Workers' comp claim denied in District of Columbia: what to do next

Your employer's insurer, not the state, usually decides first. If they deny or delay, the free help listed here can explain your options.

Checked against official sources: October 31, 2026.

Deadlines are strict. If you are near one, call the state agency or free help today.

If your claim is denied or delayed in the District of Columbia

Who decides

DOES Administrative Hearings Division (administrative law judges); appeals to the Compensation Review Board (CRB), then the D.C. Court of Appeals

First step

If your claim is denied or benefits stop, you can ask the Office of Workers' Compensation for a free informal conference with a claims examiner, who issues a recommendation within 30 days of the conference. Or you can go directly to a formal hearing by filing an Application for Formal Hearing with the Administrative Hearings Division. You cannot have an informal conference and a formal hearing at the same time.

Form

Employee's Claim Application (DCWC Form 7A); Application for Formal Hearing (Form 20) via AHD e-File

Deadline

File the claim application within 1 year after the injury or last payment. After an informal conference, a party who disagrees must notify OWC in writing within 14 working days and file for a formal hearing within 34 working days. An Application for Review to the Compensation Review Board must be filed within 30 calendar days of the Compensation Order.

Source: Form 7A

Medical disagreements

Disputes over medical care, a change of physician or the degree of disability can be raised at an informal conference or a formal hearing; the law also allows evaluation by an independent physician selected by the Mayor (DOES).

Application for Informal/Mediation Conference

Appealing the decision

Compensation Review Board within 30 calendar days; then the D.C. Court of Appeals within 30 calendar days of the Board's Decision and Order.

Optional: file an Application for Informal/Mediation Conference with OWC. A claims examiner holds the conference and issues a Memorandum of Informal Conference.
If you do not accept the memorandum, notify OWC in writing within 14 working days and file for a formal hearing within 34 working days.
File an Application for Formal Hearing with the Administrative Hearings Division through its e-File system. An administrative law judge holds a hearing and issues a Compensation Order.
Any party may file an Application for Review with the Compensation Review Board within 30 calendar days.
A party may appeal the Board's Decision and Order to the D.C. Court of Appeals within 30 calendar days.

Law: D.C. Code 32-1520, 32-1521.01, 32-1522

Source: does.dc.gov

Sources

The official sources for the District of Columbia are listed on the District of Columbia page.

National rules that may also matter

Not covered by state workers' comp?

These federal programs and laws cover some groups of workers instead of, or in addition to, state workers' compensation. If one of them may apply to you, check its rules and deadlines too. They are different from your state's.

Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA): Civilian employees of the federal government, including Postal Service employees. Official page

Longshore and Harbor Workers' Compensation Act (Longshore Act): Maritime workers such as longshore workers, harbor workers, ship repairers, shipbuilders and ship-breakers, hurt on navigable waters of the United States or on an adjoining pier, wharf, dry dock, terminal or other area used to load, unload, repair or build ships. Some groups are excluded. Official page
Longshore maximum and minimum for October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027 (fiscal year 2027): maximum $2,163.92 a week, minimum $540.98 a week.

Law: 33 U.S.C. 906(b); DOL Longshore NAWW table

Defense Base Act: Civilian employees working outside the United States on U.S. military bases or under a contract with the U.S. government for public works or national defense. Claims are handled by the Longshore program. Official page

Federal Black Lung Program: Coal miners who are totally disabled by black lung disease (pneumoconiosis) from coal mine work, and survivors of miners whose deaths were caused by it. Official page

Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program: Current or former employees of the U.S. Department of Energy and its contractors and subcontractors, and certain uranium miners, millers and ore transporters, who became ill from toxic exposures such as radiation, beryllium or silica at covered work sites, and their survivors. The program is set up by the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act (EEOICPA). Official page

Railroad workers (Federal Employers' Liability Act): Employees of railroads in interstate commerce. Instead of a workers' compensation claim, a federal law lets an injured railroad worker sue the railroad for damages caused by its negligence.

Seamen (Jones Act): A seaman injured in the course of employment may bring a lawsuit against the employer, with the right to a jury trial, under the same federal rules that apply to railroad workers.

National help

Your state workers' compensation agency answers questions about claims. Many have a free help line, an ombudsman or information officers for injured workers.

The Legal Services Corporation funds 129 nonprofit legal aid organizations in every state, D.C. and the territories. Enter your address on its website to find one near you. You can also look up legal information and free forms at LawHelp.org. Whether a local program handles workers' compensation cases varies.

LawHelp.org