Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development

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How Do I File a Claim? 

You are entitled to worker’s compensation benefits if you are injured on the job or became ill as a result of the job. You, your employer and the worker’s compensation insurance carrier have various responsibilities for the work-related injury/illness.

In the event you are hurt at work or become ill, it is your responsibility to:

• Tell your supervisor that you are hurt immediately, even if you think your injury is minor and will heal without medical attention.
• Obtain any necessary medical attention. Which may be getting first aid, seeing a doctor or going to the emergency room.
• Maintain all relevant medical and payment records for possible future use.

You should act to notify your employer and get medical attention without delay. A delay may negatively affect your health and may even jeopardize your potential workers compensation benefits. Failure to report your injury/illness to your employer within two years could result in your claim for worker’s compensation benefits being barred.

It is your employer’s responsibility to report your injury/illness to his/her insurance carrier or claims administrator. The insurance carrier will then report your injury/illness to the Wisconsin Worker’s Compensation Division.  

The insurance carrier will pay for reasonable and necessary medical expenses. If your doctor authorizes you off of work for more than three days, you will receive compensation for lost wages. If you are due compensation for your injury or illness:

You should receive a check from your employer’s insurance carrier (some large employers are self-insured) generally within 14 days after your injury/illness.

There is a three-day waiting period for compensation, excluding Sundays. No compensation is paid for these first three days unless you are off work for more than seven days. In that case, the first three days are paid for retroactively.

Once your claim is established, it will usually remain open for 12 years from the date of injury or the last payment to you, whichever is later. Therefore, it is important to save your medical and payment records for 12 years in the event your condition changes during this time.

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