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Workers' Compensation Summary - District of Columbia

The Office of Workers' Compensation in the Department of Employment Services processes claims and monitors the payment of benefits to injured private-sector employees in the District of Columbia. The following brief summary is intended to provide a general overview of Workers' Compensation coverage and benefits in the District of Columbia. See the separate topic for help with acronyms. For further information contact your local Workers' Compensation Program office. This information is based on data originally provided by the U.S. Department of Labor and updated by the Office of Workers' Compensation, and is believed current as of January 2011.

In the District of Columbia, compensation benefits are adjusted annually, and changes become effective January 1 of each year. The rates shown below are in effect from January 1, 2011 to December 31, 2011.

Type of Law and Insurance Requirements

In the District of Columbia, workers' compensation is compulsory, and no waivers are permitted. There is no district fund. Employers may insure through private carriers or self-insurance, but not through groups of employers. There is no exemption for employers with small numbers of employees.

Coverage of Agricultural Workers

Agricultural workers are covered the same as all other employees.

Coverage of Domestic Employees

Domestic workers employed by the same employer at least 240 hours during a calendar quarter are covered.

Medical Benefits

Full medical benefits are provided with no time or monetary limitations.

Benefits for Temporary Total Disability (TTD)

The percentage of worker's wage paid is 66 2/3, or 80% of spendable earnings, whichever is less. For weekly payments, the minimum is $331 (25% of SAWW) and the maximum is $1,323, 100% of SAWW. The maximum period of payments is the duration of disability. For injuries occurring on or after 4/16/99, temporary partial or permanent partial disability benefits will be limited to 500 weeks. Within 60 days of the expiration date, the claimant may petition for an extension of benefits up to 167 weeks beyond the 500-week cap.

Benefits for Permanent Total Disability (PTD)

The percentage of worker's wage paid is 66 2/3. For weekly payments, the minimum is $331 (25% of SAWW) and the maximum is $1,323, 100% of SAWW. The maximum period of payments is the duration of disability.

Benefits for Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)

The percentage of worker's wage paid is 66 2/3. For weekly payments, there is no minimum and the maximum is $1,323, 100% of SAWW. For non-scheduled injuries, the maximum period of payments is the duration of disability and there is no maximum payment amount. For injuries occurring on or after 4/16/99, temporary partial or permanent partial disability benefits will be limited to 500 weeks. Within 60 days of the expiration date, the claimant may petition for an extension of benefits up to 167 weeks beyond the 500 week cap.

Disfigurement Benefits

District of Columbia law covers disfigurements that are "Serious facial, head, neck or other exposed areas likely to handicap employment". Benefits are a maximum of $3,500.

Offset Provisions in State Laws

Section 36-308(g) --Weekly compensation benefits are offset if the sum of any Federal Old Age Survivors Insurance benefits, or any employee benefit plans subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, or any other employee income maintenance plan which is funded solely by the employer plus such weekly compensation benefits exceeds 80 percent of the employee's average weekly wage.

Contact Information

DC Department of Employment Services
Labor Standards Bureau
Office of Workers' Compensation
64 New York Avenue, NE, 2nd Floor
Washington, DC 20002

Phone: (202) 671-1000
Fax: (202) 541-3595

Internet: http://does.dc.gov/does/cwp/view.asp?a=1232&Q=537428

Other State's Summaries

Curious about the Workers' Compensation program in another state? Want to see a summary like this one? Click here to select another state's summary.

Source

Some information for this topic was drawn from the DC website at:
http://does.dc.gov/does/cwp/view.asp?a=1232&Q=537428
http://does.dc.gov/does/cwp/view,a,1234,q,539465.asp

Each year's current benefit rates are based on SAWW as of June 30 of the previous year. This data may be available online from the District DOES in their Covered Employment and Wages (CEW) reports, available at:
http://does.dc.gov/does/cwp/view.asp?a=1233&q=581437
The U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, also makes this data available online at:
http://www.bls.gov/cew/

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