Death Benefits (Survivor Claim) Workers Comp Settlements by State
Death benefits are paid to dependents rather than the worker and are calculated differently from injury claims — typically a percentage of the worker's wage paid to survivors, plus a statutory burial allowance.
About Death Benefits (Survivor Claim) Claims
Common causes: Fatal workplace accidents or occupational illness
Surgery likelihood:
Typical time off work: 0 weeks
How Severity Is Rated
This injury type doesn't have a severity spectrum the way the others do — benefits are set by statute as a percentage of the worker's wage paid to dependents, plus a burial allowance. The number and status of dependents (a spouse, minor children) is what actually determines benefit duration and amount, not a severity or impairment rating.
Does Surgery Change the Outcome?
Whether surgery is needed for Death Benefits (Survivor Claim) is likelihood based on typical cases. A surgical recommendation is worth discussing with your treating physician early, since it changes both your recovery timeline and your claim's trajectory.
Why This Injury Doesn't Use a Settlement Multiplier
This injury type doesn't use a recovery-period or multiplier model at all — the 0-week figure shown elsewhere on this site for this claim type is a structural placeholder, not a real calculation input. Benefits here are set by statute as a wage percentage paid to dependents, which is why the state comparison table below shows "Pending verification" rather than a dollar estimate for every state.
Typical Claim Timeline
Typical time off work for Death Benefits (Survivor Claim) runs about 0 weeks, though this varies based on your specific job duties and how treatment progresses. Reaching maximum medical improvement (MMI) usually happens near the end of this window, which is when a firmer settlement estimate becomes possible. See what maximum medical improvement (MMI) means for your claim, and how temporary total disability benefits work in the meantime.
Estimated Settlement by State
Sorted highest to lowest estimated range. Click a state for the full calculation and that state's specific rules.
| State | Estimated Range |
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Estimates only, not legal advice. Rankings reflect the top of each state's estimated range and don't account for case-specific facts.