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Using Linked Federal and State Data to Study the Adequacy of Workers’ Compensation Benefits
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Oct 2014
Source: Am J Ind Med. 57(10):1165-1173. -
Alternative Title:Am J Ind Med
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Description:Background
We combined federal and state administrative data to study the long-term earnings losses associated with occupational injuries and assess the adequacy of workers’ compensation benefits.
Methods
We linked state data on workers’ compensation claims from New Mexico for claimants injured from 1994-2000 to federal earnings records from 1987-2007. We estimated earnings losses up to 10 years after injury and computed the fraction of losses replaced by benefits.
Results
Workers with lost-time injuries lost an average of 15% of their earnings over the 10 years after injury. On average, workers’ compensation income benefits replaced 16% of these losses. Men and women had similar losses and replacement rates. Workers with minor injuries had lower losses but also had lower replacement rates.
Conclusion
Earnings losses after an injury are highly persistent, even for comparatively minor injuries. Income benefits replace a smaller fraction of those losses than previously believed.
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Pubmed ID:25223516
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Pubmed Central ID:PMC5223776
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