Texas Workers' Comp Calculator (FY2027)
Quick answer: Texas pays temporary income benefits (TIBs) of 70% of the wages you lose because of a work injury. If you earn less than $10 an hour, it's 75% for the first 26 weeks. For injuries from October 1, 2026 through September 30, 2027, the weekly benefit is capped at $1,314, with a minimum of $197.
Benefits start on the eighth day of disability. If you're out two weeks or longer, the first week is paid too.
| Average weekly wage | $0 |
| Weekly pay now | $0 |
| Lost wages | $0 |
| 70% of lost wages | $0 |
| Weekly benefit | $0 |
How Texas calculates temporary income benefits
- Average weekly wage. Add up what you earned in the 13 weeks before the injury and divide by 13. Overtime counts. So can non-cash benefits like health insurance premiums. If you didn't work 13 weeks, DWC can use the pay of a worker in the same or a similar job.
- Subtract what you earn now. TIBs replace lost wages. If you're back on light duty, your current pay is subtracted first.
- Apply 70% or 75%. Labor Code §408.103 sets the rate at 70%. Workers who earn less than $10 an hour get 75% for the first 26 weeks, but not more than they actually earned the year before.
- Apply the state limits. DWC sets a new maximum and minimum every October 1. For injuries from October 1, 2026, that's $197 to $1,314 a week.
Three worked examples
Average weekly wage is $720. Seventy percent is $504 a week.
Lost wages are $600. TIBs are 70% of that: $420 a week, on top of the $400 you earn.
Average weekly wage is $380. Because the hourly rate is under $10, the first 26 weeks pay 75%: $285. After that, 70%: $266.
Texas TIBs by average weekly wage (FY2027)
Seventy percent of the wage for a worker who can't work at all, within the FY2027 limits. You reach the $1,314 cap at an average weekly wage of about $1,877.
| Average weekly wage | Weekly TIBs (70%) | Every two weeks |
|---|---|---|
| $500 | $350 | $700 |
| $700 | $490 | $980 |
| $900 | $630 | $1,260 |
| $1,100 | $770 | $1,540 |
| $1,300 | $910 | $1,820 |
| $1,500 | $1,050 | $2,100 |
| $1,700 | $1,190 | $2,380 |
| $1,878 or more | $1,314 (maximum) | $2,628 |
Texas maximum and minimum weekly benefits
Texas runs its rates on a fiscal year that starts October 1. The maximum TIBs equals the state average weekly wage, rounded to the nearest dollar. The minimum is 15% of it.
| Date of injury | TIBs max | TIBs min | Impairment (IIBs) max |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2026 – Sep 30, 2027 | $1,314 | $197 | $920 |
| Oct 1, 2025 – Sep 30, 2026 | $1,271 | $191 | $890 |
| Oct 1, 2024 – Sep 30, 2025 | $1,219 | $183 | $853 |
Two Texas deadlines you can't miss
- 30 days to tell your employer. Report the injury to your employer or a supervisor within 30 days (Labor Code §409.001). For an occupational disease, the 30 days start when you knew or should have known it was work-related.
- One year to file with DWC. File your claim with the Division of Workers' Compensation within one year of the injury (§409.003).
Common questions
When do Texas workers' comp payments start?
No income benefits are paid unless you're disabled for at least one week. Benefits start building on the eighth day. If the disability lasts two weeks or longer, the carrier also pays the first seven days. Medical benefits aren't affected by this waiting period.
Is Texas workers' comp taxable?
No. Workers' compensation for a job injury is exempt from federal income tax under IRS Publication 525, and Texas has no state income tax.
Does my Texas employer have to carry workers' comp?
Most private employers in Texas can choose whether to carry it. Government employers, like cities, counties, and public schools, must. An employer without coverage (a "non-subscriber") has to post a notice saying so and give new hires written notice. If your employer is a non-subscriber, the TIBs on this page don't apply to you.
What are impairment income benefits (IIBs)?
IIBs are a separate benefit paid after you reach maximum medical improvement and receive an impairment rating. The FY2027 maximum is $920 a week. This calculator covers TIBs only.
What people run into
These questions come up again and again in online forums. Here's what the law says.
Settlements exist, but a settlement can't pay benefits as a lump sum (except an impairment benefit commutation), can't end your medical benefits, and needs the commissioner's approval. What most people get after MMI is impairment income benefits: three weeks per rating point. Try the IIBs calculator.
Labor Code §§408.005, 408.121
Impairment income benefits start the day after maximum medical improvement. With a rating of 15% or more you may qualify for supplemental income benefits. All income benefits end 401 weeks after the injury.
Labor Code §§408.083, 408.121, 408.142
Most private Texas employers can opt out. They must post a notice and tell new hires in writing. If yours did opt out, see non-subscriber employers.
TDI-DWC; Labor Code §406.033
Sources
This calculator gives an estimate based on Texas's published rates and formulas. It is not legal advice and is not affiliated with the State of Texas or the Texas Department of Insurance. Your insurance carrier calculates your official benefit.