New NC Law Will Raise Certain Workers’ Comp Benefits in 2027

CHARLOTTE, NC – August 13, 2026 – PRESSADVANTAGE –

This report, distributed by Ramsay Law Firm, P.A., examines a new North Carolina law that will raise certain benefit amounts available in workers’ compensation claims beginning in 2027, along with other recent developments affecting injured workers statewide.

House Bill 315, now Session Law 2026-14, was ratified by the North Carolina General Assembly on June 11, 2026, and signed into law by Governor Josh Stein on June 22, 2026, according to the General Assembly’s official bill record. The law modifies several provisions of the North Carolina Workers’ Compensation Act, including maximum benefit amounts set out in N.C. Gen. Stat. Section 97-31.

Under the new law, the maximum award for serious facial or head disfigurement doubles from $20,000 to $40,000, and the maximum award for loss of or permanent injury to an important organ or body part likewise doubles from $20,000 to $40,000. The maximum award for serious bodily disfigurement rises from $10,000 to $20,000, with the amended statute specifying that there may be a rational connection between the disfigurement and the worker’s employability or earning capacity.

House Bill 315 also raises the statutory minimum weekly compensation rate for total disability benefits under N.C. Gen. Stat. Section 97-29, from $30 to $50 per week. These changes take effect July 1, 2027, and will apply to claims arising on or after that date, meaning currently pending claims will not be affected.

Separately, the North Carolina Industrial Commission, which administers the state’s workers’ compensation system, has appointed two new deputy commissioners to its Raleigh office this year, Gina E. Cammarano and Josh D. Smith, and assigned Kendra D. Roberts to its Charlotte regional office beginning August 3, 2026. Governor Josh Stein also announced the reappointment of Commissioner Wanda Blanche Taylor to a second six-year term beginning July 1, 2026, subject to confirmation by the North Carolina General Assembly.

The Industrial Commission separately warned in April 2026 of fraudulent communications involving individuals impersonating judicial officials, government employees, attorneys, and workers’ compensation professionals, and asking injured workers to pay money in exchange for benefits or settlements, including through fake online hearings. The commission said incidents had been reported in Western and South Central states, as well as Tennessee, and urged injured workers to verify the identity of anyone contacting them about a claim before providing personal information or making any payment.

North Carolina’s Retaliatory Employment Discrimination Act separately protects employees from being fired, demoted, or otherwise penalized for filing a workers’ compensation claim in good faith. A REDA complaint generally must be filed with the North Carolina Department of Labor within 180 days of the last alleged adverse employment action.

The information referenced in this release reflects North Carolina workers’ compensation law changes enacted in 2026, as recorded in the North Carolina General Assembly’s official legislative history, and official actions of the North Carolina Industrial Commission. The provisions described are presented for general public awareness and are not a substitute for individualized legal advice.

Ramsay Law Firm, P.A. is a Charlotte, North Carolina-based firm led by Martha L. Ramsay, a Board-Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist, along with attorneys Brian C. Hunt and Scott G. Galiger. The firm represents injured workers in North Carolina workers’ compensation matters and assists clients facing wrongful termination or retaliation issues connected with workers’ compensation claims.

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