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Understanding Missouri Workers’ Compensation Benefits in 2024

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Maximize your 2024 Missouri workers’ compensation! Explore eligibility, benefit updates, and tips to secure medical care and lost wages for workplace injuries.

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Missouri workers’ compensation provides critical support to employees injured or made ill due to their jobs. With new updates in 2024, this guide explains eligibility, benefits, and how to navigate the system effectively, including specific insights for St. Louis workers.

Who Qualifies for Missouri Workers’ Compensation?

Workers’ compensation in Missouri covers most employees who experience job-related injuries or illnesses. To qualify, you must:

  • Be classified as an employee (independent contractors are generally excluded).
  • Have sustained an injury or illness while performing work-related duties.
  • Report the injury to your employer within 30 days.

Reporting requirements may vary for injuries requiring only immediate first aid with no further treatment or lost time. Employers must still document such incidents internally.

Key Benefits of Missouri Workers’ Compensation

Missouri’s workers’ compensation system provides several benefits to support injured workers:

  • Medical Benefits: Covers all necessary medical care, including surgeries, medications, and physical therapy.
  • Temporary Total Disability (TTD): Two-thirds of your average weekly wage (AWW) during recovery, capped at $1,228.04 per week for injuries occurring between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025.
  • Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): Compensation based on the severity of your impairment, with a maximum weekly benefit of $643.26 for the same period.
  • Permanent Total Disability (PTD): Similar to TTD but paid for life if you cannot return to any form of employment.
  • Mileage Reimbursement: Injured workers traveling for medical care are reimbursed at 64.0 cents per mile as of July 1, 2024.
  • Burial Benefits: In the event of a workplace death, families are entitled to $5,000 for burial expenses.

To explore these benefits, visit our Missouri workers’ compensation benefits guide.

How Are Benefits Calculated?

Benefits are calculated based on your average weekly wage (AWW), with specific caps set by Missouri law:

  • TTD: Two-thirds of your AWW, up to a maximum of $1,228.04 weekly for 2024–2025.
  • PPD: Compensation depends on the disability rating assigned by your doctor, capped at $643.26 per week.
  • PTD: Lifetime benefits at the same rate as TTD if deemed unable to return to work.

Accurate calculations are crucial to ensure fair compensation. If your benefits seem incorrect, contact our office for assistance.

Updates to Missouri Workers’ Compensation Laws in 2024

Key updates for 2024 include:

  • Increased maximum weekly benefits: $1,228.04 for TTD/PTD and $643.26 for PPD.
  • Stricter injury reporting deadlines: injuries must be reported to employers within 30 days.
  • Reductions in workers’ compensation rates for employers, with a proposed overall decrease of 5.3% for 2025.

St. Louis Workers’ Compensation: Statistics and Examples

St. Louis is a major hub for workers’ compensation claims. In 2023, over 10,000 claims were filed, with healthcare, construction, and manufacturing being the top industries.

Read success stories on our case results page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Injuries must be reported to your employer within 30 days. Employers then have 5 days to notify their insurance carrier.

No. Your employer or insurer selects the treating physician. You can seek a second opinion at your expense.

No. Missouri workers’ compensation only covers medical expenses, lost wages, and disability, not pain and suffering.

TTD benefits last until you reach Maximum Medical Improvement, while PTD benefits are for life.

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Speak With a St. Louis Workers Compensation Attorney

Missouri workers’ compensation laws provide essential support for injured workers. With updated benefits and stricter reporting requirements in 2024, it’s important to understand your rights and act quickly after a workplace injury.

Contact the Law Office of James M. Hoffmann at (314) 361-4300 for personalized assistance with your claim. We’re here to help you secure the compensation you deserve.

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Updated: June 3, 2025
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