102.44 Annotation
Committee Note, 1971: Employes who are totally disabled receive compensation at the wage level and the compensation rate in effect as of the date of their injury. This is an average of approximately $45.90 per week for the employes who are injured previous to February 1, 1970. The intent is to provide for payment of supplemental benefits; for example, an employe who was injured in October 1951 and earning wages in excess of the maximum of $52.86 is receiving $37 a week for total disability. This employe will receive supplemental benefits of $42 a week to bring the total up to $79, which was the maximum February 1, 1970. An employe injured in October 1951 with a wage of $26.43 has been receiving $18.50 per week for total disability. This is 50% of the maximum in effect in October 1951. Such employe will receive supplemental benefits of $21 a week to bring the total up to $39.50, which is 50% of the maximum in effect February 1, 1970. It is not intended that any death benefit payment be affected by this section. [Bill 371-A]
102.44 Annotation
The department must disregard total loss of earning capacity in the case of a relative scheduled injury. Mednicoff v. ILHR Dept. 54 W (2d) 7, 194 NW (2d) 670.
102.44 Annotation
"Odd-lot" doctrine discussed. Balczewski v. DILHR, 76 W (2d) 487, 251 NW (2d) 794.
102.44 Annotation
Sub. (6) (a) includes only wage loss suffered at employment where injury occurred and does not include wage loss from second job. Ruff v. LIRC, 159 W (2d) 239, 464 NW (2d) 56 (Ct. App. 1990).
102.44 Annotation
LIRC exceeded its authority when it ordered temporary total disability payments for an indefinite future period. TTD payments are not authorized for the period after a medical condition has stabilized and before the employe undergoes surgery. GTC Auto Parts v. LIRC, 184 W (2d) 450, 516 NW (2d) 313 (Ct. App. 1993).
102.44 Annotation
Sub. (4) requires apportionment between scheduled and unscheduled injuries when both contribute to permanent total disability. Loss of earning capacity may not be awarded for scheduled injuries. Langhus v. LIRC, 206 W (2d) 493, 557 NW (2d) 450 (Ct. App. 1996).
102.44 Annotation
See note to Art. IV, s. 26 as to (1), citing 62 Atty. Gen. 69.
102.45
102.45
Benefits payable to minors; how paid. Compensation and death benefit payable to an employe or dependent who was a minor when the employe's or dependent's right began to accrue, may, in the discretion of the department, be ordered paid to a bank, trust company, trustee, parent or guardian, for the use of such employe or dependent as may be found best calculated to conserve the employe's or dependent's interests. Such employe or dependent shall be entitled to receive payments, in the aggregate, at a rate not less than that applicable to payments of primary compensation for total disability or death benefit as accruing from the employe's or dependent's 18th birthday.
102.45 History
History: 1973 c. 150;
1993 a. 492.
102.46
102.46
Death benefit. Where death proximately results from the injury and the deceased leaves a person wholly dependent upon him or her for support, the death benefit shall equal 4 times his or her average annual earnings, but when added to the disability indemnity paid and due at the time of death, shall not exceed two-thirds of weekly wage for the number of weeks set out in
s. 102.44 (3).
102.46 History
History: 1979 c. 278;
1981 c. 92.
102.46 Annotation
Death benefits under the worker's compensation law. Fortune. WBB Apr. 1987.
102.47
102.47
Death benefit, continued. If death occurs to an injured employe other than as a proximate result of the injury, before disability indemnity ceases, death benefit and burial expense allowance shall be as follows:
102.47(1)
(1) Where the injury proximately causes permanent total disability, they shall be the same as if the injury had caused death, except that the burial expense allowance shall be included in the items subject to the limitation stated in
s. 102.46. The amount available shall be applied toward burial expense before any is applied toward death benefit. If there are no surviving dependents the amount payable to dependents shall be paid, as provided in
s. 102.49 (5) (b), to the fund created under
s. 102.65.
102.47(2)
(2) Where the injury proximately causes permanent partial disability, the unaccrued compensation shall first be applied toward funeral expenses, not to exceed the amount specified in
s. 102.50. Any remaining sum shall be paid to dependents, as provided in this section and
ss. 102.46 and
102.48, and there is no liability for any other payments. All computations under this subsection shall take into consideration the present value of future payments. If there are no surviving dependents the amount payable to dependents shall be paid, as provided in
s. 102.49 (5) (b), to the fund created under
s. 102.65.
102.475
102.475
Death benefit; law enforcement and correctional officers, fire fighters, rescue squad members, national or state guard members and emergency management personnel. 102.475(1)(1)
Special benefit. If the deceased employe is a law enforcement officer, correctional officer, fire fighter, rescue squad member, national guard member or state defense force member on state active duty as described in
s. 102.07 (9) or if a deceased person is an employe or volunteer performing emergency management activities under
ch. 166 during a state of emergency or a circumstance described in
s. 166.04, who sustained an accidental injury while performing services growing out of and incidental to that employment or volunteer activity so that benefits are payable under
s. 102.46 or
102.47 (1), the department shall voucher and pay from the appropriation under
s. 20.445 (1) (aa) a sum equal to 75% of the primary death benefit as of the date of death, but not less than $50,000 to the persons wholly dependent upon the deceased. For purposes of this subsection, dependency shall be determined under
ss. 102.49 and
102.51.
102.475(2)(a)(a) If there are more than 4 persons who are wholly dependent upon the deceased employe an additional benefit of $2,000 shall be paid for each dependent in excess of 4.
102.475(2)(b)
(b) If there is more than one person who is wholly dependent upon the deceased employe, the benefits under this section shall be apportioned between such dependents on the same proportional basis as the primary death benefit.
102.475(2)(c)
(c) Notwithstanding
sub. (1), if there are partial dependents of the deceased employe who are entitled to benefits under
s. 102.48, they shall be entitled to such portion of the benefit determined under
sub. (1) that their partial dependency benefit bears to the primary benefit payable to one wholly dependent upon the deceased. No payment to a partial dependent shall be less than $1,000.
102.475(3)
(3) Disputes. In case of dispute, dependents may file applications as provided in
s. 102.17, and
ss. 102.17 to
102.27 shall apply. In such case, if the claim for a primary death benefit is compromised, any claim under this section shall be compromised on the same proportional basis. The attorney general shall represent the interests of the state in case of such dispute.
102.475(5)
(5) Minors. Benefits due to minors under this section may be paid as provided in
s. 102.45.
102.475(6)
(6) Proof. In administering this section the department may require reasonable proof of birth, marriage, relationship or dependency.
102.475(7)
(7) Not to affect other rights, benefits or compensation. The compensation provided for in this section is in addition to, and not exclusive of, any pension rights, death benefits or other compensation otherwise payable by law.
102.475(8)
(8) Definitions. As used in this section:
102.475(8)(a)
(a) "Correctional officer" means any person employed by the state or any political subdivision as a guard or officer whose principal duties are supervision and discipline of inmates at a penal institution, prison, jail, house of correction or other place of penal detention.
102.475(8)(b)
(b) "Fire fighter" means any person employed by the state or any political subdivision as a member or officer of a fire department or a member of a volunteer department, including the state fire marshal and deputies or a member of a legally organized rescue squad.
102.475(8)(c)
(c) "Law enforcement officer" means any person employed by the state or any political subdivision for the purpose of detecting and preventing crime and enforcing laws or ordinances and who is authorized to make arrests for violations of the laws or ordinances the person is employed to enforce, whether that enforcement authority extends to all laws or ordinances or is limited to specific laws or ordinances.
102.475(8)(d)
(d) "Political subdivision" includes counties, municipalities and municipal corporations.
102.475(8)(e)
(e) "State" means the state of Wisconsin and its departments, divisions, boards, bureaus, commissions, authorities and colleges and universities.
102.48
102.48
Death benefit, continued. If no person who survives the deceased employe is wholly dependent upon the deceased employe for support, partial dependency and death benefits therefor shall be as follows:
102.48(1)
(1) An unestranged surviving parent or parents to whose support the deceased has contributed less than $500 in the 52 weeks next preceding the injury causing death shall receive a death benefit of $6,500. If the parents are not living together, the department shall divide this sum in such proportion as it deems to be just, considering their ages and other facts bearing on dependency.
102.48(2)
(2) In all other cases the death benefit shall be such sum as the department shall determine to represent fairly and justly the aid to support which the dependent might reasonably have anticipated from the deceased employe but for the injury. To establish anticipation of support and dependency, it shall not be essential that the deceased employe made any contribution to support. The aggregate benefits in such case shall not exceed twice the average annual earnings of the deceased; or 4 times the contributions of the deceased to the support of such dependents during the year immediately preceding the deceased employe's death, whichever amount is the greater. In no event shall the aggregate benefits in such case exceed the amount which would accrue to a person solely and wholly dependent. Where there is more than one partial dependent the weekly benefit shall be apportioned according to their relative dependency. The term "support" as used in
ss. 102.42 to
102.63 shall include contributions to the capital fund of the dependents, for their necessary comfort.
102.48(3)
(3) A death benefit, other than burial expenses, except as otherwise provided, shall be paid in weekly instalments corresponding in amount to two-thirds of the weekly earnings of the employe, until otherwise ordered by the department.
102.49
102.49
Additional death benefit for children, state fund. 102.49(1)(1) Where the beneficiary under
s. 102.46 or
102.47 (1) is the wife or husband of the deceased employe and is wholly dependent for support, an additional death benefit shall be paid from the funds provided by
sub. (5) for each child by their marriage who is living at the time of the death of the employe, and who is likewise wholly dependent upon the employe for support. Such payment shall commence at the time that primary death benefit payments are completed, or if advancement of compensation has been paid at the time when payments would normally have been completed. Payments shall continue at the rate of 10% of the surviving parent's weekly indemnity until the child's 18th birthday. If the child is physically or mentally incapacitated, such payments may be continued beyond the 18th birthday but the payments may not continue for more than a total of 15 years.
102.49(2)
(2) A child lawfully adopted by the deceased employe and the surviving spouse, prior to the time of the injury, and a child not the deceased employe's own by birth or adoption but living with the deceased employe as a member of the deceased employe's family at the time of the injury shall for the purpose of this section be taken as a child by their marriage.
102.49(3)
(3) If the employe leaves a spouse wholly dependent and also a child by a former marriage or adoption, likewise wholly dependent, aggregate benefits shall be the same in amount as if the child were the child of the surviving spouse, and the entire benefit shall be apportioned to the dependents in the amounts that the department shall determine to be just, considering the ages of the dependents and other factors bearing on dependency. The benefit awarded to the surviving spouse shall not exceed 4 times the average annual earnings of the deceased employe.
102.49(4)
(4) Dependency of any child for the purposes of this section shall be determined according to
s. 102.51 (1), in like manner as would be done if there was no surviving dependent parent.
102.49(5)(a)(a) In each case of injury resulting in death, the employer or insurer shall pay into the state treasury the sum of $5,000.
102.49(5)(b)
(b) In addition to the payment required under
par. (a), in each case of injury resulting in death leaving no person dependent for support, the employer or insurer shall pay into the state treasury the amount of the death benefit otherwise payable, minus any payment made under
s. 102.48 (1), in 5 equal annual instalments with the first instalment due as of the date of death.
102.49(5)(c)
(c) In addition to the payment required under
par. (a), in each case of injury resulting in death, leaving one or more persons partially dependent for support, the employer or insurer shall pay into the state treasury an amount which, when added to the sums paid or to be paid on account of partial dependency and under
s. 102.48 (1), shall equal the death benefit payable to a person wholly dependent.
102.49(5)(d)
(d) The payment into the state treasury shall be made in all such cases regardless of whether the dependents or personal representatives of the deceased employe commence action against a 3rd party under
s. 102.29. If the payment is not made within 20 days after the department makes request therefor, any sum payable shall bear interest at the rate of 7% per year.
102.49(6)
(6) The department may award the additional benefits payable under this section to the surviving parent of the child, to the child's guardian or to such other person, bank or trust company for the child's use as may be found best calculated to conserve the interest of the child. In the case of death of a child while benefits are still payable there shall be paid the reasonable expense for burial, not exceeding $1,500.
102.49(7)
(7) All payments received under this section shall be deposited in the fund established by
s. 102.65.
102.49 Annotation
Death benefits for dependent children are not increased by 102.57. Schwartz v. DILHR, 72 W (2d) 217, 240 NW (2d) 173.
102.50
102.50
Burial expenses. In all cases where death of an employe proximately results from the injury the employer or insurer shall pay the reasonable expense for burial, not exceeding $6,000.
102.51(1)(a)(a) The following persons are entitled to death benefits as if they are solely and wholly dependent for support upon a deceased employe:
102.51(1)(a)1.
1. A wife upon a husband with whom she is living at the time of his death.
102.51(1)(a)2.
2. A husband upon a wife with whom he is living at the time of her death.
102.51(1)(a)3.
3. A child under the age of 18 years upon the parent with whom he or she is living at the time of the death of the parent, there being no surviving dependent parent.
102.51(1)(a)4.
4. A child over the age of 18 years, but physically or mentally incapacitated from earning, upon the parent with whom he or she is living at the time of the death of the parent, there being no surviving dependent parent.
102.51(1)(b)
(b) Where a dependent who is entitled to death benefits under this subsection survives the deceased employe, all other dependents shall be excluded. The charging of any portion of the support and maintenance of a child upon one of the parents, or any voluntary contribution toward the support of a child by a parent, or an obligation to support a child by a parent constitutes living with any such parent within the meaning of this subsection.
102.51(2)(a)(a) No person shall be considered a dependent unless a member of the family or a spouse, or a divorced spouse who has not remarried, or lineal descendant or ancestor, or brother or sister of the deceased employe.
102.51(2)(b)
(b) If for 8 years or more prior to the date of injury a deceased employe has been a resident of the United States, it shall be conclusively presumed that no person who has remained a nonresident alien during that period is either totally or partially dependent upon the deceased employe for support.
102.51(2)(c)
(c) No person who is a nonresident alien shall be found to be either totally or partially dependent on a deceased employe for support who cannot establish dependency by proving contributions from the deceased employe by written evidence or tokens of the transfer of money, such as drafts, letters of credit, microfilm or other copies of paid share drafts, canceled checks, or receipts for the payment to any bank, express company, United States post office, or other agency commercially engaged in the transfer of funds from one country to another, for transmission of funds on behalf of said deceased employe to such nonresident alien claiming dependency. This provision shall not be applicable unless the employe has been continuously in the United States for at least one year prior to his or her injury, and has been remuneratively employed therein for at least 6 months.
102.51(3)
(3) Division among dependents. If there is more than one person wholly or partially dependent, the death benefit shall be divided between such dependents in such proportion as the department shall determine to be just, considering their ages and other facts bearing on such dependency.
102.51(4)
(4) Dependency as of the date of death. Questions as to who is a dependent and the extent of his or her dependency shall be determined as of the date of the death of the employe, and the dependent's right to any death benefit becomes fixed at that time, regardless of any subsequent change in conditions. The death benefit shall be directly recoverable by and payable to the dependents entitled thereto or their legal guardians or trustees. In case of the death of a dependent whose right to a death benefit has thus become fixed, so much of the benefit as is then unpaid is payable to the dependent's personal representatives in gross, unless the department determines that the unpaid benefit shall be reassigned, under
sub. (6), and paid to any other dependent who is physically or mentally incapacitated or a minor. A posthumous child is for the purpose of this subsection a dependent as of the date of death.
102.51(5)
(5) When not interested. No dependent of an injured employe shall be deemed a party in interest to any proceeding by the employe for the enforcement of the employe's claim for compensation, nor with respect to the compromise thereof by such employe. A compromise of all liability entered into by an employe is binding upon the employe's dependents, except that any dependent of a deceased employe may submit the compromise for review under
s. 102.16 (1).
102.51(6)
(6) Division among dependents. Benefits accruing to a minor dependent child may be awarded to either parent in the discretion of the department. Notwithstanding
sub. (1), the department may reassign the death benefit, in accordance with their respective needs therefor as between a surviving spouse and children designated in
sub. (1) and
s. 102.49.
102.51(7)
(7) Certain defense barred. In proceedings for the collection of primary death benefit or burial expense it shall not be a defense that the applicant, either individually or as a partner or member, was an employer of the deceased.
102.51 Annotation
Posthumously born illegitimate child does not qualify as a dependent under (4). Claimants not falling within one of classifications under (2) (a) will not qualify for benefits, regardless of dependency in fact. Larson v. DILHR, 76 W (2d) 595, 252 NW (2d) 33.
102.52
102.52
Permanent partial disability schedule. In cases included in the following schedule of permanent partial disabilities indemnity shall be paid for the healing period, and in addition, for the period specified, at the rate of two-thirds of the average weekly earnings of the employe, to be computed as provided in
s. 102.11:
102.52(1)
(1) The loss of an arm at the shoulder, 500 weeks;
102.52(2)
(2) The loss of an arm at the elbow, 450 weeks;
102.52(4)
(4) The loss of a palm where the thumb remains, 325 weeks;
102.52(5)
(5) The loss of a thumb and the metacarpal bone thereof, 160 weeks;
102.52(6)
(6) The loss of a thumb at the proximal joint, 120 weeks;
102.52(7)
(7) The loss of a thumb at the distal joint, 50 weeks;
102.52(8)
(8) The loss of all fingers on one hand at their proximal joints, 225 weeks;
102.52(9)
(9) Losses of fingers on each hand as follows:
102.52(9)(a)
(a) An index finger and the metacarpal bone thereof, 60 weeks;
102.52(9)(b)
(b) An index finger at the proximal joint, 50 weeks;
102.52(9)(c)
(c) An index finger at the second joint, 30 weeks;
102.52(9)(d)
(d) An index finger at the distal joint, 12 weeks;
102.52(9)(e)
(e) A middle finger and the metacarpal bone thereof, 45 weeks;
