All workers that receive permanent and total incapacity compensation—or people receiving a deceased spouse’s benefits—are also eligible to receive cost of living adjustments (COLAs). However, no COLA will be made to a person receiving Social Security disability benefits if the social security payment would need to be adjusted as a result of the COLA payment.
Every year on October 1st, the Director of Administration for the Department of Industrial Accidents determines the percentage change from the previous year in the average weekly wage in Massachusetts. That change will be the annual COLA as long as it is not greater than the lesser of the percentage change in the consumer price index, or 5%.
