Workers' comp claim denied in Mississippi: what to do next

First contact the employer or insurance company representative handling your claim. If that does not solve the problem, call the Commission at 601-987-4200 and ask for a Claims Representative, who may be able to help.

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 Mississippi

Who decides

Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission: an administrative judge, then the Full Commission

First step

First contact the employer or insurance company representative handling your claim. If that does not solve the problem, call the Commission at 601-987-4200 and ask for a Claims Representative, who may be able to help. To have a judge decide, file a Petition to Controvert with the Commission.

Source: Form B-5,11

Form
Petition to Controvert (Form B-5,11)
Deadline

File the Petition to Controvert within 2 years from the date of injury if no disability benefits have been paid, or within 1 year after the Notice of Final Payment is filed or the claim is rejected. An appeal of an administrative judge's order to the Full Commission must be filed within 20 days of the order.

Source: Form B-31

Medical disagreements

Disputes about medical treatment, a change of doctor or medical bills are raised by motion before the administrative judge (for example a motion for medical treatment) in a claim where a Petition to Controvert has been filed.

Appealing the decision

Full Commission within 20 days of the administrative judge's decision; then a notice of appeal filed with the Commission within 30 days of the Full Commission's order, which sends the case to the Mississippi Supreme Court (it may assign the case to the Court of Appeals).

  1. File a Petition to Controvert with the Commission. If no benefits have been paid, file medical records supporting the claim with it (or within 60 days if the deadline is about to run).
  2. The employer/insurer files an Answer. The case goes to the pre-hearing department, then is assigned to an administrative judge.
  3. Discovery lasts 120 days. The Commission may order mediation.
  4. The administrative judge holds a hearing and issues an order.
  5. Either side can ask the Full Commission (three commissioners) to review the judge's decision within 20 days. A Full Commission order can be appealed to the Mississippi Supreme Court by filing a notice of appeal with the Commission within 30 days.

Law: Miss. Code Ann. 71-3-47, 71-3-51; MWCC Rules 2.2, 2.10, 2.11

Source: mwcc.ms.gov

Sources

The official sources for Mississippi are listed on the Mississippi page.