Kentucky Workers' Compensation Calculator

In Kentucky, workers’ compensation is a no-fault benefit system. You do not need to prove your employer was negligent to receive benefits, and your employer cannot argue that your own carelessness caused the injury. This differs fundamentally from Kentucky’s civil negligence system, which only becomes relevant if you have a separate third-party claim alongside your workers’ comp case.

Kentucky gives you 2 years from the date of the incident to file a lawsuit, which is in line with the national average of 1.8 years. This is a standard timeframe, but acting sooner preserves evidence and strengthens your position.

Kentucky pays temporary total disability (TTD) benefits at 67% of your average weekly wage, up to a maximum of $1,094 per week. This maximum is below the national average of $1,243. Kentucky does not impose a fixed week limit on TTD benefits, allowing them to continue as long as you remain unable to work.

Kentucky relies on the AMA Guides, 5th Edition to assess permanent impairment. Your treating physician or an independent medical examiner assigns a whole-person impairment rating, which is then converted into a disability benefit amount. The specific guide version used in Kentucky can produce ratings that differ meaningfully from those in states using different editions.

Kentucky allows injured workers to choose their own treating physician for workers' compensation claims. In states without this right, the employer or insurer selects the doctor, which can affect both the quality of care and the impairment rating you receive.

Kentucky requires injured workers to notify their employer within 30 days of the workplace injury. This notification should be in writing and include the date, time, location, and nature of the injury. The formal workers’ compensation claim filing is a separate process with its own deadline, but missing the employer notification requirement can jeopardize your entire claim.

Kentucky provides vocational rehabilitation benefits for injured workers who are unable to return to their previous job. These benefits may include job retraining, education assistance, resume preparation, job placement services, and maintenance allowances during the retraining period. If your workplace injury has permanently limited your ability to perform your previous occupation, vocational rehabilitation can help you transition to suitable alternative employment.