2020 COLA Shorts Workers $500 to $1,500 in Benefit Increases

The California Division of Workers’ Compensation is excluding $33.20 in wage increases from its cost-of-living adjustment for 2020, which will result in benefits paid to some injured workers that are anywhere from $500 to $1,500 less than they would be if all the wage increases were included. Labor Code Sections 4453 and 4569 both require the division to adopt a state average weekly wage equal to the average wage paid to California workers as reported by the U.S. Department of Labor for the 12-month period ending March 31 of each year. Prior to 2019, the Department of Labor didn’...