Bill > H4820

This bill amends South Carolina's workers' compensation law to increase the minimum weekly compensation for total disability from $75 to $150, beginning July 1, 2027. The bill establishes an annual inflation adjustment mechanism where the Workers' Compensation Commission will increase the minimum compensation rate each October 1st based on the annual increase to the state's maximum average weekly wage. The Department of Employment and Workforce will provide the necessary data for calculating this percentage change by August 1st each year, and the commission must publish the adjusted minimum weekly compensation amount by January 1st annually. The bill maintains existing provisions that define total and permanent disability, including specific conditions like loss of multiple body parts or vision, and continues the provision that certain severely disabled workers (paraplegics, quadriplegics, or those with physical brain damage) can receive lifetime benefits beyond the standard 500-week limitation. The bill will take effect on July 1, 2027, and will apply to injuries occurring on or after that date, ensuring that workers receive more comprehensive compensation for total disability.

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https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=4820&session=126&summary=B