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Workers' Compensation Summary - Minnesota

The Workers' Compensation Division of the Department of Labor & Industry administers Workers' Compensation in Minnesota. The following brief summary is intended to provide a general overview of Workers' Compensation coverage and benefits in Minnesota. See the separate topic for help with acronyms. For further information contact your local or state Workers' Compensation Program office. This information is based on data originally provided by the U.S. Department of Labor and updated by the Workers' Compensation Division, and is believed current as of January 2011.

NOTE: In Minnesota, the previous minimum and maximum compensation benefit rates were in effect since 2000. The only change since then occurred on 10/1/2008, and no change has taken place since.

Type of Law and Insurance Requirements

In Minnesota, workers' compensation is compulsory, and no waivers are permitted. There is a competitive state fund. Employers may insure through private carriers, self-insurance, or through groups of employers. There is no exemption for employers with small numbers of employees.

Coverage of Agricultural Workers

Covers farm laborers who do not work for a "family farm". (Elective coverage is permitted for certain employees of family farms.) Defines "family farm" as any farm operation which pays less than $8,000 in cash wages, exclusive of machine hire, to farm laborers for services rendered during the preceding calendar year. "Family farm" may also include farm operations with total liability insurance of $300,000, and $5,000 in medical payment coverage, if such farm pays less than the statewide average weekly wage.

Coverage of Domestic Employees

Covers any domestic worker who earns $1,000 or more in any three-month period or who has earned $1,000 or more in any three-month period of the previous year from the same single, private household.

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. For weekly payments, the minimum is $130 or actual wage, if less and the maximum is $850. The maximum period of payments is 104 weeks, or 90 days after maximum medical improvement. Compensation stops if employee withdraws from the labor market, is released to work without any physical restrictions, or refuses offer to work that is consistent with a rehabilitation plan.

Benefits for Permanent Total Disability (PTD)

The percentage of worker's wage paid is 66 2/3. For weekly payments, the minimum is $130 or actual wage, if less and the maximum is $850. The maximum period of payments is until age 67. After $25,000 is paid, continuing payments become subject to any government of Social Security Benefit offsets.

Benefits for Permanent Partial Disability (PPD)

The percentage of worker's wage paid is 66 2/3. For weekly payments, the minimum is $130 or actual wage, if less and the maximum is $850. For non-scheduled injuries, there is no maximum period of payments and no maximum payment amount. Ratings for compensation purposes are determined as a percentage of permanent total disability. The percentage of disability to the body is set out in permanent partial disability schedule rules. The amount of compensation depends on whether the employee is offered or finds suitable employment by the time limit. If so, smaller impairment compensation (based on percentage and wage rate) is payable. If not, larger economic recovery compensation (based on percentage and wage rate) is payable.

Disfigurement Benefits

Minnesota law covers "Disfigurement or scarring, not resulting from loss of a member or other scheduled injury affecting employability or advancement opportunity". Permanent partial disability under the schedule if resulting from burns. Benefits are 66-2/3 percent of employee's daily wage at time of injury, subject to a maximum of 100 percent of the State average weekly wage, for a maximum period of 90 weeks.

Offset Provisions in State Laws

Section 176.101, Sub. 4--After $25,000 is paid for permanent total disability, benefits paid by any government disability program, or any old age and survivors' insurance benefits program are credited against workers' compensation benefits, if such disability benefits are occasioned by the same injury.

Section 176.111, Sub. 21--Death benefits shall not exceed 100 percent of the deceased employee's weekly wage at the time of the injury causing his death, when the total weekly government survivor benefits and the State workers' compensation benefits are combined, nor be payable for any week in which the government benefits exceed such percentage.

Contact Information

Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry
Workers' Compensation Division
443 Lafayette Road North
St. Paul, MN 55155-4305

Phone: (651) 284-5005
Toll-free: 1-800-DIAL-DLI (1-800-342-5354)
TTY: (651) 297-4198

Internet: http://www.dli.mn.gov/WorkComp.asp

Additional Information

Historical and current data from a "Common Benefits and Expenses Chart" are available online at:
http://www.dli.mn.gov/WC/ComBenExp.asp

Minnesota Workers' Compensation Statutes are available online at:
https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/statutes/?id=176

Minnesota Workers' Compensation Rules are available online at:
https://www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us/rules/?id=5220

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

Information for this topic was drawn from the website at:
http://www.dli.mn.gov/WorkComp.asp

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