Chapter 102

102.49(3) (3) If the employee leaves a spouse or domestic partner under ch. 770 wholly dependent and also a child by a former marriage, domestic partnership under ch. 770, or adoption, likewise wholly dependent, aggregate benefits shall be the same in amount as if the child were the child of the surviving spouse or partner, and the entire benefit shall be apportioned to the dependents in the amounts that the department or the division determines to be just, considering the ages of the dependents and other factors bearing on dependency. The benefit awarded to the surviving spouse or partner shall not exceed 4 times the average annual earnings of the deceased employee.

102.49(4) (4) Dependency of any child for the purposes of this section shall be determined according to s. 102.51 (1), in like manner as would be done if there was no surviving dependent parent.

102.49(5) (5) 

102.49(5)(a) (a) In each case of injury resulting in death, the employer or insurer shall pay into the state treasury the sum of $20,000.

102.49(5)(b) (b) In addition to the payment required under par. (a), in each case of injury resulting in death leaving no person dependent for support, the employer or insurer shall, except as provided in s. 102.58 (2), pay into the state treasury the amount of the death benefit otherwise payable, minus any payment made under s. 102.48 (1). The payment under this paragraph shall, except as provided in par. (cm), be made in 5 equal annual installments, with the first installment due as of the date of death.

102.49(5)(c) (c) In addition to the payment required under par. (a), in each case of injury resulting in death, leaving one or more persons partially dependent for support, the employer or insurer shall, except as provided in s. 102.58 (2), pay into the state treasury an amount which, when added to the sums paid or to be paid on account of partial dependency and under s. 102.48 (1), shall equal the death benefit payable to a person wholly dependent.

102.49(5)(cm) (cm) The employer or insurer may make advance payments of amounts owed under par. (b) or (c), up to and including a lump sum payment of the entire amount owed. If an employer or insurer makes an advance payment, the department shall give the employer or the insurer an interest credit against its liability for payments made in excess of that required under par. (b) or (c). The credit shall be computed at 5 percent.

102.49(5)(d) (d) The payment into the state treasury shall be made in all such cases regardless of whether the dependents or personal representatives of the deceased employee commence action against a 3rd party under s. 102.29. If the payment is not made within 20 days after the department makes request therefor, any sum payable shall bear interest at the rate of 7 percent per year.

102.49(5)(e) (e) The adjustments in liability provided in ss. 102.57, 102.58 (1), and 102.60 do not apply to payments made under this section.

102.49(6) (6) The department or the division may award the additional benefits payable under this section to the surviving parent of the child, to the child’s guardian, or to such other person, bank, or trust company for the child’s use as may be found best calculated to conserve the interests of the child. If the child dies while benefits are still payable, there shall be paid the reasonable expense for burial, not exceeding $1,500.

102.49(7) (7) All payments received under this section shall be deposited in the fund established by s. 102.65.

102.49 History History: 1971 c. 260 s. 92 (4); 1975 c. 147, 199; 1977 c. 195; 1979 c. 110 s. 60 (13); 1979 c. 278, 355; 1985 a. 83; 1991 a. 85; 1993 a. 492; 1997 a. 253; 2003 a. 144; 2005 a. 172; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 183; 2015 a. 55; 2021 a. 29.

102.49 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. DWD 80.48, Wis. adm. code.

102.50 102.50 Burial expenses. In all cases in which the death of an employee proximately results from the injury, the employer or insurer shall pay the actual expense for burial, not exceeding $10,000.

102.50 History History: 1971 c. 148; 1977 c. 195; 1985 a. 83; 1991 a. 85; 1995 a. 117; 2009 a. 206.

102.51 102.51 Dependents.

102.51(1) (1) Who are.

102.51(1)(a) (a) The following persons are entitled to death benefits as if they are solely and wholly dependent for support upon a deceased employee:

102.51(1)(a)1. 1. A married person upon his or her spouse with whom he or she is living at the time of the spouse’s death.

102.51(1)(a)2m. 2m. A domestic partner under ch. 770 upon his or her partner with whom he or she is living at the time of the partner’s death.

102.51(1)(a)3. 3. A child under the age of 18 years upon the parent with whom he or she is living at the time of the death of the parent, there being no surviving dependent parent.

102.51(1)(a)4. 4. A child over the age of 18 years, but physically or mentally incapacitated from earning, upon the parent with whom he or she is living at the time of the death of the parent, there being no surviving dependent parent.

102.51(1)(b) (b) Where a dependent who is entitled to death benefits under this subsection survives the deceased employee, all other dependents shall be excluded. The charging of any portion of the support and maintenance of a child upon one of the parents, or any voluntary contribution toward the support of a child by a parent, or an obligation to support a child by a parent constitutes living with any such parent within the meaning of this subsection.

102.51(2) (2) Who are not.

102.51(2)(a) (a) No person shall be considered a dependent unless that person is a spouse, a domestic partner under ch. 770, a divorced spouse who has not remarried, or a lineal descendant, lineal ancestor, brother, sister, or other member of the family, whether by blood or by adoption, of the deceased employee.

102.51(2)(b) (b) If for 8 years or more prior to the date of injury a deceased employee has been a resident of the United States, it shall be conclusively presumed that no person who has remained a nonresident alien during that period is either totally or partially dependent upon the deceased employee for support.

102.51(2)(c) (c) No person who is a nonresident alien shall be found to be either totally or partially dependent on a deceased employee for support who cannot establish dependency by proving contributions from the deceased employee by written evidence or tokens of the transfer of money, such as drafts, letters of credit, microfilm or other copies of paid share drafts, canceled checks, or receipts for the payment to any bank, express company, United States post office, or other agency commercially engaged in the transfer of funds from one country to another, for transmission of funds on behalf of said deceased employee to such nonresident alien claiming dependency. This provision shall not be applicable unless the employee has been continuously in the United States for at least one year prior to his or her injury, and has been remuneratively employed therein for at least 6 months.

102.51(3) (3) Division among dependents. If there is more than one person wholly or partially dependent on a deceased employee, the death benefit shall be divided between those dependents in such proportion as the department or the division determines to be just, considering their ages and other facts bearing on their dependency.

102.51(4) (4) Dependency as of the date of death. Questions as to who is a dependent and the extent of his or her dependency shall be determined as of the date of the death of the employee, and the dependent’s right to any death benefit becomes fixed at that time, regardless of any subsequent change in conditions. The death benefit shall be directly recoverable by and payable to the dependents entitled to the death benefit or their legal guardians or trustees. In case of the death of a dependent whose right to a death benefit has become fixed, so much of the benefit as is unpaid is payable to the dependent’s personal representatives in gross, unless the department or the division determines that the unpaid benefit shall be reassigned under sub. (6) and paid to any other dependent who is physically or mentally incapacitated or a minor. For purposes of this subsection, a child of the employee who is born after the death of the employee is considered to be a dependent as of the date of death.

102.51(5) (5) When not interested. No dependent of an injured employee shall be deemed a party in interest to any proceeding by the employee for the enforcement of the employee’s claim for compensation, nor with respect to the compromise thereof by such employee. A compromise of all liability entered into by an employee is binding upon the employee’s dependents, except that any dependent of a deceased employee may submit the compromise for review under s. 102.16 (1).

102.51(6) (6) Division among dependents. Benefits accruing to a minor dependent child may be awarded to either parent in the discretion of the department or the division. Notwithstanding sub. (1), the department or the division may reassign the death benefit as between a surviving spouse or a domestic partner under ch. 770 and any children specified in sub. (1) and s. 102.49 in accordance with their respective needs for the death benefit.

102.51(7) (7) Certain defense barred. In proceedings for the collection of primary death benefit or burial expense it shall not be a defense that the applicant, either individually or as a partner or member, was an employer of the deceased.

102.51 History History: 1975 c. 94, 147; 1977 c. 195; 1981 c. 92; 1983 a. 98, 368; 1993 a. 112, 492; 1995 a. 225; 1997 a. 253; 1999 a. 162; 2009 a. 28; 2015 a. 55; 2023 a. 213.

102.51 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also s. DWD 80.48, Wis. adm. code.

102.51 Annotation A posthumously born illegitimate child does not qualify as a dependent under sub. (4). Claimants not falling within one of the classifications under sub. (2) (a) will not qualify for benefits, regardless of dependency in fact. Larson v. DILHR, 76 Wis. 2d 595, 252 N.W.2d 33 (1977).

102.51 Annotation Sub. (5) has no application to a claim for a death benefit because a death benefit claim is not an “employee’s claim for compensation.” While sub. (5) prohibits a dependent from being a party to a worker’s claim for disability benefits, a dependent claiming a death benefit is prosecuting only the dependent’s own claim. Edward Brothers, Inc. v. LIRC, 2007 WI App 128, 300 Wis. 2d 638, 731 N.W.2d 302, 06-2398.

102.52 102.52 Permanent partial disability schedule. In cases included in the following schedule of permanent partial disabilities indemnity shall be paid for the healing period, and in addition, for the period specified, at the rate of two-thirds of the average weekly earnings of the employee, to be computed as provided in s. 102.11:

102.52(1) (1) The loss of an arm at the shoulder, 500 weeks;

102.52(2) (2) The loss of an arm at the elbow, 450 weeks;

102.52(3) (3) The loss of a hand, 400 weeks;

102.52(4) (4) The loss of a palm where the thumb remains, 325 weeks;

102.52(5) (5) The loss of a thumb and the metacarpal bone thereof, 160 weeks;

102.52(6) (6) The loss of a thumb at the proximal joint, 120 weeks;

102.52(7) (7) The loss of a thumb at the distal joint, 50 weeks;

102.52(8) (8) The loss of all fingers on one hand at their proximal joints, 225 weeks;

102.52(9) (9) Losses of fingers on each hand as follows:

102.52(9)(a) (a) An index finger and the metacarpal bone thereof, 60 weeks;

102.52(9)(b) (b) An index finger at the proximal joint, 50 weeks;

102.52(9)(c) (c) An index finger at the second joint, 30 weeks;

102.52(9)(d) (d) An index finger at the distal joint, 12 weeks;

102.52(9)(e) (e) A middle finger and the metacarpal bone thereof, 45 weeks;

102.52(9)(f) (f) A middle finger at the proximal joint, 35 weeks;

102.52(9)(g) (g) A middle finger at the second joint, 20 weeks;

102.52(9)(h) (h) A middle finger at the distal joint, 8 weeks;

102.52(9)(i) (i) A ring finger and the metacarpal bone thereof, 26 weeks;

102.52(9)(j) (j) A ring finger at the proximal joint, 20 weeks;

102.52(9)(k) (k) A ring finger at the second joint, 15 weeks;

102.52(9)(L) (L) A ring finger at the distal joint, 6 weeks;

102.52(9)(m) (m) A little finger and the metacarpal bone thereof, 28 weeks;

102.52(9)(n) (n) A little finger at the proximal joint, 22 weeks;

102.52(9)(o) (o) A little finger at the second joint, 16 weeks;

102.52(9)(p) (p) A little finger at the distal joint, 6 weeks;

102.52(10) (10) The loss of a leg at the hip joint, 500 weeks;

102.52(11) (11) The loss of a leg at the knee, 425 weeks;

102.52(12) (12) The loss of a foot at the ankle, 250 weeks;

102.52(13) (13) The loss of the great toe with the metatarsal bone thereof, 83 1/3 weeks;

102.52(14) (14) Losses of toes on each foot as follows:

102.52(14)(a) (a) A great toe at the proximal joint, 25 weeks;

102.52(14)(b) (b) A great toe at the distal joint, 12 weeks;

102.52(14)(c) (c) The second toe with the metatarsal bone thereof, 25 weeks;

102.52(14)(d) (d) The second toe at the proximal joint, 8 weeks;

102.52(14)(e) (e) The second toe at the second joint, 6 weeks;

102.52(14)(f) (f) The second toe at the distal joint, 4 weeks;

102.52(14)(g) (g) The third, fourth or little toe with the metatarsal bone thereof, 20 weeks;

102.52(14)(h) (h) The third, fourth or little toe at the proximal joint, 6 weeks;

102.52(14)(i) (i) The third, fourth or little toe at the second or distal joint, 4 weeks;

102.52(15) (15) The loss of an eye by enucleation or evisceration, 275 weeks;

102.52(16) (16) Total impairment of one eye for industrial use, 250 weeks;

102.52(17) (17) Total deafness from accident or sudden trauma, 330 weeks;

102.52(18) (18) Total deafness of one ear from accident or sudden trauma, 55 weeks.

102.52 History History: 1973 c. 150; 1975 c. 147; 1979 c. 278.

102.52 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ss. DWD 80.32 and 80.50, Wis. adm. code.

102.52 Annotation In a proceeding brought by an employee who suffered total deafness in one ear, a skull fracture, loss of taste and smell, facial paralysis, and periods of intermittent headaches and dizziness, the Department of Industry, Labor and Human Relations did not err in determining that the hearing loss was a scheduled disability under sub. (18), with a separate award for the additional physical effects of the deafness, rather than considering the entire range of disabilities as a whole. When a loss is recognized by and compensable under this section, the schedule therein is exclusive. Vande Zande v. DILHR, 70 Wis. 2d 1086, 236 N.W.2d 255 (1975).

102.52 Annotation The “loss of an arm at the shoulder” under sub. (1) includes injuries to the shoulder. Hagen v. LIRC, 210 Wis. 2d 12, 563 N.W.2d 454 (1997), 94-0374.

102.53 102.53 Multiple injury variations. In case an injury causes more than one permanent disability specified in ss. 102.44 (3), 102.52 and 102.55, the period for which indemnity shall be payable for each additional equal or lesser disability shall be increased as follows:

102.53(1) (1) In the case of impairment of both eyes, by 200 percent.

102.53(2) (2) In the case of disabilities on the same hand covered by s. 102.52 (9), by 100 percent for the first equal or lesser disability and by 150 percent for the 2nd and 3rd equal or lesser disabilities.

102.53(3) (3) In the case of disabilities on the same foot covered by s. 102.52 (14), by 20 percent.

102.53(4) (4) In all other cases, by 20 percent.