average monthly wage, the award shall be two-thirds (2/3) of the employee's actual monthly earnings, but the award shall be capped at and shall not exceed the statewide average monthly wage;

(iv) In the case of death due to work related causes, and if the award computed under paragraph (i), (ii) or (iii) of this subsection is less than eighty percent (80%) of the statewide average monthly wage, the award shall be adjusted to an amount not less than eighty percent (80%) of the statewide average monthly wage or seventy-five percent (75%) of the injured employee's actual monthly earnings at the time of injury, whichever is greater. In no event shall the award exceed two (2) times the statewide average monthly wage for the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding the quarterly period in which the injury occurred as determined pursuant to W.S. 27-14-802;

(v) Awards for permanent total disability shall be adjusted for inflation annually by the division, using the consumer price index or its successor index of the United States department of labor, bureau of labor statistics, for the calendar year before the date of adjustment or three percent (3%), whichever is less. The adjustment provided by this paragraph shall apply to all awards for permanent total disability benefits in effect on or after July 1, 2009 using as the base for calculation the award in effect on that date or the first award, whichever is later. The adjustment shall become effective annually on July 1 and shall be applied to all awards for permanent total disability that were first made at least one (1) year before the effective date of the adjustment.

(d) If an injured employee entitled to receive or receiving an award under paragraph (a)(ii), (iii) or (iv) of this section dies due to causes other than the work related injury, the balance of the award shall be paid:

(i) To the surviving spouse;

(ii) If there is no surviving spouse or if the spouse remarries or dies, the balance of the award shall be paid to the surviving dependent children of the employee. Each surviving dependent child shall receive a share of the award in the proportion that the number of months from the death or remarriage until the child attains the age of majority, or if the child is physically or mentally incapacitated until the child attains the age of twenty-one (21) years, bears to the total number of months until all children will attain these ages;

(iii) If there is no surviving spouse or if the spouse remarries or dies and there are no dependent children or the children have attained the age of majority or twenty-one (21) if physically or mentally incapacitated, or die, the balance of the award shall be paid to a surviving parent of the employee if the parent received substantially all of his financial support from the employee at the time of injury. If two (2) remaining parents of the employee who received substantially all of their financial support from the employee at the time of the injury survive the employee, the balance of the award shall be divided equally between the two (2) parents;

(iv) Payment of the award shall cease:

(A) If there is no surviving spouse, dependent children or dependent parents;

(B) Upon remarriage or death of a spouse and there are no dependent children or dependent parents;

(C) Upon the death of a dependent child as to payments to that child; and

(D) Upon the death of a dependent parent as to payments to that parent.

(e) If an injured employee dies as a result of the work related injury whether or not an award under paragraphs (a)(i) through (iv) of this section has been made:

(i) All awards under paragraphs (a)(i) through (iv) of this section shall cease as of the date of death;

(ii) The burial expenses of the deceased employee shall be paid in an amount not to exceed five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) together with an additional amount of five thousand dollars ($5,000.00) to cover other related expenses, unless other arrangements exist between the employer and employee under agreement;

(iii) The surviving spouse shall receive for one hundred (100) months a monthly payment as provided by subsection (c) of this section. If the surviving spouse dies before the award is entirely paid or if there is no surviving spouse, the unpaid balance of the award shall be paid to the surviving dependent children of the employee in the manner prescribed by paragraph (d)(ii) of this section. If there are no dependent children, further payments under this paragraph shall cease as of the date of the spouse's death;

(iv) In addition to any amount paid under paragraph (e)(iii) of this section, surviving children shall receive an award as provided by subsection (b) of this section;

(v) If the employee died with no surviving spouse or dependent children but with one (1) surviving parent or two (2) surviving parents of the employee who received at least one-half (1/2) of his or their financial support from the employee at the time of injury, the surviving parent or parents shall receive a monthly payment as provided by subsection (c) of this section for sixty (60) months thereafter or until the parent or the survivor of them dies.

(f) Awards to an employee or a spouse for permanent partial disability, permanent total disability or death may, upon application to the division with a showing of exceptional necessity and notice to the employer, be paid in whole or in part in a lump sum. In no event shall an award for permanent partial impairment under W.S. 27-14-405 be paid in a lump sum.

(g) Following payment in full of any award, or if a lump sum settlement was made under subsection (f) of this section when the award would have been fully paid but for the lump sum settlement, to an employee for permanent total disability or to a surviving spouse for death of an employee, an additional award for extended benefits may be granted subject to the following requirements and limitations:

(i) In the case of an employee:

(A) A claim for compensation is filed by the employee or someone on his behalf;

(B) The employee establishes a reasonable effort on his behalf has been made to return to part time or full time employment including retraining and educational programs;

(C) The division in determining entitlement under this paragraph shall consider the amount of the monthly award made to an injured worker pursuant to W.S. 27-14-403(a)(iv), all earned income of the injured worker, all employment based retirement income of the injured worker, all income derived by the injured worker as a result of the injury, excluding mortgage or any other loan credit insurance, or any supplemental income insurance purchased by or on behalf of the employee and any periodic payments from any other governmental entity to the injured worker. The division shall not consider any other income received by the injured worker or members of the injured worker's household;

(D) The maximum monthly amount of additional compensation shall not exceed the amount provided in subsection (c) of this section;

(E) The division may attach reasonable conditions to application for or receipt of awards under this subsection including retraining or educational programs and the award may be adjusted in accordance with fulfillment of the conditions;

(F) The division may decrease an award to qualify an employee eligible for maximum benefits under any other state or federal pension plan;

(G) Any award granted under this subsection shall not exceed twelve (12) months unless the division determines an award for a period exceeding twelve (12) months but not greater than four (4) years is appropriate.

(ii) In the case of a surviving spouse, upon application to the division and a showing of necessity, the division may award continued monthly payments to the spouse not to exceed one-third (1/3) of the statewide average monthly wage for the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding the quarter in which the injury occurred. An award granted under this paragraph shall not exceed twelve (12) months but may be renewed and shall cease at the time the spouse dies or remarries.

(h) All awards to a minor or individual with a legal disability shall be paid:

(i) To the legal guardian or conservator if one exists; or

(ii) As the division determines to be in the best interests of the minor or individual if there is no legal guardian or conservator.

(j) As used in this section:

(i) "Actual monthly earnings" means the injured employee's actual monthly earnings at the time of injury excluding any payment for casual or unscheduled overtime and any fringe benefit;

(ii) "Overtime" means payments for work in excess of forty (40) hours per week;

(iii) "Statewide average monthly wage" means the statewide average monthly wage for the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding the quarterly period in which the injury occurred as determined pursuant to W.S. 27-14-802.

(k) Any injured worker who has or is receiving medical services entirely in Wyoming from a Wyoming health care provider shall be eligible if otherwise qualified for temporary total disability payments at the rate of seventy percent (70%) of the injured worker's actual monthly earnings at the time of the injury but not to exceed one hundred and three percent (103%) of the statewide average wage for the twelve (12) month period immediately preceding the quarterly period in which the injury occurred as determined pursuant to W.S. 27-14-802, with the following exceptions:

(i) If an injured worker is injured outside of Wyoming, the injured worker if otherwise qualified shall be eligible to receive temporary total disability payments at the rate provided in this subsection, provided the injured worker receives services entirely in Wyoming from a Wyoming health care provider after initial treatment following the injury;

(ii) An injured worker otherwise qualified for temporary total disability payments shall be eligible to receive temporary total disability payments at the rate provided in this subsection if the services or treatment by an out-of-state health care provider were rendered upon the instruction of the division; or

(iii) An injured worker otherwise qualified for temporary total disability payments shall be eligible to receive temporary total disability payments at the rate provided in this subsection if due to unavailability of medical services in Wyoming, the division provides written authorization, before or after treatment, to the injured worker to obtain the medical services from an out-of-state health care provider and the out-of-state health care provider agreed to accept as full payment the fees paid by the division pursuant to the division's fee schedule. For purposes of this subsection, medical services shall be deemed unavailable in Wyoming if the distance from the injured worker's residence to an in-state health care provider is at least one hundred (100) miles greater than the distance from the injured worker's residence to an out-of-state medical provider;

(iv) An injured worker otherwise qualified for temporary total disability payments shall be eligible to receive temporary total disability payments at the rate provided in this subsection if the employer has a contractual agreement with an out-of-state health care provider.