Hurt at work in Kentucky? Deadlines, weekly benefit and how to file

Report your injury to your supervisor or other person your employer has chosen as soon as possible after it happens. File your claim within 2 years.

Temporary total disability (TTD) benefits can pay two-thirds of your gross (before-tax) wages, up to $1,277.99 a week in 2026.

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

In Kentucky, temporary total disability benefits replace part of your wages while a doctor keeps you off work, or puts you on restrictions your employer cannot accommodate, because of a work injury. Your employer's workers' compensation insurance carrier pays the benefits, and disputes are decided by an administrative law judge (ALJ) at the Department of Workers' Claims.

What are my deadlines?How much will I get?Who is my doctor?Claim denied?

Checked against official sources: October 31, 2026.

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

Free tools for Kentucky

Free tools that run in your browser. Nothing you enter is saved or sent until you download, copy or print a document.

Deadline helper

Worked out in your browser. Nothing you enter here is saved or sent.

If you are not sure of the exact day, use the earliest day you think it could be.

Enter the date of injury

We add the number from the law to your date. Nothing is saved.

Benefit estimate calculator

This estimate uses the rule in Kentucky's data: a share of your average weekly wage, up to the state maximum.

Worked out in your browser. Nothing you enter here is saved or sent.

Gross pay per week, as the insurer would figure it. Include regular overtime and tips if they were part of your pay.

Enter your pay

We apply the rule in the law. Nothing is saved.

Written notice to your employer

A letter that tells your employer, in writing, that you were hurt or made sick by your work.

Where the reply should be sent.

Required when you mail it. Not needed if you hand it in person.

In your own words, in English. Keep it short and factual. Do not guess why it happened.

It goes into the letter as you type it.

Other formats

Claim checklist: what to gather and do

A printable list of papers to keep and steps to take.

What you already have

Kentucky
Other formats

Your checklist

Deadlines in Kentucky

Tell your employer

Report your injury to your supervisor or other person your employer has chosen as soon as possible after it happens.

File your claim
2 years
Waiting period

There is a seven-day waiting period. TTD benefits start on the eighth day.

All the details →

Weekly benefit in Kentucky

What it pays
Two-thirds of your gross (before-tax) wages
Maximum
$1,277.99 a week in 2026
Minimum
$232.36 a week in 2026
Minimum rule

The minimum is 20% of the state average weekly wage: $232.36 a week for 2026 injuries, even if two-thirds of your wage is less.

Applies to
Injuries (or last exposure for an occupational disease) from January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026

Law: KRS 342.730(1)(a), (4), (5); KRS 342.740

Source: elc.ky.gov

All the details →

Who is your doctor in Kentucky?

Who chooses
It depends: network and choice rules both apply
Network
Employer's approved managed health care system, if any

If your employer has not designated a managed health care system, you may choose your own medical providers. If your employer uses an approved managed health care system, you choose a provider within the plan, but you may keep treating with a doctor who gave you emergency care.

Within a managed health care system you are allowed a choice of provider in the plan, a second opinion at the employer's expense from an outside doctor if a plan doctor recommends surgery, and outside care when treatment is not available in the plan. The plan must have an informal process for medical disputes.

Law: KRS 342.020(4), (6), (7)

Source: apps.legislature.ky.gov

Who is covered in Kentucky

Size of employer

Kentucky's workers' compensation law covers employees of most employers, regardless of size, except the groups the law exempts.

Special rules
  • Domestic workers in a private home: Exempt unless the employer has two or more employees each regularly working 40 or more hours a week as domestic workers.
  • Short home maintenance and repair jobs: Exempt if hired for no more than 20 consecutive work days to do maintenance, repair or remodeling at the employer's private home (or business, if the employer has no other covered employees).
Not covered
  • Agricultural workers
  • Domestic workers in a private home whose employer has fewer than two full-time (40 hours) domestic employees
  • Short home maintenance and repair jobs of 20 consecutive work days or less
  • People working only for aid or sustenance from a religious or charitable organization
  • Some ministers and church caretakers working limited hours, and members of certain religious sects
  • Workers who formally elect not to be covered
  • Workers covered by federal compensation laws (except Black Lung Act coverage)
If your employer has no insurance

If your employer has no workers' compensation insurance, you can file an Application for Resolution of a Claim and name the Uninsured Employers' Fund as a party. You can also report the employer to the Security and Compliance Branch (LaborKYWCCompliance@ky.gov).

Source: Form 101

Uninsured Employers' Fund

Law: KRS 342.630, 342.650, 342.760

Source: apps.legislature.ky.gov

If your claim is denied or delayed in Kentucky

First step

Call the Department's Division of Specialists and Medical Services (free) at 1-800-554-8601. Specialists answer questions, contact adjusters, mediate disputes, and help with claim forms.

Form
Application for Resolution of a Claim - Injury (Form 101)

All the details →

Fired or punished for filing in Kentucky

You may not be harassed, coerced, fired, or discriminated against in any way for filing and pursuing a lawful workers' compensation claim.

The law
KRS 342.197
What you may get

A court can order the employer to stop the violation and award your actual damages, court costs, and a reasonable attorney fee.

Where to file

File a civil lawsuit in Circuit Court.

Law: KRS 342.197

Source: apps.legislature.ky.gov

Lawyers' fees and other benefits in Kentucky

Attorney fees are governed by the Workers' Compensation Act and must be approved by an administrative law judge. For contracts signed on or after July 14, 2018, the fee is 20% of the first $25,000 of the award, 15% of the next $25,000, and 10% of the rest, up to $18,000, paid from the award or settlement.

Besides medical care and temporary total disability, Kentucky pays permanent partial disability, permanent total disability, retraining incentive benefits for some coal workers, death benefits to survivors, and vocational rehabilitation.

Free help in Kentucky

State agency

Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet, Department of Workers' Claims

Phone
1-800-554-8601
Address
500 Mero Street, 3rd Floor, Frankfort, KY 40601
Find an office
Look up your case

Free help

Good to know in Kentucky

  • The Department's specialists can contact your insurance adjuster for you if the adjuster stops returning your calls.
  • TTD benefits are reduced by any unemployment insurance benefits you receive for the same weeks.
  • The Department has already published the 2027 limits: $1,323.53 maximum and $240.64 minimum for injuries in 2027 (2027 Benefit Schedule, Sept. 10, 2026).

Changes in 2024–2026

The TTD maximum rose to $1,277.99 and the minimum to $232.36 for 2026 injuries.

Law: For 2027 injuries they will be $1,323.53 and $240.64

Questions about workers' comp in Kentucky

How long do I have to file a workers' comp claim in Kentucky?

If your claim is disputed or denied, you must file an Application for Resolution of a Claim with the Department of Workers' Claims within 2 years after the accident.

How much does workers' comp pay in Kentucky?

Temporary total disability (TTD) benefits can pay two-thirds of your gross (before-tax) wages, up to $1,277.99 a week in 2026.

Can I choose my own doctor for a work injury in Kentucky?

If your employer has not designated a managed health care system, you may choose your own medical providers. If your employer uses an approved managed health care system, you choose a provider within the plan, but you may keep treating with a doctor who gave you emergency care.

Can my employer fire me for filing a workers' comp claim in Kentucky?

You may not be harassed, coerced, fired, or discriminated against in any way for filing and pursuing a lawful workers' compensation claim.

What if my workers' comp claim is denied in Kentucky?

Call the Department's Division of Specialists and Medical Services (free) at 1-800-554-8601. Specialists answer questions, contact adjusters, mediate disputes, and help with claim forms.

Not about a work injury?

Not about a work injury? Unpaid wages → Wage Claim Map · Hurt in a car crash → Accident Claim Map · A medical bill → Medical Bill Map · Unemployment benefits → Unemployment Claim Map · Other problems → robinclaim.com

Nearby states

Sources