Death Benefits Increasing Oct. 1

The Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division announced that the maximum death benefit will increase 3.7% Oct. 1 to account for the increase in the state’s average weekly wage. The weekly wage as of July 1, 2019, was $1,044.40, compared to $1,007.05 as of July 1, 2018. As a result of the wage increase, the total monthly death benefits paid to all surviving children will be capped at $6,057.37 starting Oct. 1. Total monthly death benefits are currently capped at $5,840.74. The increase in the average weekly wage also requires changes to the process for calculating retroactive pr...