Workers' comp waiting period by state

How many days you wait before wage benefits start, when the waiting days are paid back, and the first payment.

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.

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StateWaiting periodPaid back ifFirst payment
3 days
If your disability lasts as long as 21 days, the first 3 days are paid with the first payment due after those 21 days.
Payments are made at the same intervals your wages were paid, unless you and your employer agree otherwise.
3 days
If you are disabled more than 28 days, the first 3 days are paid too.
The first payment is due 14 days after your employer knows of the injury, and then every 14 days.
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7 days
If your disability lasts more than 14 days, you are also paid for the first 7 days.
The first installment is due on the 15th day after your employer has notice of the injury, unless the claim is denied.
3 days
You are paid for the first 3 days too if your disability lasts more than 14 days or you are admitted to a hospital as an inpatient.
The first payment is due within 14 days after your employer knows about the injury and your disability, unless the claim is denied before then.
3 days
If your disability lasts longer than two weeks from the day you leave work, the waiting days are paid back from the first day.
The first payment is due no later than the date the insurer admits liability; the insurer has 20 days after the injury report to admit or contest.
3 days
If you are unable to work for 7 days, compensation is paid from the date of the injury.
If your claim is approved, the WCC says to expect your first check within two weeks of filing the claim with your employer; if you do not get one, call the insurance carrier.
3 days
If you are unable to work for 7 days or more (counting the day of injury), you are paid from the first day of injury.
If you and the insurer sign a written agreement on compensation, payments must start within 14 days of the agreement.
3 days
If your disability lasts more than 14 days, you are paid from the first day of disability.
The first installment is due on the 14th day after your employer learns of the job-related injury; after that, payments are made every two weeks.
7 days
If your disability lasts more than 21 days, you are paid for the first 7 days too.
The first payment (or a denial) is due by the 14th day after your employer learns of the injury, when you are disabled for 8 days or more in a row.
7 days
If you are out of work more than 21 consecutive days because of the injury, you are paid for the first 7 days too; that payment is due on the 21st consecutive day.
Your first check should be mailed within 21 days after the first day you missed work.
3 days
The first 3 calendar days of disability are not paid back later.
The first payment is due no later than the 10th day after your employer is notified of your total disability; after that, benefits are paid weekly.
5 days
If the injury keeps you from working for more than 2 weeks, income benefits are paid from the first day of disability, and this back pay must be paid no later than 4 weeks from the date disability began.
Income benefits must start no later than 4 weeks (28 days) from the date your disability began.
3 days
If you are unable to work for 14 days or more, TTD is paid from the day after the accident, including the first 3 days.
The employer should make the first TTD payment within 14 days after receiving notice of the injury, and then pay at the same interval you were paid before the injury (for example weekly or every two weeks).
7 days
If your disability lasts longer than 21 days, you are also paid for the first 7 days.
The first weekly payment is due 14 days after your disability begins.
3 days
If you are off work for more than 14 calendar days, you are paid for the first 3 days too (added to the third week's payment).
Weekly payments are due beginning on the 11th day after the injury and every week after that.
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7 days
If you are off work for more than two weeks, the carrier goes back and pays you for the first 7 days.
Payments are made on the employer's regular payday, starting with the first regular payday more than 7 days after the injury, and must begin no later than the 15th day after your employer knows of the disability.
7 days
The first week is paid to you once your disability lasts two weeks or longer after the accident; it is paid after those first two weeks have passed.
The first payment of temporary total disability is due on the 14th day after your employer or its insurer knows about the injury.
7 days
If your incapacity lasts more than 14 days, you are paid from the first day.
The first payment is due within 14 days after your employer has notice or knowledge of the injury, unless it files a Notice of Controversy.
3 days
If your disability lasts more than 14 days, you are paid from the first day.
If the employer or insurer does not start paying an award within 15 days after it is issued or due, without good cause, the Commission fines it up to 20% of the payment (up to 40% after 30 days), and the fine is paid to you.
5 days
If you are out of work for 21 calendar days or more, you are also paid for the first 5 days.
The insurer must start weekly payments or deny the claim within 14 days after it receives the first report of injury or your claim.
7 days
If your wage loss continues for 2 weeks (14 days) or longer, you are also paid for the first week.
The first payment is due on the 14th day after your employer has notice or knowledge of the disability, and then weekly.
3 days
If your disability lasts 10 calendar days or longer, you are paid from the first day of disability.
The insurer must start paying TTD within 14 days after your employer learned of the injury and that you could not work.
5 days
If your disability lasts 14 days or more, you are paid for the whole period, including the first 5 days.
The first installment is due on the 14th day after your employer has notice of the disabling injury.
3 days
If you are unable to work for more than 14 days, the first three days are paid back to you.
Compensation is paid on the same schedule your wages were paid before the injury, but at least once every two weeks.
4 days
If you are totally disabled and unable to work in any capacity for 21 days or longer, you are paid back to the first day of total wage loss (unless you took sick leave for those days and choose to waive that part).
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7 days
If disability continues for 6 weeks or longer, you are paid from the date the disability began; the waiting week is paid after 6 weeks.
Benefits are typically paid within 30 days after notice of the injury, and are paid on the same schedule as your wages were paid.
5 days
Once your doctor certifies that you cannot work for 5 or more days in a row, or 5 days in total within a 20-day period, compensation is paid from the date of the injury.
If temporary total disability is allowed, the first payment must be issued within 14 working days after the insurer receives the first certification of disability, and regularly after that (usually every 14 days).
New Hampshire
Not covered yet: State workers' compensation agency · LawHelp.org
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7 days
If your total disability lasts more than 7 days, you are paid for the first 7 days too (benefits are retroactive to the first day).
You can generally expect to wait about two weeks for the first temporary disability payment.
7 days
The first 7 days are paid only if you are off work more than four weeks (a full 28 days) on a doctor's orders.
The first check must be paid no later than 14 days after you have missed more than seven days of work because of the injury.
7 days
If your disability lasts more than 14 days, you are paid from the first day of disability.
The first payment is due on the 14th day of disability and must be paid within 4 days after that, unless the insurer disputes the claim.
7 days
If your disability lasts more than 21 days, you are paid for the first 7 days too.
When the claim is accepted, the first payment is due on the 14th day after your employer had written or actual notice of the injury, and payments then come weekly unless the Commission orders otherwise.
4 days
If your disability lasts 5 or more consecutive calendar days, you are paid for the whole period of disability, including the first days.
Once your claim is accepted and you are eligible, wage-loss benefits are paid every 14 days.
7 days
If you are totally disabled for 14 or more consecutive days because of the same injury, the first 7 days are paid too, whenever that happens during the claim.
BWC pays TT based on your doctor's Physician's Report of Work Ability (MEDCO-14) and a Request for Temporary Total Compensation (C-84).
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3 days
The first 3 days are paid if you are totally disabled for at least 14 days in a row, or if you are admitted to a hospital as an inpatient within 14 days after your disability begins.
The first time-loss payment is due no later than the 14th day after your employer knows of the claim and of your disability, if your doctor has authorized time off.
7 days
If your disability lasts 14 days or more, you are also paid for the first 7 days.
The first payment is due no later than the 21st day after your employer has notice or knowledge of your disability.
3 days
Rhode Island law does not pay the first 3 days back later.
Payments ordered at a Workers' Compensation Court pretrial conference, including weekly benefits, must be paid within 14 days of the order.
7 days
If you are out of work for more than 14 days, you are paid from the first day.
Payments are sent directly to you weekly, often by mail.
7 days
If your injury keeps you from working for 7 consecutive days, benefits are figured from the date of the injury, so the first 7 days are paid too.
Benefits are generally paid on the same schedule as your regular paychecks; if that is not practical, weekly.
7 days
If the authorized treating physician keeps you off work for 14 calendar days or longer, benefits are paid back to the first day of disability.
Temporary disability payments must be received by you no later than 15 calendar days after notice of the injury.
7 days
If your disability lasts 2 weeks or longer, you are also paid for the first week.
The insurance carrier must start paying, or send a written refusal, within 15 days after it gets written notice of your injury.
3 days
If your temporary total disability lasts more than 14 calendar days, you are also paid for the first 3 days.
If the claim is accepted, disability checks are usually issued every two weeks.
3 days
If your total disability continues after the third day for 7 consecutive calendar days or more, you are paid for the whole period, including the first 3 days.
Benefits are due if the employer has not denied the claim within 21 days after it is filed.
7 days
If your incapacity lasts more than 3 weeks, you are paid from the first day.
If a payment is not made within 2 weeks after it is due, 20% is added to it, unless the Commission finds a good reason outside the employer's control.
3 days
If your disability continues for 7 calendar days in a row from the date of injury, you are paid for the first 3 days too.
The first check is sent within 14 days after L&I or your self-insured employer receives your Report of Accident, if you are eligible and no more information is needed.
3 days
If your disability lasts longer than 7 days from the day you leave work, you are also paid for the first 3 days.
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3 days
If you are off work for more than 7 calendar days, the first 3 days are paid too.
In most cases the first payment is made by the insurance carrier within 14 days of your last day worked.
3 days
The first 3 days are paid if your disability lasts more than 8 days.
Temporary total disability is figured as a monthly amount and paid twice a month: half on or about the 15th and half on or about the 30th.