How Workers' Comp Works in Arkansas
Arkansas runs a no-fault workers' compensation system administered by the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission (AWCC), which sits under the state Department of Labor and Licensing. If you're hurt on the job, you're generally entitled to medical care, wage-replacement benefits while you recover, and — if the injury leaves lasting effects — a permanent disability award or settlement. Here's what that looks like in plain terms, with the figures that apply to 2026 injuries.
Temporary Disability: What You're Paid While You Heal
While you can't work, Arkansas pays temporary total disability (TTD) at two-thirds (66 2/3%) of your average weekly wage, rounded to the nearest whole dollar, up to a state maximum that rises each year. For injuries occurring in 2026, the maximum TTD rate is $953.00 per week (set at 85% of the state average weekly wage of $1,120.68), and a state minimum of $20.00 also applies. There's a seven-day waiting period before cash benefits begin, but those first seven days are paid retroactively if your disability lasts more than 14 days.
| Arkansas (2026) | Detail |
|---|---|
| TTD rate | 66 2/3% of average weekly wage |
| 2026 max weekly TTD | $953.00 |
| 2026 max weekly PPD | $715.00 |
| Minimum weekly rate | $20.00 |
| Waiting period | 7 days (paid back if off >14 days) |
| Deadline to file a claim | 2 years from injury |
| Report injury to employer | Within 30 days (in writing) |
| Choice of doctor | Employer/insurer selects initial doctor |
Permanent Disability and Settlements
If your doctor decides your condition has reached the end of healing and you're left with lasting limitations, you receive a permanent partial disability (PPD) rating — an impairment percentage that, together with any wage-loss factors, drives the size of your award. For 2026 injuries the PPD weekly maximum is $715.00 (75% of the TTD rate). Most Arkansas cases resolve in one of two ways:
- Full and final joint petition settlement — a one-time lump sum, approved by the Commission, that usually closes out the claim including future medical care.
- Ongoing benefits with open medical — you keep receiving weekly indemnity and authorized treatment as your impairment is paid out over time.
Which one is better depends on your future medical needs, your impairment rating, and whether the claim is disputed. A lump-sum joint petition gives you cash now but shifts the risk of future treatment onto you, and the AWCC must approve it.
The Doctor Question in Arkansas
Unlike a regular doctor's visit, you usually can't simply see your own physician. In Arkansas, the employer or its insurance carrier selects the initial treating doctor, and that doctor's opinion heavily influences your impairment rating and your benefits. After the first examination you may petition the Commission for a one-time change of physician. Emergency care is an exception — it's covered even if you don't see an authorized doctor first. Getting treatment authorized correctly early matters, because the rating drives the money.
Heads up: Benefit maximums reset every year on January 1 and are tied to 85% of the state average weekly wage. The $953.00 TTD and $715.00 PPD figures apply to 2026 injuries — always confirm the current number with the Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission for your specific date of injury.
Deadlines You Can't Miss
Report your injury to your employer within 30 days — preferably in writing — and file your claim within two years of the date of injury. For an occupational disease, the two-year clock generally runs from when you knew or reasonably should have known the condition was work-related. Arkansas deadlines are strict, and missing them can bar your claim entirely, so confirm your exact filing window with the Commission and don't wait.
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