Topeka — Adjusting the caps on workers’ compensation benefits to coincide with the cost of living will be considered by lawmakers this week.
“I think it’s real important for families,” said state Sen. Anthony Hensley, D-Topeka, who will introduce Senate Bill 258 at a hearing Tuesday before the Senate Commerce Committee.
The measure would require the Kansas Department of Labor to adjust the caps on certain workers’ comp benefits to an amount equal to the Midwest cost of living adjustment.
A recent study conducted by researchers at Kansas University shows that benefits for total disability, partial disability and total disability over a temporary timeframe haven’t increased since 1987.
Since then, the cost of living has nearly doubled, which means those benefits haven’t kept pace with actual expenses.
A person who is totally and permanently disabled under the state’s workers’ comp system can receive a maximum of $125,000. Hensley said that was not enough to support a family “for the rest of their lives.”
Hensley said his bill would help injured workers, and by adjusting caps with the cost of living, it would remove the fight over benefits from the political process.
For years, business organizations have opposed changes in workers’ comp benefits, but Terry Humphrey, of the Kansas Coalition for Workforce Safety, said support for SB 258 was increasing.
“Who can vote against a bill that recognizes we’ve had inflation over the past 20 years?” Humphrey said.
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just_another_bozo_on_this_bus (anonymous) says…
“Who can vote against a bill that recognizes we’ve had inflation over the past 20 years?” Humphrey said.
The Republican majority?
slowplay (anonymous) says…
I hope we can hang on until 2012. Kansas has a chance turn blue, especially if the Republican/obstructionists maintain status quo.
BABBOY (anonymous) says…
So, if you are a 30-40 year old worker making $50,000 a year as police office or fireman or in a factory or whatever, and you get hurt so bad that you cannot work in any fashion -- which is what total disability means, the most you get for the rest of your life from the work comp insurance carrier is $125,000 as capped by our legislature.
That is just wrong.
I would think that this bill needs to be passed. $125,000 is an insulting number to cap insurance payments regardless of the income or age of the worker who got hurt.
I mean if they got hurt at work, why should Social Securty Disability (meaning we pay for the disability from the injury) when there is work comp insurance that is supposed to compensate for the injury. I mean once the $125,000 is gone, they have no choice but to file for Social Secrutty disabiltiy. It is just wrong to let insurance companies skate on this issue and dump it on the government with this stupid cap.