Spendable Base Wage

Effective January 1st 2022 for new injuries, intermediate spendable base wage (SBW) calculations will be discontinued; the compensation rate will equal 62% of the claimant’s average weekly wage. This change applies to both (a.) new injuries occurring on or after January 1st 2022, and (b.) post-2021 recurrences of previous injuries where the claimant returned to work for an intermediate period of 26 or more weeks. All ongoing, pre-2022 claims will continue to use the spendable base wage formula established for the relevant base year. For pre-2022 injuries where it applies, a worker's base weekly compensation rate is calculated as seventy-five percent (75%) of the worker's spendable earnings or spendable base wage capped at a maximum weekly rate. Spendable base wage approximates a worker's earnings less withholdings. Withholding amounts take into account the maximum number of personal exemptions allowed to the employee, not the employee's actual net earnings.

Select the year to view the spendable base wage information (PDF)

Spendable 5/10/2021 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/2020 PDF file, about 3

Spendable 5/10/2019 PDF file, about 2

Spendable 5/10/2018 PDF file, about 4

Spendable 5/10/2017 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/2016 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/2015 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/2014 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/2013 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/2012 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/2011 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/2010 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/2009 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/2008 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/2007 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/2006 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/2005 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/2004 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/2003 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/2002 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/2001 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/2000 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/1999 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/1998 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/1997 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/1996 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/1995 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/1994 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/1993 PDF file, less than 1

Spendable 5/10/1992 PDF file, less than 1

The Division of Workers' Compensation publishes information annually on spendable base wage calculations. The worker's date of incapacity determines which set of calculations to use.

For more information, please contact the Education Unit at:

(401) 462-8100

DLT.WCEdcUnit@dlt.ri.gov