Workers comp may not cover you, and you likely have no work plan. Your family could start at $0. A policy you own pays no matter where or how you die.
What your family may get
| Source | What it pays for farmers and ranchers |
|---|---|
| Workers comp | It depends on your state and how you work. Owners and some farm and crew jobs are often left out. |
| Work life insurance | You don't get a work plan. Any life insurance is the one you buy. |
| Social Security | A one time $255 payment, plus monthly checks for kids and some spouses if you worked long enough. |
Workers comp death benefits differ by state. Texas, for example, pays death benefits to help replace some lost pay and burial benefits for some funeral costs. Source: Texas Department of Insurance
The gap, in real numbers
The median farmer earns $89,900 a year (BLS, 2025). Ten years of that pay is $899,000.
With no work plan, your family starts at $0. All $899,000 would have to come from savings or a policy you buy.
How to close the gap
- Buy a term policy you own. It stays with you if you change jobs.
- Pick an amount close to 10 years of pay plus your mortgage.
- Tell the insurer your real job. Hiding it can lead to a denied claim.
- Ask an agent which companies treat farmers and ranchers fairly.
Common questions
What happens if a farmer dies on the job?
It depends on your state and how you work. Owners and some farm and crew jobs are often left out. You don't get a work plan. Any life insurance is the one you buy.
Does workers comp pay life insurance?
No. Workers comp is not life insurance. It may pay part of your lost pay and some funeral costs if a work injury kills you. It does not pay for deaths off the job.
Does my own life insurance pay if I die at work?
Yes. A regular life policy pays whether you die at work, at home or on vacation, as long as you told the truth on the application and the policy is in force.
Will my job make life insurance cost more?
It might. Some insurers add a charge for risky jobs. Others don't. A licensed agent can compare companies that are fair to farmers and ranchers.
Sources
- BLS: Farmers, ranchers and other agricultural managers
- BLS CFOI: Civilian occupations with high fatal work injury rates, 2023
- 59 percent of private industry workers had access to life insurance through work (March 2026)
- Social Security pays a one time $255 death payment to a surviving spouse or child who qualifies
- Social Security: Survivors benefits
- Texas Department of Insurance: Workers comp income and death benefits
