Improved LDPC code structure and concatenation rules for IEEE 802.11n systems, providing two code sets per rate, one longer codeword and one shorter codeword. The longer codeword length is determined by the system parameters, while the shorter codeword length is 1/3 of the longer codeword length. A LDPC concatenation rule is provided, wherein a maximum of one extra OFDM symbol is added in padding in order to reduce the code set granularity. In order to provide improved code performance, more bits are shortened compared with puncturing, by transmitting the extra OFDM symbol. Further, all the required puncturing and shortening bits are distributed across all codewords. This scheme provides a preferred tradeoff between code complexity and over-the-air efficiency.