TN 68 (07-23)

DI 52120.090 Iowa Workers' Compensation (WC)

The Iowa Workforce Development, Division of Workers Compensation, is the custodian of the state WC records. WC insurance is provided through private carriers but employers may self-insure.

A. Types of periodic WC payments

Iowa WC benefits are generally limited to 200 percent of the State average weekly wage. Once WC payments have started the employer/carrier must give the worker 30 days notice before stopping payment, unless the worker has returned to work.

1. Temporary Total (TT) Benefits [85.32, 85.33(1)]

Weekly TT benefits equal 80 percent of the worker’s ‘spendable earnings’ up to the State maximum.

2. Temporary Partial (TP) Benefits [85.33(2-6)]

An individual may be entitled to TP benefits if he returns to work at a lower paying job because of the injury. TP benefits equal 66 2/3 percent of the difference between the individual’s average gross weekly wages when injured and the actual earnings at the lower paying job. Benefits end with any of the following events:

  • the individual returns to the regular job, or

  • the individual is found medically capable of returning to a similar job, or

  • the individual recuperates from the injury

3. Healing Period (HP) Benefits [85.34(1)]

HP benefits are paid to an individual recuperating from an injury that produced a permanent impairment. Weekly HP benefits equal 80 percent of the worker’s “spendable earnings”, up to the State maximum. Benefits end with any of the following events:

  • the individual returns to work, or

  • the individual is medically capable of returning to employment similar to the old job, or

  • the individual reaches maximum medical improvement

4. Permanent Partial (PP) Benefits [85.34(2)]

PP benefits are in addition to HP benefits and begin when the HP benefits period ends. They equal 80 percent of the individual’s spendable weekly earnings subject to a lower maximum of 184 percent of the state average weekly wage. PP benefits are awarded for just a certain number of weeks and then end. There are two types of PP benefits:

  • SCHEDULED MEMBER DISABILITIES – The chart below shows the number of weeks of PP benefits paid for the full loss of scheduled body members (i.e. arm, leg, etc.) If the impairment is less than a full loss, the number of weeks of PP is a percentage of loss (or loss of use) multiplied by the full number of weeks for the member. Note that this type of PP benefit includes disfigurement payments, which DO cause offset.

    INJURED MEMBER WEEKS

    Loss of thumb

    60

    Loss of first finger

    35

    Loss of second finger

    30

    Loss of third finger

    25

    Loss of fourth finger

    20

    Loss of hand

    190

    Loss of arm

    250

    Loss of great toe

    40

    Loss of any other toe

    15

    Loss of foot

    150

    Loss of leg

    220

    Loss of eye

    140

    Loss of hearing in one ear

    50

    Loss of hearing in both ears

    175

    Permanent disfigurement, face or head

    150

  • BODY AS A WHOLE DISABILITIES – When a work injury results in permanent disability to the body as a whole, Iowa refers to it as industrial disability. The degree of permanent disability is assigned a percentage by assessing the difference between the individual’s health and earnings before and after the injury. That percentage rating is then multiplied by 500 weeks to determine the number of weeks of PP payable.

5. Permanent Total (PT) Benefits [85.34(3)]

Weekly PT benefits equal 80% of the individual’s spendable earnings, up to the State maximum. These payments continue as long as the individual remains permanently disabled.

6. Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Benefits [85.70]

An individual may be entitled to $100.00 per week ($20.00 per week for injuries occurring prior to 09/07/2004) for up to 13 weeks if they are actively participating in a vocational rehabilitation program. An additional 13 weeks may then be paid if approved by the WC commissioner. However, as these payments are made in addition to WC and only for bona fide VR programs, VR benefits do not cause offset. For more information on VR payments see DI 52110.005.

B. WC settlements

Iowa law provides for 6 types of settlements, all of which must be approved by the State. The Agreement for Settlement and Compromise Settlement are the 2 fundamental types of settlements. The other 4 are used in conjunction with them.

All settlements must be submitted on prescribed forms.

1. Agreement for Settlement (85.35, 86.13)

This is a voluntary agreement between the individual and employer/carrier as to the amount and extent of compensation due. Approval of an Agreement for Settlement does not end the individual’s right to additional weekly WC.

2. Compromise Settlement (85.35)

When there is a dispute about the individual's entitlement to compensation, a Compromise Settlement may be filed. Approval of the Compromise Settlement ends the individual’s rights to any future benefits for the settled injury.

3. Contingent Settlement (85.35)

Any settlement made contingent upon a subsequent specified event occurring is a Contingent Settlement. If the expected event does not occur, the settlement and its approval may be vacated. This type of settlement is commonly used when a court or Medicare must also approve the settlement.

4. Combination Settlement (85.35)

A Combination Settlement establishes part of a WC claim as compensable using an Agreement for Settlement while disposing of the balance of the claim using a Compromise Settlement.

5. Lump Sum commutation payments

In Iowa, lump sum payments are the exception and not the rule when compensation is awarded. The law does, however, provide for two types of lump sum payments in the form of commutations (a commutation is a lump sum payment of future benefits). A commutation may be part of an Agreement for Settlement or used after an award is made in a contested case decision. In order for a commutation to be approved by the State, it must be shown that the employee has a specific need and that the lump sum is in the employee’s best interest (there are other filing requirements that must be met as well). When commuting benefits, the amount of the future benefits is discounted to present value. There are two types of commutations:

a. Full Commutation (85.45, 85.47)

This is a lump sum payment of ALL remaining future benefits. When approved, a Full Commutation ends all of the individual’s future rights to any additional benefits.

b. Partial Commutation (85.45, 85.47, 85.48)

This is a lump sum payment of a portion of the remaining future benefits. When approved, a Partial Commutation establishes the individual’s entitlement to WC benefits but it does not end their future rights.

C. Cost-of-living Adjustments(COLA)

Iowa does not give COLAs on its WC.

D. Attorney fees

Attorney fees are determined on a case-by-case basis.

E. Retirement insurance benefit (RIB) considerations

Iowa does not offset WC for receipt of RIB.

F. Time limitations for filing WC claims

1. Two-Year Statute of Limitations [85.26]

The individual must receive weekly WC or file an application for arbitration within 2 years of the alleged injury or the WC claim may be denied. Within this 2-year period the claim remains technically open, even when no payments are being made.

2. Three-Year Statute of Limitations [85.26]

When weekly WC payments were made, the individual has 3 years from the last weekly payment to receive additional benefits voluntarily, or to file a contested case proceeding for benefits. Additional weekly WC payments may be denied if the individual does not file within this 3-year period.

NOTE: It is not necessary to keep an ACR live and in DHF for the entire two-year or three-year period just to check for additional WC payments. Use a stand-alone diary to redevelop every six months during each period.

G. Verifying WC payment amounts

1. State

SSA has signed an agreement with the state agency for online access to Iowa’s WC records. Certain designated SSA personnel in ODO, MAMPSC, and Iowa Field Offices can obtain Iowa workers compensation verification from their workstations. Technicians should use this online verification before contacting the state agency. In addition to available payment records, the designated technicians have access to information on insurance carriers in case further development is required.

Once you are certain the WC evidence is not in file, check the Workers' Compensation (WC) Resource Page in DI 52140.020 since Iowa is a State that provides SSA with access to its online records. The value of online records can vary from State to State and some development may still be required. However, the sites available usually provide contact information for the employer, WC carrier or the WC attorney, which can jump-start the development process. Also included in the WC resources intranet site is a list of individuals with online access to those individual State records.

The timeliness and entirety of information on the screens depends on the carrier reporting the information to the state agency. Records may vary in the data available and the stage of case completion. It is important that users evaluate each case individually and apply SSA evidentiary standards to the information located in the state screens.

2. Carrier

Normally, the carrier will have more complete and current information.

H. Forms

See ‘Exhibits’ below for WC forms containing payment information.

I. Exhibits

  • Agreement for Settlement form

  • Compromise Settlement form

  • Contingent Settlement form

  • Combination Settlement form

  • Form 9 – Full Commutation form

  • Form 9A – Partial Commutation form

  • Maximum WC Rates Chart

Iowa Maximum Weekly WC Rates

Injury Date TT, HP & PT PP
07/01/1973-06/30/1974   $91.00  $84.00
07/01/1974-06/30/1975   $97.00 $89.00
07/01/1975-06/30/1976 $160.00  $147.00
07/01/1976-06/30/1977 $174.00  $160.00
07/01/1977-06/30/1978 $247.00  $228.00
07/01/1978-06/30/1979  $265.00  $244.00
07/01/1979-06/30/1980  $352.00  $324.00
07/01/1980-06/30/1981  $384.00  $353.00
07/01/1981-06/30/1982  $501.00  $461.00
07/01/1982-06/30/1983  $542.00 $499.00
07/01/1983-06/30/1984  $563.00  $518.00
07/01/1984-06/30/1985  $580.00 $533.00
07/01/1985-06/30/1986 $598.00 $550.00
07/01/1986-06/30/1987 $613.00  $564.00
07/01/1987-06/30/1988  $632.00  $582.00
07/01/1988-06/30/1989 $660.00  $607.00
07/01/1989-06/30/1990  $684.00  $629.00
07/01/1990-06/30/1991  $703.00  $647.00
07/01/1991-06/30/1992  $733.00  $674.00
07/01/1992-06/30/1993  $755.00  $695.00
07/01/1993-06/30/1994  $797.00  $733.00
07/01/1994-06/30/1995  $817.00  $751.00
07/01/1995-06/30/1996  $846.00  $778.00
07/01/1996-06/30/1997  $873.00  $803.00
07/01/1997-06/30/1998  $903.00  $831.00
07/01/1998-06/30/1999 $947.00 $872.00
07/01/1999-06/30/2000  $996.00 $916.00
07/01/2000-06/30/2001 $1,031.00  $948.00
07/01/2001-06/30/2002 $1,069.00  $984.00
07/01/2002-06/30/2003 $1,103.00 $1,014.00
07/01/2003-06/30/2004 $1,133.00 $1,042.00
07/01/2004-06/30/2005 $1,173.00 $1,079.00
07/01/2005-06/30/2006 $1,226.00 $1,128.00
07/01/2006-06/30/2007 $1,264.00 $1,163.00
07/01/2007-06/30/2008 $1,311.00 $1,206.00
07/01/2008-06/30/2009 $1,366.00 $1,257.00

07/01/2009-06/30/2010

$1,413.00

$1,300.00

07/01/2010-06/30/2011

$1,420.00

$1,306.00

07/01/2011-

$1,457.00

$1,340.00

J. References

  • Iowa WC Board

  • Iowa Statute & Administrative Rules

 


To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0452120090
DI 52120.090 - Iowa Workers' Compensation (WC) - 07/05/2023
Batch run: 08/02/2023
Rev:07/05/2023