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If you were hurt on the job, one question probably keeps circling in your mind: what is my claim actually worth? You’re facing medical bills, lost paychecks, and a system you’ve never had to deal with before. We get it. While there’s no single workers’ comp settlement chart for South Carolina that spits out a guaranteed number, the state does follow a clear formula for valuing an injury. Here’s how it works, in plain English.
West Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers has served the Lowcountry since 1945, and our attorneys handle workers’ compensation claims in Moncks Corner and throughout Berkeley County. Your consultation is free.
South Carolina Workers’ Comp is a No-Fault System
Workers’ compensation in South Carolina is a no-fault system. That means you don’t have to prove your employer did anything wrong. If you were injured on the job, you’re generally covered, even if the accident was partly your fault.
Claims are handled by the South Carolina Workers’ Compensation Commission, the state agency that oversees these cases. There’s a strict deadline, though. In most cases, you have two years from the date of your accident to file a claim with the Commission, or you can lose your right to benefits entirely. That’s one reason not to wait to receive advice.
The Two Numbers that Drive Your Case Value
Almost every South Carolina workers’ comp case comes down to two figures: your compensation rate and your impairment rating. Get either one wrong, and the value of your claim can shift dramatically.
Your average weekly wage sets the rate
Your benefits are based on your average weekly wage, typically calculated from your earnings over the 52 weeks immediately preceding the date of the injury. Most wage-loss and scheduled benefits pay two-thirds (about 66%) of that average weekly wage. There’s a floor and a ceiling. The weekly payment cannot drop below $75 and cannot exceed the statewide maximum, which is tied to the average weekly wage in this state for the preceding fiscal year and is reset each year. As of January 1, 2026, the maximum weekly compensation rate in South Carolina is $1,178.30.
Your impairment rating sets the weeks
Once you reach maximum medical improvement (the point where your doctor says you’re as healed as you’re going to get), a physician assigns an impairment rating. That percentage reflects how much function you’ve permanently lost in the injured body part. The higher the rating, the more weeks of compensation you may receive.
The Scheduled Values that Act like a Settlement Chart
South Carolina’s workers’ compensation law (S.C. Code Ann. § 42-9-30) assigns a set number of weeks to specific body parts. This schedule is the closest thing the state has to a settlement chart, and it’s where many people first receive a sense of value. Under the schedule, a total loss pays two-thirds of your average weekly wage for a fixed number of weeks. For example:
– Hand: 185 weeks
– Arm: 220 weeks
– Leg: 195 weeks
– Foot and eye: 140 weeks each
– Thumb: 65 weeks
– Back: up to 300 weeks or up to 500 weeks for serious loss of use
Here’s a simple illustration. Say a worker earned $600 a week before the injury. Two-thirds of that is $400. If a doctor finds a total loss of use of a hand, the schedule’s 185 weeks at $400 frames the value of that part of the claim. Partial loss is paid in proportion to total loss, so a 50% loss of use generally means half the listed weeks. Serious permanent disfigurement to areas like the face, head, or neck can add benefits, up to 50 weeks. Injuries to body parts not listed are valued against the “whole person,” again capped at a fixed number of weeks.
Need help figuring out where your injury falls? Call 843-483-8630 for a free consultation.
Disability Type Changes the Math
The schedule isn’t the only path. Benefits also depend on the type of disability you have.
Temporary benefits cover you while you heal. If you are unable to work at all, you receive temporary total disability. If you go back to reduced hours or lighter duty for less pay, you may receive temporary partial benefits.
Permanent benefits come into play once you’ve healed as much as you will. Permanent partial disability applies when you keep some lasting impairment but can still work in some capacity. Permanent total disability applies to the most serious cases. South Carolina caps most total disability benefits at 500 weeks and permanent partial wage-loss benefits at 340 weeks from the date of injury. Losing the use of both hands, arms, feet, legs, or eyes (any two) is treated as a total and permanent disability. And workers who are paralyzed or suffer serious brain damage can receive benefits for life, with no 500-week limit.
Other Factors that Affect What Your Claim is Worth
Two workers with the same injury can end up with very different outcomes. Surgery is a common example. A back injury that requires an operation usually carries a higher impairment rating and a bigger value than one treated with therapy alone. Whether you can return to your old job, your future medical needs, and the strength of your medical evidence all matter too. Insurance companies know how to use these factors to drive down values. Our attorneys know how to push back.
Why No Chart Can Promise a Number
A settlement chart is a helpful starting point, not a promise. There’s no fixed payout for any injury in South Carolina because every claim turns on your wages, your rating, your treatment, and the specific facts of your case. Be cautious with any website or adjuster who throws out a guaranteed figure. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is different.
Common Questions About South Carolina Workers’ Comp Value
Is there an official workers’ comp settlement chart for South Carolina?
Not exactly. The state’s scheduled-member list functions like a chart by assigning weeks of benefits to specific body parts, but your actual value still depends on your wage, your impairment rating, and your medical care.
How long do I have to file a claim?
In most cases, two years from the date of your workplace accident. Waiting can cost you benefits, so it’s smart to talk with an attorney early. But also remember, there is a reporting requirement to your employer within 90 days of injury.
What does it cost to hire your firm?
Your consultation is free. You can sit down with our attorneys, learn what your claim may be worth, and receive honest answers, with no obligation.
Talk to West Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers
You’ve spent nearly your whole working life earning a paycheck. When an on-the-job injury threatens that, you deserve someone in your corner who knows how South Carolina values these claims. For nearly 80 years, our family-owned firm has helped injured workers across the Lowcountry, and we’d be honored to review your case.
Hurt at work? Contact West Law Firm Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation. Call 843-483-8630. Serving the Lowcountry since 1945. We also have offices in Beaufort and Summerville to serve injured workers throughout the region.