AWW is an abbreviation commonly used in workers’ compensation cases which stands for average weekly wage. When someone applies for and receives workers’ compensation benefits in New Jersey, the benefits they receive are based on the amount of money they earn. This is referred to as a worker’s average weekly wage, or AWW. To determine what your AWW is, you add up your total income for the most recent six months and divide that figure by 26.

If you’ve been injured in a New Jersey workplace accident, identifying your AWW is an important part of understand the amount of benefits you should receive. However, it is also important to understand that, while the amount of benefits you receive will be based on your AWW, there are some limitations. For example, you cannot receive more than 75 percent of the statewide average weekly wage (SAWW). The SAWW changes every year. In 2020, the SAWW was $1419.52, this was more than a $100 increase from the previous year’s SAWW of $1,291.42.

Regardless of your income, your weekly benefits cannot be less than 20 percent of the SAWW. This creates a range of benefit amounts, between 20 percent and 75 percent of the SAWW. For example, in 2021, the benefit range for Temporary Disability benefits was between $284 and $1065.

One thing to consider when calculating your AWW is not only the amount of money you make in the typical week, but whether there are certain weeks you worked additional hours. This should be reflected in your SAWW. For example, if you work 35 hours a week during the normal week, but once a month log 45 hours, your AWW would need to take this into account.

Contact a New Jersey Workers’ Compensation Attorney Today

The law firm of Petrillo & Goldberg has assembled a compassionate team of advocates who have dedicated their careers to ensuring that New Jersey injury accident victims recover the compensation they deserve. The injury advocates at Petrillo & Goldberg deal with the insurance companies so accidents victims can focus on recovering, returning to work and moving forward with their life. To learn more, call 856-486-4343 to schedule a free consultation. You can also reach us through our online contact form.