Workers' comp deadlines by state

How long you have to tell your employer about a work injury and to file a claim, state by state.

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

A dash means the data did not give a single number for that state; the state page has the rule in words.

Sort:

State	Tell your employer	File your claim	Waiting period
Alabama	5 days	2 years	3 days
Alaska	15 days	2 years	3 days
Arizona Not covered yet: State workers' compensation agency · LawHelp.org	—	—	—
Arkansas	Report the injury to your employer or supervisor immediately, on the Commission's Form AR-N and to the person or place your employer has named.	2 years	7 days
California	30 days	1 year	3 days
Colorado	10 days	2 years	3 days
Connecticut	Report the injury to your employer, or someone representing your employer, immediately.	1 year	3 days
Delaware	90 days	2 years	3 days
District of Columbia	30 days	1 year	3 days
Florida	30 days	2 years	7 days
Georgia	30 days	1 year	7 days
Hawaii	Report the injury to your immediate supervisor or employer right away; DCD says you can do this orally or in writing.	2 years	3 days
Idaho	60 days	1 year	5 days
Illinois	45 days	3 years	3 days
Indiana	30 days	2 years	7 days
Iowa	90 days	2 years	3 days
Kansas Not covered yet: State workers' compensation agency · LawHelp.org	—	—	—
Kentucky	Report your injury to your supervisor or other person your employer has chosen as soon as possible after it happens.	2 years	7 days
Louisiana	30 days	1 year	7 days
Maine	60 days	2 years	7 days
Maryland	10 days	60 days	3 days
Massachusetts	Report the injury or illness to your employer as soon as you can.	4 years	5 days
Michigan	90 days	2 years	7 days
Minnesota	14 days	3 years	3 days
Mississippi	30 days	2 years	5 days
Missouri	30 days	2 years	3 days
Montana	30 days	12 months	4 days
Nebraska	Notify your employer of any work-related injury or occupational disease as soon as possible.	2 years	7 days
Nevada	7 days	90 days	5 days
New Hampshire Not covered yet: State workers' compensation agency · LawHelp.org	—	—	—
New Jersey	14 days	2 years	7 days
New Mexico	15 days	1 year	7 days
New York	30 days	2 years	7 days
North Carolina	30 days	2 years	7 days
North Dakota	7 days	1 year	4 days
Ohio	Tell your employer right away what happened and ask whether you need to fill out an internal accident report.	1 year	7 days
Oklahoma Not covered yet: State workers' compensation agency · LawHelp.org	—	—	—
Oregon	90 days	90 days	3 days
Pennsylvania	21 days	3 years	7 days
Rhode Island	30 days	2 years	3 days
South Carolina	90 days	2 years	7 days
South Dakota	3 business days	2 years	7 days
Tennessee	15 days	1 year	7 days
Texas	30 days	1 year	7 days
Utah	180 days	6 years	3 days
Vermont	Tell your employer about the injury immediately.	3 years	3 days
Virginia	30 days	2 years	7 days
Washington	Tell your employer, superintendent or supervisor right away ('forthwith') when you are injured on the job or diagnosed with an occupational disease.	1 year	3 days
West Virginia	Tell your employer about the injury right away.	6 months	3 days
Wisconsin	30 days	6 years	3 days
Wyoming	Report the accident or injury to your employer as soon as you can, and no later than 72 hours after the general nature of the injury became apparent, in writing or in another way the Department approves.	1 year	3 days

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.