Ark. Work Comp Commission Updates Mileage and Compensation Rates

The Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission recently announced updates for mileage reimbursements for claimants, compensation rates for injured employees and forms for child support obligations.

Claimant mileage rate increases

The mileage reimbursement rate for claimants traveling to and from medical providers has been raised, effective Sept. 1, 2006, to $0.39 per mile.

Mileage reimbursements are found in AWCC Advisory 89-2.

All advisories are located on the AWCC Web site.

Advisory 2000-1 updated for use with ’07 cases

The AWCC’s annual update of its advisory on compensation rates to injured employees is now on online.

Advisory 2000-1 contains amounts for accidents on and after Jan. 1, 2007, through Dec. 31, 2007. For accidents covered by Arkansas workers’ compensation laws, the maximums in 2007 will be $504 for Total Disability (TD) and $378 for Permanent Partial Disability (PPD). For injury or death on and after Jan. 1, 2007, through Dec. 31, 2007, the maximum for workers’ compensation weekly indemnity benefits is based on 85 percent of the state Average Weekly Wage (AWW) of $593.01.

These sums are calculated by using the statewide Average Weekly Wage as released by the Department of Workforce Services.

Updates to forms AR-C, AR-N

To make two of its forms comply with a state law on child support obligations, the Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission has updated Form AR-C (claim for compensation) and the English and Spanish versions of Form AR-N (notice to employer/notice to employee).

The three form updates were effective Aug. 1, 2006.

Ark. Code Ann. § 11-9-115 requires that “any time an application is made for workers’ compensation,” the employee shall state if “the applicant has child support obligations, if the obligations are current or past due, and to whom the obligations are payable.”

To bring Forms AR-C and AR-N up to date, child support obligation language has been added.

These updates can be viewed on the AWCC Web site by clicking the Forms Button on the left.

Employers and insurers need to begin using the updated Form AR-N, either English or Spanish, and claimant attorneys need to be advised of the updated Form AR-C.

Source: Arkansas Workers’ Compensation Commission