Fix Workers Comp

Kansas forces injured workers to pay their current-day bills with 1987 dollars!

A 2008 study found that disability benefitts would need toby 72 % to catch up with 22 years of inflation and restore workers' lost purchasing power.

The Kansas Legislature must fix this problem and fix it this year by passing SB 258/HB 2312.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Pass SB 258/HB 2312

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I'm writing to ask you to support SB 258/HB 2312, which adjusts work comp benefits to reflect the cost of living in 2009. Like most working Kansans, I rely on workers compensation benefits to provide me and my family with financial security if I am injured on the job and cannot work. Unfortunately, the Kansas Legislature has not adjusted disability and death benefit caps for inflation since they were set in 1987. As a result, these benefits no longer have the purchasing power they did 22 years ago.

Please don't let another year of inflation further reduce the purchasing power of work comp disability benefits. Support me, my family and the other 94% of working Kansans who rely on work comp by supporting SB 258/HB 2312.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
March 02, 2009


Background Information

Kansas Work Comp Benefits are Shameful

  • Kansas is only one of five states in the country that caps benefits for workers who are permanently and totally disabled-and the Kansas cap is the lowest!

SB 258/HB 2312:

  • Maintains benefit levels previously set by the Legislature Restores the purchasing power of disability and death benefits to match today's economy
  • Requires the Department of Labor to apply an annual inflationary adjustment to death and disability benefits
  • Protects Kansans from bankruptcy Protects taxpayer-funded welfare programs
  • Protects Kansas businesses by maintaining consumer purchasing power and assuring that debts are paid

Insurance Industry is Strong

  • Kansas employers pay work camp premiums that are far lower than other states.
  • Kansas ranks 42nd in work camp premiums-lower than most states and D. C.
  • According to the Legislative Division of Post Audit, from 2003 to 2007, Kansas spent at least $1.3 billion on economic development, including tax breaks for business.