Scheduled Member Injuries in Workers’ Compensation

The Code of Iowa spells out the compensation a worker can receive for permanently injuring specific body parts while on the job. The Code refers to various body parts as ‘scheduled members’ and Section 85.34(2) provides a length of time an injured worker can recover weekly compensation for their injury. The amount of compensation is “based upon the extent of the disability and upon the basis of eighty percent per week of the employee’s average spendable weekly earnings.” There are various other provisions within the workers’ compensation laws that determine the amount an injured worker may recover, so as usual it is best to contact an experienced attorney who can further explain your specific situation. The length of time an injured worker may recover for ‘scheduled members’ are as follows: For the loss of a hand, weekly compensation during 190 weeks. Weekly compensation for fingers are:  The loss of the first or distal phalange of the thumb or any finger equals the loss of ½ of such finger and the weekly compensation is ½ of the time for such finger. The loss of more than one phalange equals the loss of the entire thumb or finger.  For the loss of the great toe, weekly compensation for 40 weeks. Any other toe for 15 weeks. The loss of the first phalange of any toe shall equal the loss of ½ of that toe and the weekly compensation is for ½ the time of that toe. The loss of more than one phalange equals the loss of the entire toe.  The loss of a foot receives weekly compensation during 150 weeks. The loss of a hand receives weekly compensation during 190 weeks. The loss of a shoulder receives weekly compensation during 400 weeks. The loss of 2/3 of the part of the arm between the shoulder joint and elbow joint equals the loss of an arm, and receives weekly compensation during 250 weeks. The loss of 2/3 of the part of the leg between the hip joint and knee joint equals the loss of a leg, and receives weekly compensation during 220 weeks. The loss of an eye is paid weekly compensation during 140 weeks, or 200 weeks if the other eye was previously lost. The loss of hearing is paid weekly compensation during 50 weeks, or 175 weeks if hearing is lost in both ears.^{1 1}Other than occupational hearing loss, which is provided in a different chapter of the Iowa Code.