On September 12, 2024, the U.S. Department of Labor issued Industry Notice No. 203 providing the National Average Weekly Wage, the maximum and minimum compensation rates, and the cost-of-living adjustment for Fiscal Year 2025. The annual adjustments under Section 10(h) for Fiscal Year 2025 take effect on October 1, 2024.
Link: https://www.dol.gov/sites/dolgov/files/OWCP/dlhwc/lsindustrynotices/IndustryNotice203.pdf
For the period of October 1, 2024 to September 30, 2025:
The National Average Weekly Wage is $999.55;
The maximum compensation rate is $1,999.10; and
The minimum compensation rate is $499.78.
As a reminder, an employee receives his or her AWW as compensation for total disability if the AWW is less than the minimum compensation rate. Also, the minimum compensation rate does not apply to employees covered by the Defense Base Act.
For those claims involving the payment of permanent total disability or death benefits, the cost-of-living adjustment is 3.76%, which is based on the increase in the percentage between the preceding and current National Average Weekly Wage.
The Industry Notice further states that employers and carriers should use this Notice to determine the increase of compensation payments for any applicable claims. The Notice further reminds employers and carriers that any change in the weekly payment amount to a claimant should be noted on a Notice of Payments, Form LS-208, filed with the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs.
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