Award interest calculator
An unpaid WCAB award isn’t just late — it’s accruing. Labor Code §5800 attaches interest “at the same rate as judgments in civil actions” — 10% per annum (CCP §685.010(a)), simple — from the date the award is made and filed, or from each installment’s due date. Enter the unpaid amount and the dates; the arithmetic runs live.
§5800 (this page) accrues 10% a year on amounts unpaid under an award. §4650(d) is a one-time, self-imposed 10% increase on a late benefit payment made without an award — the payment-clock guide maps those deadlines. §5814 is the penalty for unreasonable delay — up to 25% of the delayed payment — covered here. A seriously late award payment can implicate more than one; each has its own trigger and its own fight.
What delay costs, at a glance
Simple 10% per-annum arithmetic (amount × 10% × days ÷ 365) at common award sizes.
| Unpaid award | 90 days | 180 days | 1 year | 2 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $10,000.00 | $246.58 | $493.15 | $1,000.00 | $2,000.00 |
| $25,000.00 | $616.44 | $1,232.88 | $2,500.00 | $5,000.00 |
| $50,000.00 | $1,232.88 | $2,465.75 | $5,000.00 | $10,000.00 |
| $100,000.00 | $2,465.75 | $4,931.51 | $10,000.00 | $20,000.00 |
The award amount itself is the rating math — price a rating, or run the whole case in the free calculator. Statutory text per Lab. Code §5800 and CCP §685.010, checked August 2026.
Simple-interest arithmetic on the general judgment rate; which amounts were due when — and whether §4650(d) or §5814 also applies — is case-specific. Estimates for informational use only; not legal advice.
Rating-schedule changes, the moment they land.
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