Scott Rubel Apr 10, 2025 a 11:42 am PDT

Of course the Chamber and insurance companies are sounding the alarm on a COLA for PD. They want to scare everyone to think this will eat up the savings from prior reforms. That is just not the case. Savings from prior years average about $15,000/yr for employers. In the last 10 years, the Social Security COLA has averaged 2.83%. Applying that COLA to the $290/wk PD rate would increase the PD rate for 1/1/2026 by a mere $8.21/wk. Hardly a justification to cut other sorely needed benefits. The purpose of the COLA is not to enrich injured workers or harm employers. The purpose is to maintain the value of PD and prevent it from being eaten up by inflation. SB-555 is a minimal adjustment to assist permanently disabled injured workers.