102.43(5)(b)
(b) Except as provided in
s. 102.61 (1g), temporary disability shall also include such period as the employee may be receiving instruction under
s. 102.61 (1) or
(1m). Temporary disability on account of receiving instruction under
s. 102.61 (1) or
(1m), and not otherwise resulting from the injury, shall not be in excess of 80 weeks. Such 80-week limitation does not apply to temporary disability benefits under this section, the cost of tuition, fees, books, travel, or maintenance under
s. 102.61 (1), or the cost of private rehabilitation counseling or rehabilitative training under
s. 102.61 (1m) if the department determines that additional training is warranted. The necessity for additional training as authorized by the department for any employee shall be subject to periodic review and reevaluation.
102.43(5)(c)
(c) Compensation for temporary disability on account of receiving instruction under
s. 102.61 (1) or
(1m) shall not be reduced under
sub. (2) on account of any wages earned for the first 24 hours worked by an employee during a week in which the employee is receiving that instruction. If an employee performs more than 24 hours of work during a week in which the employee is receiving that instruction, all wages earned for hours worked in excess of 24 during that week shall be offset against the employee's average weekly wage in calculating compensation for temporary disability under
sub. (2). An employee who is receiving compensation for temporary disability on account of receiving instruction under
s. 102.61 (1) or
(1m) shall report any wages earned during the period in which the employee is receiving that instruction to the insurance carrier or self-insured employer paying that compensation. This paragraph does not apply after April 30, 2014.
102.43(6)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), no sick leave benefits provided in connection with other employment or wages received from other employment held by the employee when the injury occurred may be considered in computing actual wage loss from the employer in whose employ the employee sustained injury.
102.43(6)(b)
(b) In the case of an employee whose average weekly earnings are calculated under
s. 102.11 (1) (a), wages received from other employment held by the employee when the injury occurred shall be considered in computing actual wage loss from the employer in whose employ the employee sustained the injury as provided in this paragraph. If an employee's average weekly earnings are calculated under
s. 102.11 (1) (a), wages received from other employment held by the employee when the injury occurred shall be offset against those average weekly earnings and not against the employee's actual earnings in the employment in which the employee was engaged at the time of the injury.
102.43(6)(c)
(c) Wages received from the employer in whose employ the employee sustained injury or from other employment obtained after the injury occurred shall be considered in computing benefits for temporary disability.
102.43(7)(a)(a) If an employee has a renewed period of temporary disability commencing more than 2 years after the date of injury and, except as provided in
par. (b), the employee returned to work for at least 10 days preceding the renewed period of disability, payment of compensation for the new period of disability shall be made as provided in
par. (c).
102.43(7)(b)
(b) An employee need not return to work at least 10 days preceding a renewed period of temporary disability to obtain benefits under
sub. (5) (b) for rehabilitative training commenced more than 2 years after the date of injury. Benefits for rehabilitative training shall be made as provided in
par. (c).
102.43(7)(c)1.1. If the employee was entitled to maximum weekly benefits at the time of injury, payment for the renewed temporary disability or the rehabilitative training shall be at the maximum rate in effect at the commencement of the new period.
102.43(7)(c)2.
2. If the employee was entitled to less than the maximum rate, the employee shall receive the same proportion of the maximum which is in effect at the time of the commencement of the renewed period or the rehabilitative training as the employee's actual rate at the time of injury bore to the maximum rate in effect at that time.
102.43(7)(c)3.
3. For an employee who is receiving rehabilitative training, a holiday break, semester break or other, similar scheduled interruption in a course of instruction does not commence a new period of rehabilitative training under this paragraph.
102.43(8)
(8) During a compulsory vacation period scheduled in accordance with a collective bargaining agreement:
102.43(8)(a)
(a) Regardless of whether the employee's healing period has ended, no employee at work immediately before the compulsory vacation period may receive a temporary total disability benefit for injury sustained while engaged in employment for that employer.
102.43(8)(b)
(b) An employee receiving temporary partial disability benefits immediately before the compulsory vacation period for injury sustained while engaged in employment for that employer shall continue to receive those benefits.
102.43(9)
(9) Temporary disability, during which compensation shall be payable for loss of earnings, shall include the period during which an employee could return to a restricted type of work during the healing period, unless any of the following apply:
102.43(9)(a)
(a) Suitable employment that is within the physical and mental limitations of the employee is furnished to the employee by the employer or some other employer. For purposes of this paragraph, if the employer or some other employer makes a good faith offer of suitable employment that is within the physical and mental limitations of the employee and if the employee refuses without reasonable cause to accept that offer, the employee is considered to have returned to work as of the date of the offer at the earnings that the employee would have received but for the refusal. In case of a dispute as to the extent of an employee's physical or mental limitations or as to what employment is suitable within those limitations, the employee may file an application under
s. 102.17 and
ss. 102.17 to
102.26 shall apply.
102.43(9)(b)
(b) The employee's employment with the employer has been suspended or terminated due to the employee's alleged commission of a crime, the circumstances of which are substantially related to that employment, and the employee has been charged with the commission of that crime. If the employee is not found guilty of the crime, compensation for temporary disability shall be payable in full.
102.43(9)(c)
(c) The employee's employment with the employer has been suspended or terminated due to the employee's violation of the employer's policy concerning employee drug use during the period when the employee could return to a restricted type of work during the healing period. Compensation for temporary disability may be denied under this paragraph only if prior to the date of injury the employer's policy concerning employee drug use was established in writing and regularly enforced by the employer.
102.43(9)(d)
(d) The employee has been convicted of a crime, is incarcerated, and is not available to return to a restricted type of work during the healing period.
102.43 Annotation
Committee Note, 1971: Employees who have two jobs who have been injured at one of them have in some cases been made totally disabled for work at either job. Sick leave benefits from the other employer has suspended eligibility for compensation or has reduced compensation even though the employee suffered a wage loss. This is considered to be inequitable. Sick leave benefits from the employer where injury occurred are to be considered, however, in determining eligibility for compensation from such employer. [Bill 371-A]
102.43 Annotation
Under ss. 102.42 (9) (a), 102.43 (5), and 102.61, the department may extend temporary disability, travel expense, and maintenance costs beyond 40 weeks if additional training is warranted. Beloit Corp. v. State,
152 Wis. 2d 579,
449 N.W.2d 299 (Ct. App. 1989).
102.43 Annotation
The phrase "if the injury causes disability" is interpreted in light of the "as is" rule that an employee's susceptibility to injury due to a pre-existing condition does not relieve the employer from liability. ITW Deltar v. LIRC,
226 Wis. 2d 11,
593 N.W.2d 908 (Ct. App. 1999),
98-2912.
102.43 Annotation
The "as is" rule applies to delays in treatment of a work-related injury caused by a pre-existing condition. It was reasonable to find that a woman was entitled to benefits for the period she was unable to undergo surgery to repair a work-related injury due to the threat that anesthesia would cause harm to her pre-existing pregnancy. ITW Deltar v. LIRC,
226 Wis. 2d 11,
593 N.W.2d 908 (Ct. App. 1999),
98-2912.
102.44
102.44
Maximum limitations. Section 102.43 shall be subject to the following limitations:
102.44(1)(ag)(ag) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, every employee who is receiving compensation under this chapter for permanent total disability or continuous temporary total disability more than 24 months after the date of injury resulting from an injury that occurred prior to January 1, 2001, shall receive supplemental benefits that shall be payable in the first instance by the employer or the employer's insurance carrier, or in the case of benefits payable to an employee under
s. 102.66, shall be paid by the department out of the fund created under
s. 102.65. Those supplemental benefits shall be paid only for weeks of disability occurring after January 1, 2003, and shall continue during the period of such total disability subsequent to that date.
102.44(1)(am)
(am) If the employee is receiving the maximum weekly benefits in effect at the time of the injury, the supplemental benefit for a week of disability occurring after May 1, 2010, shall be an amount that, when added to the regular benefit established for the case, shall equal $582.
102.44(1)(b)
(b) If the employee is receiving a weekly benefit that is less than the maximum benefit that was in effect on the date of the injury, the supplemental benefit for a week of disability occurring after May 1, 2010, shall be an amount sufficient to bring the total weekly benefits to the same proportion of $582 as the employee's weekly benefit bears to the maximum in effect on the date of injury.
102.44(1)(c)
(c) Subject to any certificate filed under
s. 102.65 (4), an employer or insurance carrier paying the supplemental benefits required under this subsection shall be entitled to reimbursement for each such case from the fund established by
s. 102.65, commencing one year after the date of the first payment of those benefits and annually thereafter while those payments continue. To receive reimbursement under this paragraph, an employer or insurance carrier must file a claim for that reimbursement with the department by no later than 12 months after the end of the year in which the supplemental benefits were paid and the claim must be approved by the department.
102.44(2)
(2) In case of permanent total disability aggregate indemnity shall be weekly indemnity for the period that the employee may live. Total impairment for industrial use of both eyes, or the loss of both arms at or near the shoulder, or of both legs at or near the hip, or of one arm at the shoulder and one leg at the hip, constitutes permanent total disability. This enumeration is not exclusive, but in other cases the department shall find the facts.
102.44(3)
(3) For permanent partial disability not covered by
ss. 102.52 to
102.56, the aggregate number of weeks of indemnity shall bear such relation to 1,000 weeks as the nature of the injury bears to one causing permanent total disability and shall be payable at the rate of two-thirds of the average weekly earnings of the employee, the earnings to be computed as provided in
s. 102.11. The weekly indemnity shall be in addition to compensation for the healing period and shall be for the period that the employee may live, not to exceed 1,000 weeks.
102.44(4)
(4) Where the permanent disability is covered by
ss. 102.52,
102.53, and
102.55, such sections shall govern; provided, that in no case shall the percentage of permanent total disability be taken as more than 100 percent.
102.44(5)
(5) In cases where it is determined that periodic benefits granted by the federal social security act are paid to the employee because of disability, the benefits payable under this chapter shall be reduced as follows:
102.44(5)(a)
(a) For each dollar that the total monthly benefits payable under this chapter, excluding attorney fees and costs, plus the monthly benefits payable under the social security act for disability exceed 80% of the employee's average current earnings as determined by the social security administration, the benefits payable under this chapter shall be reduced by the same amount so that the total benefits payable shall not exceed 80% of the employee's average current earnings. However, no total benefit payable under this chapter and under the federal social security act may be reduced to an amount less than the benefit payable under this chapter.
102.44(5)(b)
(b) No reduction under this section shall be made because of an increase granted by the social security administration as a cost of living adjustment.
102.44(5)(c)
(c) Failure of the employee, except for excusable neglect, to report social security disability payments within 30 days after written request shall allow the employer or insurance carrier to reduce weekly compensation benefits payable under this chapter by 75%. Compensation benefits otherwise payable shall be reimbursed to the employee after reporting.
102.44(5)(d)
(d) The employer or insurance carrier making such reduction shall report to the department the reduction and as requested by the department, furnish to the department satisfactory proof of the basis for the reduction.
102.44(5)(e)
(e) The reduction prescribed by this section shall be allowed only as to payments made on or after July 1, 1980, and shall be computed on the basis of payments made for temporary total, temporary partial, permanent total and permanent partial disability.
102.44(5)(f)
(f) No reduction shall take into account payments made under the social security act to dependents of an employee.
102.44(5)(g)
(g) No reduction under this subsection shall be made on temporary disability benefits payable during a period in which an injured employee is receiving vocational rehabilitation services under
s. 102.61 (1) or
(1m).
102.44(6)(a)(a) Where an injured employee claiming compensation for disability under
sub. (2) or
(3) has returned to work for the employer for whom he or she worked at the time of the injury, the permanent disability award shall be based upon the physical limitations resulting from the injury without regard to loss of earning capacity unless the actual wage loss in comparison with earnings at the time of injury equals or exceeds 15%.
102.44(6)(b)
(b) If, during the period set forth in
s. 102.17 (4) the employment relationship is terminated by the employer at the time of the injury, or by the employee because his or her physical or mental limitations prevent his or her continuing in such employment, or if during such period a wage loss of 15% or more occurs the department may reopen any award and make a redetermination taking into account loss of earning capacity.
102.44(6)(c)
(c) The determination of wage loss shall not take into account any period during which benefits are payable for temporary disability.
102.44(6)(d)
(d) The determination of wage loss shall not take into account any period during which benefits are paid under
ch. 108.
102.44(6)(e)
(e) For the purpose of determining wage loss, payment of benefits for permanent partial disability shall not be considered payment of wages.
102.44(6)(f)
(f) Wage loss shall be determined on wages, as defined in
s. 102.11. Percentage of wage loss shall be calculated on the basis of actual average wages over a period of at least 13 weeks.
102.44(6)(g)
(g) For purposes of this subsection, if the employer in good faith makes an offer of employment which is refused by the employee without reasonable cause, the employee is considered to have returned to work with the earnings the employee would have received had it not been for the refusal.
102.44(6)(h)
(h) In all cases of permanent partial disability not covered by
ss. 102.52 to
102.56, whether or not the employee has returned to work, the permanent partial disability shall not be less than that imposed by the physical limitations.
102.44 Cross-reference
Cross-reference: See also ss.
DWD 80.32,
80.34, and
80.50, Wis. adm. code.
102.44 Annotation
Committee Note, 1971: Employees 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 employees who are injured previous to February 1, 1970. The intent is to provide for payment of supplemental benefits; for example, an employee 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 employee will receive supplemental benefits of $42 a week to bring the total up to $79, which was the maximum February 1, 1970. An employee 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 employee 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. DILHR,
54 Wis. 2d 7,
194 N.W.2d 670 (1972).
102.44 Annotation
The "odd-lot" doctrine is a part of Wisconsin law. It provides that if a claimant makes a prima facie case that he or she was injured in an industrial accident and, because of injury, age, education, and capacity, is unable to secure continuing gainful employment, the burden of showing that the claimant is employable shifts to the employer. Balczewski v. DILHR,
76 Wis. 2d 487,
251 N.W.2d 794 (1977).
102.44 Annotation
Sub. (6) (a) includes only wage loss suffered at the employment where the injury occurred and does not include wage loss from a second job. Ruff v. LIRC,
159 Wis. 2d 239,
464 N.W.2d 56 (Ct. App. 1990).
102.44 Annotation
LIRC exceeded its authority when it ordered temporary total disability payments for an indefinite future period. Such payments are not authorized for the period after a medical condition has stabilized and before the employee undergoes surgery. GTC Auto Parts v. LIRC,
184 Wis. 2d 450,
516 N.W.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 Wis. 2d 494,
557 N.W.2d 450 (Ct. App. 1996),
96-0622.
102.44 Annotation
In order for sub. (6) (b) to apply, the physical limitations must be from an unscheduled injury. Mireles v. LIRC,
226 Wis. 2d 53,
593 N.W.2d 859 (Ct. App. 1999),
98-1607.
102.44 Annotation
Sub. (2) governs the permanent total disability indemnity. "Other cases" of disability under sub. (2) may include a combination of scheduled and unscheduled injuries. Mireles v. LIRC,
2000 WI 96,
237 Wis. 2d 69,
613 N.W.2d 875,
98-1607.
102.44 Annotation
Sub. (6) (b) allows the department to reopen an award to account for loss of earning capacity from an unscheduled injury, even if a scheduled injury causes the termination of employment. Mireles v. LIRC,
2000 WI 96,
237 Wis. 2d 69,
613 N.W.2d 875,
98-1607.
102.44 Annotation
Sub. (2) allows the awarding of permanent total disability that results from a combination of scheduled and unscheduled injuries, provided that the applicant establishes that a clear, ascertainable portion of the disability is attributable to the unscheduled injury or injuries. Secura Insurance v. LIRC,
2000 WI App 237,
239 Wis. 2d 315,
620 N.W.2d 626,
00-0303.
102.44 Annotation
A claimant is not required to present evidence of a job search as part of prima facie case of odd-lot unemployability, provided the claimant shows that because of the injury and other Balczewski factors such as age, education, capacity, and training, he or she is unable to secure continuing, gainful employment. If the claimant is within the odd-lot category, it falls to the employer to rebut the prima facie case by demonstrating that the claimant is employable and that jobs exist for him or her. Beecher v. LIRC,
2004 WI 88,
273 Wis. 2d 136,
682 N.W.2d 29,
02-1582.
102.44 Annotation
The burden that shifts from the claimant to the employer under Balczewski is a burden of persuasion, but only as to the sub-issue of whether a job exists that the claimant can do. The burden of persuasion on the other aspects of the claimant's case for permanent total disability benefits remains, as always, with the claimant. Beecher v. LIRC,
2004 WI 88,
273 Wis. 2d 136,
682 N.W.2d 29,
02-1582.
102.44 Annotation
The social security offset under sub. (5) may be used to reduce temporary disability benefits paid under s. 102.43 (5) during the period that the worker is engaged in a vocational rehabilitation program as described in s. 102.61. Michels Pipeline Construction v. LIRC,
2008 WI App 55,
309 Wis. 2d 470,
750 N.W.2d 485,
07-0607.
102.44 Annotation
Under Balczewski and Beecher, once a claimant has established a prima facie odd-lot case, the employer must prove that the claimant is probably employable and that an actual, suitable job is regularly and continuously available. It is not sufficient to show that the claimant is physically capable of performing light work and that light work is available. Neither Balczewski nor Beecher require an employer to disclose any descriptive information of a claimant to a prospective employer to satisfy its rebuttal burden. The employer's duty in ascertaining whether an actual job exists is to obtain information from the prospective employer about the job requirements, not provide information about the claimant. Cargill Feed Division/Cargill Malt v. LIRC,
2010 WI App 115,
329 Wis. 2d 206,
789 N.W.2d 326,
09-1877.
102.44 Annotation
LIRC improperly expanded the evidentiary burden on employers seeking to rebut a claimant's prima facie odd-lot case beyond that established in Beecher and Balczewski by establishing a preference for evidence that the employer referred the claimant to prospective employers with specific job openings actually available, although an employer may rely on evidence that it actually referred a claimant to a prospective employer to support its rebuttal case. Cargill Feed Division/Cargill Malt v. LIRC,
2010 WI App 115,
329 Wis. 2d 206,
789 N.W.2d 326,
09-1877.
102.44 Annotation
Payment of the supplemental benefit of 102.44 (1) is not precluded to former state employees by Art. IV, s. 26. The second injury fund is not impressed with a constructive trust which prevents its use for payment of such supplemental benefits. 62 Atty. Gen. 69.
102.45
102.45
Benefits payable to minors; how paid. Compensation and death benefit payable to an employee or dependent who was a minor when the employee'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 employee or dependent as may be found best calculated to conserve the employee's or dependent's interests. Such employee 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 employee'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 employee 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.
102.47 Annotation
When a deceased worker dies before the level of permanent partial disability is established, the dependent's death benefit is not wiped out. "Unaccrued compensation" under sub. (2) is compensation that has not become due, or compensation for which a claim is not yet enforceable. It is not limited to compensation awarded but not yet paid. Edward Brothers, Inc. v. LIRC,
2007 WI App 128,
300 Wis. 2d 638,
731 N.W.2d 302,
06-2398.
102.475
102.475
Death benefit; law enforcement and correctional officers, fire fighters, rescue squad members, diving team members, national or state guard members and emergency management personnel. 102.475(1)
(1)
Special benefit. If the deceased employee is a law enforcement officer, correctional officer, fire fighter, rescue squad member, diving team 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 employee or volunteer performing emergency management activities under
ch. 323 during a state of emergency or a circumstance described in
s. 323.12 (2) (c), 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 employee 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 employee, 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 employee 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.
