Workers’ Comp Settlement Chart South Carolina 2026: Body Part Weeks, Max Rate, and Real Payouts
Quick Answer
- Is there an official chart? Yes. South Carolina Code 42-9-30 sets the weeks assigned to each body part.
- How much can you get? Your rating times the body-part weeks times your weekly rate, capped at $1,189.94 per week.
- What deadline matters? Report your injury within 90 days, and know that unrepresented settlements require a Commission conference.
A workers’ comp settlement chart in South Carolina is not a menu of cash amounts. It is a statutory schedule that assigns a number of weeks to each body part, and your payout depends on three numbers: your impairment rating, the weeks assigned to the injured part, and your average weekly wage .
If you are searching this term, you probably got hurt on the job and someone mentioned a “chart” that decides what your arm or back is worth. That chart exists. It is real law. But the chart alone does not tell you what your case is worth.
This guide gives you the actual verified numbers, the 2026 maximum rate, the difference between a Form 16 and a clincher, and the real range where most South Carolina claims land.
The Facts
| Item | Status |
|---|---|
| Governing Law | S.C. Code § 42-9-30 (scheduled members) |
| 2026 Maximum Weekly Rate | $1,189.94 for injuries on or after January 1, 2026 |
| Weekly Benefit Formula | 66⅔% of average weekly wage, capped at max |
| Minimum Weekly Benefit | $75 per week, or full wage if lower |
| Total Disability Cap | 500 weeks (about 9.6 years) |
| Back Injury Threshold | 50% or more loss of use presumed total disability |
| Settlement Approval | Required by SC Workers’ Compensation Commission |
| Typical Settlement Range | $20,000 to $60,000 for most claims |
What is the workers’ comp settlement chart in South Carolina?
The South Carolina workers’ comp settlement chart is the statutory list in S.C. Code § 42-9-30 that assigns a maximum number of compensation weeks to each scheduled body part. It covers fingers, hands, arms, legs, feet, eyes, hearing, back, and total disability .
The chart does not pay you automatically. It gives you a multiplier. Your impairment rating (a percentage a doctor assigns) is multiplied by the weeks for your body part, then multiplied by your weekly compensation rate .
Here are the verified week values for the most common injuries:
| Body Part | Weeks Assigned |
|---|---|
| Thumb | 65 weeks |
| Index Finger | 40 weeks |
| Middle Finger | 35 weeks |
| Ring Finger | 25 weeks |
| Little Finger | 20 weeks |
| Hand | 185 weeks |
| Arm | 220 weeks |
| Shoulder | 300 weeks |
| Leg | 195 weeks |
| Foot | 140 weeks |
| Hip | 280 weeks |
| Eye (loss of vision) | 140 weeks |
| Hearing (one ear) | 80 weeks |
| Hearing (both ears) | 165 weeks |
| Back | 300 weeks (49% or less) |
| Back | 500 weeks (50% or more) |
| Total Disability | 500 weeks |
Data from the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission and statutory reference sheets .
The back rule is the one that changes lives. A 49% back impairment pays over 300 weeks. A 50% rating pays over 500 weeks and triggers a presumption of total and permanent disability . That one percentage point can double the value of a case.
How much does workers’ comp pay in South Carolina in 2026?
South Carolina workers’ comp pays 66⅔% of your average weekly wage, capped at $1,189.94 per week for injuries on or after January 1, 2026 . The minimum is $75 per week, unless your average weekly wage is lower .
The maximum rate applies only to higher earners. You need an average weekly wage of about $1,784.91 per week (roughly $92,800 per year) to hit the cap . If you earn less, your benefit is simply two-thirds of your wage.
Here is how the weekly rate plays out at different wage levels:
| Average Weekly Wage | Weekly Comp Rate (66⅔%) | Capped at 2026 Max? |
|---|---|---|
| $600 | $400 | No |
| $900 | $600 | No |
| $1,200 | $800 | No |
| $1,500 | $1,000 | No |
| $1,784.91 | $1,189.94 | At the cap |
| $2,000 | $1,333.33 | Yes, capped at $1,189.94 |
The 2026 maximum is an increase from the 2025 rate of $1,134.43 . The Commission published the updated advisory on January 13, 2026, and it applies retroactively to January 1, 2026 .
Reality Check: The chart weeks are maximums, not guarantees. A 10% impairment rating on a 300-week back does not pay 300 weeks. It pays 10% of 300 weeks, which is 30 weeks. The multiplier is the rating, and the rating comes from your doctor. If you disagree with the rating, you can seek a second opinion, but you cannot simply demand a higher number.
How do you calculate a South Carolina workers’ comp settlement?
You calculate a South Carolina workers’ comp settlement by multiplying your impairment rating by the body-part weeks by your weekly compensation rate. The formula is: Rating × Weeks × Compensation Rate = Permanent Disability Award .
Here is a worked example. Suppose you injure your back and your doctor assigns a 25% impairment rating. Your average weekly wage was $900, so your weekly comp rate is $600 (66⅔% of $900).
The back is assigned 300 weeks for ratings of 49% or less. Your calculation is:
25% × 300 weeks × $600 = $45,000
That $45,000 is the permanent disability portion. It does not include unpaid medical bills or temporary total disability benefits you already received while out of work.
Now change one number. Suppose your rating is 50% instead of 25%. The back moves to the 500-week tier, and the presumption of total disability applies:
50% × 500 weeks × $600 = $150,000
The same injury, rated 25 percentage points higher, triples the award. That is why the rating fight matters more than almost anything else in a South Carolina workers’ comp case.
The weekly rate is also capped. If your average weekly wage was $2,000, your comp rate would be $1,333.33, but the 2026 cap limits it to $1,189.94 . Higher earners lose the difference.
What is the average workers’ comp settlement in South Carolina?
There is no official average workers’ comp settlement in South Carolina, because the Commission does not publish settlement amounts. Published estimates from practitioners put most claims between $20,000 and $60,000, with a typical claim near $25,000 .
Minor claims settle for less. Surgical cases and high-rating injuries settle for $75,000 to $300,000 or more . A catastrophic injury with lifetime medical exposure can exceed those figures.
These ranges are not official. They come from settlement calculator and practitioner estimates, not from Commission data. Treat them as orientation, not as a quote for your case.
The variables that move a settlement up or down:
- Impairment rating: The single biggest lever, especially around the 50% back threshold.
- Future medical care: A clincher closes medical benefits, so the insurer should pay for that release.
- Your age and job skills: A 55-year-old construction worker with a back injury has a stronger loss-of-earning argument than a 25-year-old office worker with the same rating .
- Disputed liability: If the insurer denies the injury was work-related, the case goes to a hearing and the timeline stretches.
Key Takeaway: The chart gives you the multiplier, but your rating and your wage give you the number. A second opinion on the rating is often worth more than any negotiation over the weekly rate.
How do you file a workers’ comp claim in South Carolina?
You file a South Carolina workers’ comp claim by reporting the injury to your employer within 90 days, then following the Commission’s process for medical treatment, wage benefits, and settlement approval .
Here are the steps:
- Report the injury to your employer in writing within 90 days. Do not wait, even if the injury seems minor at first.
- Get medical treatment from an authorized provider. The insurer directs care in admitted claims.
- Receive temporary disability benefits if you are out of work more than 7 days. Benefits generally begin on day 8 .
- Reach maximum medical improvement (MMI). Settlement discussions cannot meaningfully start until your doctor says your condition has stabilized .
- Get an impairment rating from your doctor. This rating drives the permanent disability calculation.
- Negotiate the settlement type. You and the insurer choose between a Form 16 (keeps some future rights) or a clincher (closes everything).
- Get Commission approval. Unrepresented claimants must attend an informal conference before a Commissioner. Represented parties can file by document .
- Receive payment after the approved order is processed. Checks typically arrive within weeks after approval .
The 90-day reporting deadline is the one that ends cases before they start. If you miss it, you may lose the right to benefits entirely.
What is the difference between a Form 16 and a clincher in South Carolina?
A Form 16 settlement pays permanent disability benefits but may preserve your right to request more benefits if your condition worsens. A clincher (Agreement and Final Release) closes the entire claim, including all future medical care, and is irreversible once approved .
The choice matters more than most injured workers realize. Here is the comparison:
| Feature | Form 16 / 16A | Clincher |
|---|---|---|
| Pays permanent disability | Yes | Yes |
| Future medical care | May stay open | Closed permanently |
| Right to reopen for worsening | Yes, generally within 1 year | No |
| Typical cash amount | Lower | Higher |
| Best for | Workers who may need more treatment | Workers who want finality |
A Form 16 keeps a door open. A clincher locks it. The insurer usually pays more for a clincher because it is buying its way out of future liability .
If you choose a clincher, the settlement should include the value of the future medical care you are giving up. That is not a small number. Back surgery, pain management, and physical therapy over 20 years can exceed the cash settlement itself.
What happens next after a South Carolina workers’ comp settlement is approved?
After a South Carolina workers’ comp settlement is approved, the insurer issues payment according to the agreement, and the Commission’s order becomes binding. Most checks arrive within several weeks of approval .
The next stages look like this:
Immediately after signing: Your attorney or the insurer files the Form 16, Form 16A, or clincher with the Commission .
Expected within 2 to 6 weeks: A Commissioner reviews and approves the settlement. Unrepresented claimants may need to attend an informal conference .
Expected within 1 to 3 weeks after approval: The insurer issues the settlement check. If you are represented, the check goes to your attorney’s trust account first .
After you receive funds: Medical liens and attorney fees are paid, and you receive the net remainder.
If you signed a Form 16: You generally have one year from the last compensation payment to request a hearing for additional benefits if your condition worsens .
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the maximum workers’ comp rate in South Carolina for 2026?
The maximum weekly compensation rate for 2026 injuries is $1,189.94. It applies to injuries on or after January 1, 2026.
How much is a back injury worth in South Carolina workers’ comp?
A back injury rated at 49% or less is valued over 300 weeks. A rating of 50% or more moves to the 500-week tier and carries a presumption of total disability.
What is the 90-day rule in South Carolina workers’ comp?
You must report your workplace injury to your employer within 90 days. Missing that deadline can bar your claim.
Do I need a lawyer to settle a workers’ comp claim in South Carolina?
You do not need a lawyer, but unrepresented claimants must attend an informal conference before a Commissioner for settlement approval.
What is a clincher agreement in South Carolina workers’ comp?
A clincher is a full and final settlement that closes the claim permanently, including future medical benefits. It is irreversible once approved.
How long does it take to get a workers’ comp settlement check in South Carolina?
After Commission approval, payment typically arrives within 2 to 6 weeks. The full process from injury to check often takes months.
Can I get pain and suffering in South Carolina workers’ comp?
No. South Carolina workers’ comp does not pay pain and suffering. It covers medical care, wage replacement, and permanent disability only.
What if my employer denies my workers’ comp claim?
You can request a hearing before the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission. Hearings are usually scheduled within about 60 days of the request.
The one number to remember
Your impairment rating is the number that decides your case. A 25% back rating at a $600 weekly rate pays about $45,000. A 50% rating on the same back pays about $150,000. The difference is not the chart. It is the rating, and the rating comes from a doctor.
Get the rating right before you sign anything. Then check the 2026 maximum rate of $1,189.94 to see whether the cap affects your weekly benefit.
