How Long Does Workers' Comp Last? Limits by State

Temporary benefit limits by state

State	Week limit	Rule
Florida	104	Temporary total and temporary partial benefits share a combined limit of 104 weeks.
Georgia	400	Up to 400 weeks from the date of injury for non-catastrophic injuries. Catastrophic injuries have no week limit.
North Carolina	500	Up to 500 weeks from the first date of disability. Extended benefits after 425 weeks are possible only with proof of total loss of wage-earning capacity.
Illinois	None set	No week limit. Paid as long as temporary total incapacity lasts.
Michigan	None set	No week limit. Paid as long as you are disabled, with possible reductions after age 65.
New York	None set	No week limit while you are temporarily totally disabled. Temporary benefits paid beyond 130 weeks are credited against any later non-schedule permanent partial award.
Ohio	None set	No fixed week limit. Benefits stop when you return to work, are released to your old job, are offered suitable work or reach maximum medical improvement. After 200 weeks BWC may order an exam to decide whether the disability has become permanent.
Pennsylvania	None set	Paid while you are totally disabled. After 104 weeks the insurer can request an impairment rating evaluation; a whole-body rating below 35% converts you to partial disability, which is limited to 500 weeks.

What ends temporary benefits

You return to work, or are released to your regular job.
You are offered suitable work within your restrictions, in states that allow benefits to stop on that basis.
You reach maximum medical improvement, the point where more treatment is not expected to make you significantly better.
You reach your state's week limit.
You settle the claim.

Pennsylvania is a special case: after 104 weeks the insurer can request an impairment rating evaluation, and a whole-body rating below 35% converts total disability to partial disability, which has a 500-week cap.

After temporary benefits

If the injury leaves a permanent impairment, most states pay a permanent partial disability award, often from a body-part schedule. Estimate yours with the settlement calculator or compare weeks on the settlement chart.

Frequently asked questions

Can workers comp last forever?

Temporary benefits have no fixed week limit in some states, including New York, Illinois, Ohio and Michigan, as long as you remain temporarily totally disabled. Others cap them, such as 104 weeks in Florida, 400 weeks in Georgia for non-catastrophic injuries and 500 weeks in North Carolina. Permanent total disability can be paid for life in many states.

What ends temporary workers comp benefits?

Common reasons are returning to work, being released to full or suitable duty, reaching maximum medical improvement, reaching the state's week limit, or a settlement that closes the claim.

What happens when temporary benefits run out?

If you have a lasting impairment, you may move to permanent partial disability benefits based on your rating, or to permanent total disability if you cannot work at all. See the settlement calculator.

Sources

Checked November 3, 2026.