Understanding Georgia Form WC-6: Wage Statement in Workers’ Compensation

What is Form WC-6 (Wage Statement)?

Form WC-6 is a Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation form titled “Wage Statement.” It is essentially a detailed record of an injured worker’s wages leading up to the work accident. This one-page form is usually completed by the employer or the workers’ compensation insurance company (not by the injured worker) and then filed with the State Board. It lists the worker’s earnings for a specified period before the injury – typically the 13 weeks immediately prior to the accident – along with other relevant wage information. By capturing this wage history, Form WC-6 provides the foundation for calculating the worker’s average weekly wage (AWW), which is the figure used to determine the amount of income benefits (wage-replacement payments) the worker should receive.

Form WC-6 (Wage Statement) is a standardized form used in Georgia’s workers’ compensation system to document an injured worker’s earnings prior to the injury. It includes sections for the employer/insurer to fill in the employee’s gross wages for each of the 13 weeks before the accident, including any overtime or additional compensation, in order to calculate the average weekly wage.

Purpose of the Wage Statement Form

The primary purpose of Form WC-6 is to ensure accurate calculation of the injured worker’s wage-based benefits. In Georgia, workers’ comp wage benefits (also called income benefits or indemnity benefits) are based on how much the worker was earning before the injury. By law, the amount an injured employee is paid in weekly benefits is two-thirds of their average weekly wage, up to a maximum set by the state. (For example, for injuries after July 1, 2023, the weekly benefit cannot exceed $800, even if two-thirds of the worker’s wage would be higher.) Form WC-6 exists to document those pre-injury earnings so that everyone – the employer, the insurance adjuster, the State Board, and you as the injured worker – knows exactly what wages the benefit calculation is based on.

How Form WC-6 Fits Into the Claims Process

Form WC-6 comes into play early in a workers’ compensation claim, especially in any case where the injury causes you to miss work beyond the waiting period (in Georgia, more than 7 days of lost time entitles you to income benefits). When an injury is reported and it appears you will be receiving weekly disability checks for lost wages, the employer/insurer is responsible for preparing the Wage Statement. In fact, Georgia’s workers’ compensation rules require the employer/insurer to file a Form WC-6 with the State Board if the weekly benefit will be less than the maximum rate. This means in most regular cases (where you weren’t earning so much as to hit the state’s cap), a wage statement must be completed. The form is typically filed with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation and a copy is furnished to the injured worker, so you should receive a copy for your records.

Completion of Form WC-6

The employer/insurer will fill out Form WC-6, usually around the time they start paying you weekly benefits. They will compile your gross earnings week-by-week for the 13 weeks before your injury date. If you haven’t worked 13 weeks, they’ll use a similar employee’s wages or note your full-time weekly wage, as discussed above. They’ll also indicate on the form if you had any scheduled days off each week (since a week where you only worked a few days could still count as a week of earnings). The form includes columns for overtime or extra pay and even the value of other compensation (like meals, lodging, tips, etc.) that you received, so that all forms of income are counted.

Filing and Service

The completed WC-6 is then filed with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation as part of your claim file, and a copy must be sent to you (and your lawyer if you have one). Often, the wage statement is filed along with or shortly after a Form WC-2 (Notice of Payment of Benefits), which is the form indicating that the insurer has started your weekly payments. Essentially, the WC-2 tells you “we are paying you X amount per week,” and the WC-6 shows how they calculated that amount.

It’s important to note that as an injured worker, you generally do not need to fill out the WC-6 yourself – it’s the employer or insurer’s responsibility to compute and report your wages. However, you should understand what it is and review the information once you receive a copy, because it directly affects your benefits.

Why Form WC-6 Matters to Injured Workers

Your Average Weekly Wage (AWW) is the cornerstone of your workers’ comp income benefits. All the main types of wage-loss benefits in Georgia – whether Temporary Total Disability (TTD) benefits (when you cannot work at all), Temporary Partial Disability (TPD) benefits (when you can work but at reduced pay), or Permanent Partial Disability (PPD) benefits (paid for a permanent impairment rating) – are based on that AWW figure. The WC-6 wage statement is how that AWW is determined and documented.

The State Board requires a WC-6 filing in any case where you’re paid less than the maximum rate, which is most cases. This requirement exists to create a transparent record of how your benefit was computed. You, as the injured worker, get a copy of the form, so you’re not kept in the dark. It’s an official checkpoint to make sure the employer/insurer follows the legal formula (13 weeks average, etc.) and doesn’t shortchange your benefits. In essence, WC-6 is a protection for the worker’s rights, built into the claims process.

Form WC-6 might seem like just another paperwork requirement, but for injured workers it is one of the most impactful documents in the claim. Here are several reasons why the WC-6 Wage Statement is so significant for you as an injured employee:

It determines your wage replacement benefits: The WC-6 directly feeds into how much you get paid while you’re unable to work. It “provides you with the information that your employer is reporting about what you earned in the thirteen weeks before your injury”. If that information is accurate, you’ll get the weekly amount you are entitled to. If it’s inaccurate, your benefits could be lower than they should be. In other words, your financial recovery depends on this form being correct.

Opportunity to spot and correct errors

By reviewing the wage statement, you have the chance to see if something is missing or incorrect. Maybe a week of overtime wasn’t included, or perhaps you received a raise that isn’t reflected. Because the WC-6 is provided to you, you can question any discrepancies. If you believe the average weekly wage is wrong, you have the right to bring this up – often this can be resolved by providing additional wage info to the adjuster, and if not, it can be addressed through a hearing with the Board as a disputed issue. The key point is that WC-6 empowers you with information. It puts the wage calculation on paper, so you don’t have to simply trust the insurance company’s number.

Navigating a workers’ compensation claim can be overwhelming, but understanding key documents like Form WC-6 (Wage Statement) helps you stay informed and protect your rights. Form WC-6 is not just a bureaucratic formality – it is a vital record that ensures you are paid the correct income benefits for your lost wages. By prioritizing clarity and accuracy in wage documentation, the WC-6 Wage Statement helps deliver the financial security you need after a workplace injury – and that’s why it truly matters.