Using Linked Federal and State Data to Study the Adequacy of Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Seabury, Seth A.; Scherer, Ethan; O'Leary, Paul; Ozonoff, Al; Boden, Leslie I.

doi:10.1002/ajim.22362

i

Using Linked Federal and State Data to Study the Adequacy of Workers’ Compensation Benefits

Supporting Files

Oct 2014
By Seabury, Seth A. ; Scherer, Ethan ; O'Leary, Paul ; ...

File Language:

English

Details

Alternative Title:

Am J Ind Med
Personal Author:

Seabury, Seth A. ; Scherer, Ethan ; O'Leary, Paul ; Ozonoff, Al ; Boden, Leslie I.
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.
Subjects:

Adult Data Collection Federal Government Female Humans Income Male Models, Statistical Multivariate Analysis Occupational Injuries Regression Analysis State Government Workers' Compensation
Source:

Am J Ind Med. 57(10):1165-1173.
Pubmed ID:

25223516
Pubmed Central ID:

PMC5223776
Document Type:

Journal Article
Funding:

R01 OH009267/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS/United States ; R01-OH009267/OH/NIOSH CDC HHS/United States
Place as Subject:

New Mexico
Volume:

57
Issue:

10
Collection(s):

CDC Public Access
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha256:65a1725583ed10d7a1548db6877fc03155f01b3463eba4a969a55003e840d82d
Download URL:

https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/43780/cdc_43780_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 730.40 KB ]

File Language:

English

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