If you were hurt on the job in Missouri, the value of your permanent partial disability (PPD) settlement starts with one number: the statutory weeks assigned to your injured body part under Section 287.190 of the Missouri Revised Statutes. Missouri law sets those weeks in stone. A knee is always 160 weeks, a shoulder is always 232, and back injuries are always 400. What changes from case to case is the disability rating your doctor assigns and your pre-injury wages. Understanding how those three numbers multiply together is how you understand what your claim is actually worth.
The attorneys at Deputy & Mizell have represented injured workers in Central Missouri and the Lake of the Ozarks for over 50 years. This page walks you through the complete Missouri PPD schedule, the settlement formula, and the real-world factors that can increase or decrease what you receive. If you have questions about your specific injury, contact our Workers’ Comp Attorneys.
SCHEDULE A FREE CONSULTATIONAt a Glance: Missouri Workers’ Comp PPD Settlements
- Missouri’s PPD formula: Statutory Weeks x Disability Rating (%) x Weekly Compensation Rate
- The maximum PPD weekly rate for 2025-2026 injuries is $670.92/week (55% of the state average weekly wage)
- Back, neck, and head injuries are classified as “body as a whole” at the maximum value of 400 weeks
- Shoulders are valued at 232 weeks, hips at 207 weeks, and knees at 160 weeks
- Your actual payout depends on your disability rating, your average weekly wage, and which body part was injured
- A 20% disability rating on a back injury at a $450/week rate equals $36,000 in PPD benefits
- Total case value often includes more than PPD. Temporary disability payments, medical benefits, and future medical costs may also be part of your settlement
- You have 30 days to report your injury to your employer or risk losing your right to benefits
Interactive Missouri Workers’ Comp Body Part Chart
Click or tap any body part on the figure below to see its statutory week value under Missouri’s Schedule of Losses (§ 287.190), the maximum total payout at 100% disability, and a sample settlement calculation.
The Three Variables That Determine Your PPD Settlement
Missouri does not assign a flat dollar value to workplace injuries. Chapter 287 of the Missouri Revised Statutes establishes a formula that multiplies three variables together. Every permanent partial disability settlement in the state is calculated the same way.
Statutory Weeks x Disability Rating (%) x Weekly Compensation Rate = PPD Settlement Value
Variable 1: Statutory Weeks
Set by the Missouri legislature under § 287.190. Every body part is assigned a fixed number of weeks. These do not change based on your case. A knee is always 160 weeks, a shoulder is always 232 weeks, and the body as a whole is always 400 weeks. This is the starting point for every PPD calculation in Missouri.
Variable 2: Disability Rating
A percentage assigned by a physician once you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), the point where your condition has stabilized and further significant recovery is not expected. The rating reflects how much permanent function you have lost in the injured body part. A 15% rating on a knee means you have permanently lost 15% of normal knee function. Both your treating doctor and the insurer’s independent medical examiner may assign a rating, and they frequently disagree. That gap is often the central dispute in Missouri PPD cases.
Variable 3: Weekly Compensation Rate
Equal to 66 and two-thirds percent of your average gross wages during the 13 weeks before your injury. For PPD claims, this rate is capped at $670.92/week for injuries occurring July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. The cap is adjusted annually by the Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation.
Example Calculation: Shoulder Injury
Say you earn $750 per week before your injury. Your PPD compensation rate is 66.67% of that, or $500/week. You tear your rotator cuff, have surgery, and the doctor assigns a 25% permanent disability rating.
232 weeks x 25% x $500/week = $29,000 in PPD benefits
That is the PPD portion of your settlement. Your total case value may also include temporary total disability (TTD) payments received while you were off work, medical bills covered by the insurer, and negotiated future medical benefits.
Missouri Workers’ Comp Settlement Chart: Complete Body Part Values (§ 287.190)
The table below reflects the statutory week assignments under Section 287.190 of the Missouri Revised Statutes, the maximum total PPD payout at 100% disability using the current $670.92/week rate, and an example calculation using a $450/week compensation rate and a 20% disability rating. Your actual settlement will vary based on your individual facts.
| Body Part | Statutory Weeks | Max Payout (100% Disability) | Example (20% Rating / $450/wk) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Back, Neck, Head (Body as a Whole) | 400 | $268,368 | $36,000 |
| Shoulder | 232 | $155,653 | $20,880 |
| Arm (at elbow or above) | 232 | $155,653 | $20,880 |
| Arm (below elbow) | 187 | $125,462 | $16,830 |
| Hand | 175 | $117,411 | $15,750 |
| Thumb | 60 | $40,255 | $5,400 |
| Index Finger | 40 | $26,837 | $3,600 |
| Middle Finger | 35 | $23,482 | $3,150 |
| Ring or Little Finger | 20 | $13,418 | $1,800 |
| Hip (leg at hip) | 207 | $138,880 | $18,630 |
| Knee | 160 | $107,347 | $14,400 |
| Leg (below knee) | 155 | $103,993 | $13,950 |
| Ankle | 125 | $83,865 | $11,250 |
| Foot | 150 | $100,638 | $13,500 |
| Great Toe | 30 | $20,128 | $2,700 |
| Other Toes | 10 | $6,709 | $900 |
| Eye (total loss of vision) | 140 | $93,929 | $12,600 |
| Hearing (one ear) | 49 | $32,874 | $4,410 |
| Hearing (both ears) | 200 | $134,184 | $18,000 |
Maximum payout figures use the $670.92/week PPD rate effective July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. Example calculations use a $450/week compensation rate and a 20% disability rating for illustration only. Rates are adjusted annually by the Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation.
Sample PPD Calculations for Common Missouri Workplace Injuries
The following examples use realistic wage and rating scenarios drawn from common injury types handled by our Missouri workers’ compensation practice. These are illustrations only. Your settlement will depend on your specific disability rating and pre-injury wages.
Lumbar Fusion (Back Injury): 400 Weeks
- Statutory Weeks: 400
- Disability Rating: 22%
- Weekly Compensation Rate: $480/week
- PPD Settlement: $42,240
Rotator Cuff Repair (Shoulder): 232 Weeks
- Statutory Weeks: 232
- Disability Rating: 28%
- Weekly Compensation Rate: $500/week
- PPD Settlement: $32,480
ACL or Meniscus Surgery (Knee): 160 Weeks
- Statutory Weeks: 160
- Disability Rating: 18%
- Weekly Compensation Rate: $420/week
- PPD Settlement: $12,096
These figures represent PPD benefits only. Total case value often includes temporary disability payments received during recovery, medical bills covered by the insurer, and negotiated future medical benefits.
Six Factors That Affect What Your Workers’ Comp Claim Is Actually Worth
The body part week values under § 287.190 are fixed, but everything else in your settlement is subject to negotiation and dispute. Understanding what the insurance carrier will push back on and what you can do about it is one of the most important reasons to speak with an experienced Missouri workers’ comp attorney before you settle your claim.
1. Which Doctor Assigns Your Disability Rating
Disability ratings are the single most contested element of PPD claims in Missouri. The insurance carrier’s independent medical examiner almost always assigns a lower rating than your treating physician. A 5-percentage-point difference on a back injury at $450/week translates to $9,000. The gap can be far wider. You are not bound by the carrier’s rating and have the right to obtain your own medical evaluation.
2. Your Pre-Injury Average Weekly Wage
Your compensation rate is calculated from your gross wages during the 13 weeks before your injury. If you held multiple jobs at the time of your injury, all wages should be included in that calculation. Part-time and seasonal workers often have their rates calculated incorrectly by insurers, resulting in underpayment that compounds across every week of benefits.
3. How Your Injury Is Classified
Whether your injury is classified as affecting a specific body part or “the body as a whole” has a major impact on your statutory weeks. A back injury carries 400 weeks. A separate shoulder injury may stack on top of that under certain circumstances, or it may be partially absorbed into the whole-body rating depending on how the claim is structured and argued.
4. Pre-Existing Conditions
Insurance carriers frequently argue that a portion of your disability rating should be attributed to a pre-existing condition, reducing the employer’s liability. Missouri law does allow for apportionment, but the insurer bears the burden of proving it applies. How your medical history is documented and argued matters significantly in these situations.
5. Missouri Second Injury Fund Involvement
If you had a prior disability rating before your current workplace injury, and the combination of the two creates a greater overall disability than either would alone, Missouri’s Second Injury Fund may owe you additional benefits on top of what your employer’s carrier pays. This is frequently overlooked in claims where the injured worker does not have legal representation.
6. Future Medical Costs
A PPD settlement covers permanent disability benefits only. Future medical treatment can be negotiated separately or included in a lump-sum compromise settlement. Signing away your right to future medical care without appropriate compensation can leave you personally responsible for significant costs down the road, especially for injuries that require ongoing treatment or may eventually need surgery.
PPD Is Only One Part of a Missouri Workers’ Comp Claim
Most injured workers focus on the PPD settlement number because it is the final payment, but it is rarely the only compensation available under Missouri law. A complete workers’ compensation claim may include several separate categories of benefits, each governed by its own rules under Chapter 287 of the Missouri Revised Statutes. Once you sign a settlement agreement, you generally cannot return to claim additional benefits for the same injury, which is why understanding everything you are entitled to before settling is so important.
Temporary Total Disability (TTD)
If your injury prevents you from working while you recover, you are entitled to TTD payments equal to 66 and two-thirds percent of your average weekly wage. These payments continue until you either return to work or reach maximum medical improvement, at which point the permanent disability evaluation begins.
Medical Benefits
All reasonable and necessary medical treatment related to your work injury must be paid by your employer’s insurance carrier. This includes surgery, physical therapy, prescriptions, specialist visits, and diagnostic testing. Your employer’s carrier generally controls which doctors you may see, which is one reason the disability rating process becomes so contested.
Permanent Total Disability (PTD)
If your injury leaves you permanently unable to perform any work, you may qualify for PTD benefits. These are weekly payments that continue for the rest of your life or until you are able to return to work. PTD claims are less common than PPD claims but arise in the most serious injury cases.
Death and Dependency Benefits
Families who lose a loved one in a fatal workplace accident may be entitled to burial expense reimbursement and ongoing weekly dependency benefits under Missouri workers’ comp law.
From Injury to Settlement: What to Expect in Your Missouri Workers’ Comp Case
Missouri workers’ comp cases follow a predictable path, but there are deadlines and decision points along the way where experienced legal guidance can significantly affect your outcome.
Step 1: Report Your Injury Within 30 Days
Missouri law requires you to notify your employer of a work injury within 30 days of the accident, or the date you knew or should have known your condition was work-related. Missing this deadline can jeopardize your entire claim. For repetitive-motion injuries like carpal tunnel syndrome or cumulative back strain, the clock often runs from when a physician first connects the condition to your work activities.
Step 2: Medical Treatment and Reaching MMI
Your employer’s insurer controls which doctors you see for treatment in most Missouri workers’ comp cases. Treatment continues until you reach maximum medical improvement (MMI), the point at which your condition has stabilized and significant further improvement is not expected. Reaching MMI triggers the formal disability rating process.
Step 3: Disability Rating Assignment
After MMI, your treating physician assigns a permanent disability rating. The insurer typically arranges their own independent medical examination and almost always receives a lower number. This difference is frequently the central issue in settlement negotiations, and having your own medical evidence is often critical to achieving a fair outcome.
Step 4: Negotiation or Hearing
Most Missouri workers’ comp cases settle through negotiation. The parties agree on a disability rating and compensation rate, calculate the PPD value, and may also negotiate future medical treatment coverage. If the parties cannot agree, the case proceeds to a hearing before an administrative law judge with the Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation.
Step 5: Settlement Approval
All agreed workers’ comp settlements in Missouri must be reviewed and approved by an administrative law judge. The judge ensures the settlement is fair and that you understand what rights you are waiving. Once approved and signed, the settlement is final and binding.
Your Negligent Security Claim in Central Missouri
Missouri Workers' Comp Settlement: Common Questions
What is the statute of limitations for a Missouri PPD claim?
Under Missouri law, you generally have two years from the date of your last payment of compensation or medical benefits to file a claim with the Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation. The analysis can be more nuanced for occupational diseases or conditions that develop gradually over time. Failing to file within the statutory period means permanently losing your right to benefits, so it is important to act well before you believe the deadline is approaching.
Can I dispute the disability rating assigned by the insurance company's doctor?
Yes. You are not bound by the rating assigned by the insurer’s independent medical examiner. You have the right to obtain your own medical evaluation from a physician of your choosing. If the two ratings differ significantly, the dispute may require a formal hearing before an administrative law judge, who will weigh the competing medical evidence and issue a decision. This is one of the most common areas where legal representation makes a material difference in outcome.
Does a workers' comp settlement affect my Social Security disability benefits?
Potentially yes. If you are receiving or applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), your workers’ comp benefits may trigger an offset that reduces your monthly SSDI payment. The offset applies when the combined total of workers’ comp and SSDI exceeds 80% of your pre-disability average current earnings. How your settlement is structured, particularly the language used in the agreement and whether benefits are paid as a lump sum, can significantly affect the offset calculation. Our firm handles both workers’ compensation and Social Security disability cases, so we can coordinate both sides of that analysis for you.
Can I still collect workers' comp if I have a pre-existing condition?
Yes. Having a pre-existing condition does not automatically bar you from receiving Missouri workers’ comp benefits. What matters is whether your work activities aggravated, accelerated, or combined with the pre-existing condition to produce a new or worsened disability. Missouri law recognizes occupational aggravation claims. The insurer may attempt to apportion part of your rating to the pre-existing condition, but they bear the burden of proving that apportionment is appropriate under the facts of your case.
How long does it take to receive a PPD settlement in Missouri?
From the date you reach MMI, the timeline to a final settlement varies considerably. Cases that resolve through negotiation can settle in a matter of weeks to a few months, depending on how quickly both sides reach agreement and how promptly the Division of Workers’ Compensation schedules a settlement approval conference. Cases that proceed to a formal hearing can take a year or longer from the point of dispute. For serious injuries requiring significant treatment, the overall workers’ comp process from injury through final settlement frequently spans one to three years.
I work on a farm or as an independent contractor. Am I covered?
Missouri law contains specific exemptions from mandatory workers’ comp coverage. Agricultural workers, most domestic workers, and independent contractors are generally excluded. Sole proprietors may elect to purchase coverage. Federal employees, including postal workers and railroad workers, are covered under separate federal programs rather than the Missouri system. Whether your situation qualifies as employment versus independent contracting is a fact-specific determination that is sometimes disputed, particularly when the working relationship closely resembles a traditional employment arrangement. If you are unsure, consulting with an attorney is the most reliable way to find out.
Talk to a Missouri Workers’ Comp Attorney
Deputy & Mizell, L.L.C. has represented injured workers throughout Central Missouri and the Lake of the Ozarks for over 50 years. We handle every stage of the workers’ comp process, from reporting your injury and managing your medical care through negotiating your final PPD settlement or litigating your case before the Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation.
If you have been hurt at work and want to know what your claim is worth, contact our office for a free initial consultation. There is no fee unless we recover for you.
Call Deputy & Mizell at 417-532-2191 or contact us online to schedule your free consultation today.
We have offices in Lebanon and Camdenton and serve clients throughout Central Missouri and the Lake of the Ozarks region.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Every case is different. Consult with a qualified attorney to discuss the specific facts of your situation.
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