If you were hurt on the job in Missouri, the first question you want answered is: how much is my claim worth? Missouri workers' compensation benefits exist to protect injured workers when workplace injuries take them off the job, but the payment structure isn't always obvious. The answer starts with one document: the Missouri Workers' Compensation Body Part Value Chart, established under § 287.190 of the Missouri Revised Statutes.
This guide explains how the chart works, shows you the actual statutory week values for each body part, walks through a real dollar-and-cents example, and covers the factors that can change your final workers' compensation settlement. If you're dealing with a work-related injury in Columbia or anywhere in central Missouri, this is the place to start.
How Missouri Workers' Compensation Settlements Work
Missouri workers' compensation provides several types of benefits, but when most injured employees ask about a "settlement," they're asking about Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) benefits — the payment you receive when a workplace injury leaves you with a lasting impairment after you've finished medical treatment.
PPD settlements in Missouri are always paid as a lump sum. Weekly benefit payments are a separate benefit (Temporary Total Disability) paid while you are off work recovering, not part of a settlement. The PPD lump sum is calculated using a three-variable formula:
Body Part Week Value × Disability Rating (%) × Weekly Compensation Rate = Settlement Value
Each variable is explained in the sections below.
The Missouri Workers' Compensation Body Part Value Chart
Missouri law assigns a maximum number of weeks of compensation to each scheduled body part under § 287.190 RSMo. A complete loss of the body part receives the full week value. Partial injuries are calculated as a percentage of that maximum.
| Body Part / Injury | Maximum Weeks | Example Settlement at $600/wk |
|---|---|---|
| Loss of arm | 232 weeks | $139,200 at 100% |
| Loss of leg | 232 weeks | $139,200 at 100% |
| Loss of hand | 175 weeks | $105,000 at 100% |
| Loss of foot | 150 weeks | $90,000 at 100% |
| Loss of thumb | 60 weeks | $36,000 at 100% |
| Loss of index finger | 40 weeks | $24,000 at 100% |
| Loss of middle finger | 35 weeks | $21,000 at 100% |
| Loss of ring finger | 25 weeks | $15,000 at 100% |
| Loss of little finger | 20 weeks | $12,000 at 100% |
| Loss of great toe | 28 weeks | $16,800 at 100% |
| Loss of other toe (each) | 14 weeks | $8,400 at 100% |
| Complete loss of sight (one eye) | 140 weeks | $84,000 at 100% |
| Hearing loss (one ear) | 49 weeks | $29,400 at 100% |
| Hearing loss (both ears) | 175 weeks | $105,000 at 100% |
| Body as a whole (back, neck, shoulder, hip) | 400 weeks | $240,000 at 100% |
Source: § 287.190 RSMo. Example settlements assume a $600/week compensation rate for illustration only. The number of compensation weeks for a given body part is fixed by statute regardless of severity — severity is captured through the disability percentage, not by changing the week value.
Back, neck, and shoulder injuries: These are among the most common workers' compensation cases in Missouri. Because they are not specifically listed in the scheduled body part table, they fall under "body as a whole," which carries a 400-week value. Many injured workers with back injuries receive a whole body disability rating, and that 400-week maximum gives these claims significant settlement potential.
Variable 1: Your Permanent Partial Disability Rating
After reaching Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) — the point at which your doctor says you've recovered as much as you're going to — a physician will assign a permanent partial disability rating. This disability percentage reflects the degree of permanent impairment to the affected body part or body as a whole.
In most workers' compensation cases, the insurance company's physician performs the evaluation and gives their opinion on your level of impairment. That doctor's opinion determines how many weeks of compensation you receive and directly affects your settlement value. A low disability percentage means a smaller settlement.
For example, a 10% PPD rating to the back means you receive 10% of the 400-week body-as-a-whole value, which is 40 weeks of compensation.
PPD vs. Permanent Total Disability (PTD): Permanent partial disability applies when you retain some ability to work after your injury. If your work-related injury leaves you permanently and totally unable to return to any gainful employment, you may qualify for permanent total disability benefits instead — which pay two-thirds of your AWW for life rather than as a lump sum. The distinction between PPD and PTD is one of the most consequential determinations in a workers' compensation case.
Disfigurement: Missouri workers' compensation law also provides separate compensation for serious and permanent disfigurement to the face, head, or neck under § 287.190 RSMo. Disfigurement benefits are calculated independently from the PPD schedule and can be awarded in addition to your permanent partial disability settlement.
Don't accept the first offer.
The disability rating assigned by the insurance company's chosen physician is not final. At Bur Oak Legal, I review the insurance company's evaluation and, when warranted, obtain an independent opinion. The difference between a 10% and a 20% rating on a back injury can easily be worth $19,000 or more.
Get a free consultation →Variable 2: Your Weekly Compensation Rate
Missouri workers' compensation pays PPD benefits at two-thirds (66.67%) of your Average Weekly Wage (AWW) at the time of injury, subject to a statutory maximum updated annually by the Missouri Division of Workers' Compensation.
Your AWW is typically calculated from your total wages in the 13 weeks before the injury. Your weekly benefits — both during recovery and for PPD — are based on this calculation, so an accurate AWW is critical to your settlement.
Example:
Average Weekly Wage: $900/week
Compensation Rate: $900 × 2/3 = $600/week
Workers with variable hours, seasonal work, or multiple jobs may have a disputed AWW calculation — which is another area where legal representation can make a real difference.
The Missouri PPD Settlement Process
Permanent partial disability settlements in Missouri are always paid as a lump sum — there is no structured weekly payment option for PPD. Here is how the process typically works after you reach maximum medical improvement:
Step 1: Disability rating assigned. Your treating physician assigns a permanent partial disability rating once you reach MMI. This rating is the foundation of your settlement value. If the disability rating seems low, you have the right to request an independent medical examination from a physician of your choice. A higher disability rating directly increases your settlement amount.
Step 2: Demand and negotiation. Your attorney submits a demand to the workers' compensation insurance company based on your disability rating, average weekly wage, and any additional factors such as Second Injury Fund involvement or disputed medical bills. The insurance company will typically make a counteroffer. This negotiation process can take days or several months depending on the complexity of your case.
Step 3: Settlement agreement and ALJ approval. Once both parties agree on a figure, the settlement is documented in a written agreement and submitted to a Missouri Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) for approval. The ALJ reviews the agreement to confirm it is in the injured worker's best interest. This is a required step under § 287.190 RSMo.
Step 4: Payment. After ALJ approval, the workers' compensation insurance company issues the lump sum payment — typically within 30 days. This payment closes your PPD claim permanently, so it is critical that the settlement amount reflects your full disability rating and future medical needs before you sign anything.
Important: The right to negotiate a PPD settlement only arises after you have reached Maximum Medical Improvement. Settling before MMI is reached means you may be agreeing to a disability rating before the full extent of your permanent impairment is known — a mistake that cannot be undone once the ALJ approves the agreement.
Worked Example: What a Back Injury Settlement Looks Like
Here's how the formula plays out with real numbers.
Scenario: You injured your back at work. Your treating physician declared you at MMI and assigned a 12% permanent partial disability rating to the body as a whole. Your average weekly wage at the time of injury was $900.
Body as a whole value: 400 weeks
Disability rating: 12%
Weeks owed: 400 × 12% = 48 weeks
Compensation rate: $900 × 2/3 = $600/week
Baseline settlement: 48 × $600 = $28,800
Now suppose an independent physician rates your disability at 20% instead:
Weeks owed: 400 × 20% = 80 weeks
Settlement at $600/wk: 80 × $600 = $48,000
Difference: +$19,200
That's why the disability rating matters — and why injured workers should not accept a settlement before having an attorney review it.
What Else Can Affect Your Settlement
The body part chart and formula give you a baseline, but several factors can significantly change the final number:
Second Injury Fund. Missouri's Second Injury Fund provides additional compensation to workers who had a pre-existing disability before the work injury. If you have pre-existing conditions that combine with your new injury to create a greater overall disability, you may qualify for a separate Second Injury Fund award on top of your PPD benefits.
Future medical needs. If you have ongoing future medical needs — follow-up care, physical therapy, or future surgery — those future medical costs can be factored into the settlement. Never settle before you understand your future medical needs.
Disputed claims. Employers and insurance companies sometimes dispute whether a workplace injury is work-related or challenge the extent of your permanent limitations. These disputes are heard before the Missouri Division of Workers' Compensation, where an attorney can present your case to an Administrative Law Judge.
Average weekly wage disputes. If your hours varied, you worked seasonally, or you had multiple jobs, the AWW calculation can be contested. A higher AWW means a higher compensation rate and a larger settlement.
What the Settlement Chart Doesn't Include
The PPD formula covers permanent partial disability only. Your total workers' compensation claim may also include:
- Temporary total disability (TTD) payments — weekly benefits that replace your lost wages while you're completely off work during recovery. TTD pays two-thirds of your AWW until you return to work or reach MMI.
- Medical benefits — all reasonable and necessary medical treatment is covered separately from PPD. The workers' compensation insurance company pays these directly to providers.
- Permanent total disability benefits — if a work-related injury leaves you unable to return to any gainful employment, you may receive permanent total disability benefits equal to two-thirds of your AWW for life.
- Death benefits — if a workplace injury results in death, Missouri workers' compensation provides death benefits to surviving dependents.
- Vocational rehabilitation — if you cannot return to your prior occupation due to the injury, vocational rehabilitation services may be available.
Workers' compensation in Missouri does not include compensation for pain and suffering. If your injury was caused by a negligent third party — a contractor, equipment manufacturer, or negligent driver — a separate personal injury claim may allow you to recover additional compensation for those damages on top of your workers' comp benefits.
Do You Need a Workers' Compensation Attorney to Settle Your Claim?
You are not required to hire a lawyer to file or settle a Missouri workers' compensation claim. But most injured workers who navigate the process without legal representation leave money on the table — often without knowing it.
What a workers' comp attorney does for your settlement:
- Challenges a low disability rating. The single biggest lever in your settlement is the disability percentage. An experienced workers' compensation attorney can identify when the insurance company's rating is unreasonably low and obtain an independent medical evaluation to contest it. Even a 5–10% increase in your disability rating can add thousands of dollars to your settlement.
- Calculates your correct Average Weekly Wage. If your AWW is miscalculated — even by a small amount — your compensation rate and total settlement will both be lower than they should be. Attorneys review payroll records to make sure the insurer is using the right number.
- Identifies Second Injury Fund eligibility. Many injured workers with prior injuries or pre-existing conditions qualify for additional benefits from Missouri's Second Injury Fund. This is frequently overlooked by workers handling claims on their own.
- Negotiates the settlement. Insurance companies make initial offers based on the lowest defensible number. Attorneys push back with documentation, independent opinions, and knowledge of what cases like yours are actually settling for.
How are workers' comp attorneys paid in Missouri? Workers' compensation attorneys in Missouri work on a contingency fee basis — you pay nothing upfront. Attorney fees in Missouri workers' comp cases are capped by statute and must be approved by the Administrative Law Judge as part of the settlement. If there is no recovery, there is no fee.
The question isn't whether you can afford an attorney. It's whether you can afford to negotiate against an insurance company's adjusters and lawyers without one.
Common Mistakes That Lower Your Settlement
Accepting the first disability rating without question. The insurance company's physician has an incentive to assign a low disability percentage. Every injured employee should get an independent medical evaluation before agreeing to any settlement.
Settling before understanding future medical needs. A settlement that doesn't account for future medical needs may leave you paying out-of-pocket later. Make sure any lump sum accounts for anticipated future care.
Not disclosing pre-existing conditions properly. Pre-existing conditions don't disqualify you from Missouri workers' compensation — the work injury just needs to have aggravated the pre-existing condition. Missouri law may also entitle you to additional benefits through the Second Injury Fund because of those pre-existing conditions.
Settling too quickly after a workplace injury. Most workers' compensation cases have room to negotiate, especially on disability ratings and future medical needs. An injured employee who settles immediately after MMI rarely recovers the full value of their claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you calculate a workers' comp settlement in Missouri?
Multiply the week value assigned to your injured body part (from § 287.190 RSMo) by your disability rating percentage, then multiply that result by your weekly compensation rate (two-thirds of your average weekly wage). The result is your permanent partial disability settlement value. Medical benefits and temporary disability payments are calculated separately.
How much do you get with a 60% impairment rating in Missouri?
It depends on the body part. A 60% impairment to the arm (232 weeks) yields 139.2 compensable weeks. At $600/week, that's $83,520. A 60% impairment to the body as a whole (400 weeks) yields 240 compensable weeks, or $144,000 at $600/week. These are baseline PPD figures; TTD payments and medical benefits are separate.
How long does it take to receive a settlement check after signing in Missouri?
Once a workers' compensation settlement agreement is approved by the Missouri Division of Workers' Compensation, payment is typically issued within 30 days. The time from signing to Division approval varies but usually takes a few additional weeks.
Does a workers' comp settlement affect Social Security disability benefits?
It can. When combined, workers' compensation and SSDI payments may be subject to an offset under federal law, which can reduce your monthly SSDI payment. This is an important consideration in cases involving serious or permanent injuries — another reason to consult an attorney before settling.
How many weeks of compensation do you get for a back injury in Missouri?
Back injuries that affect the body as a whole are assigned a maximum of 400 weeks under § 287.190 RSMo. How many weeks you actually receive depends on your permanent partial disability percentage. A 10% PPD rating yields 40 weeks; a 20% rating yields 80 weeks. At $600/week, that's $24,000 or $48,000 respectively. The exact number of weeks assigned is the disability rating multiplied by 400.
Does Missouri workers' compensation cover traumatic brain injuries?
Yes. Traumatic brain injuries sustained at work are covered under Missouri workers' compensation as work-related injuries. Because TBIs do not fit neatly into the scheduled body part chart, they are typically rated as a percentage of the body as a whole (400 weeks maximum). TBI cases often involve significant future medical needs and may qualify for permanent total disability benefits if the injured worker cannot return to gainful employment.
Talk to a Missouri Workers' Compensation Attorney
The chart and formula above give you a starting point, but numbers on a page can't tell you whether your disability rating accurately reflects your permanent limitations, whether you qualify for Second Injury Fund benefits, or whether the insurance company's offer reflects what your case is actually worth.
At Bur Oak Legal, I represent injured workers in Boone County and across central Missouri. I'm a Missouri Division of Workers' Compensation certified trial attorney, and I've handled workers' compensation claims since 2012. If you've been hurt at work and want to understand what your claim is worth before you sign anything, call (573) 499-0200 for a free consultation. No fee unless we win.