How to use the workers compensation deadline calculator
A workers compensation claim has two clocks running at once: a short one for telling your employer that you were hurt, and a longer one for filing the formal claim with the state agency. Enter the injury date and the two limits your state uses, and the calculator returns both deadline dates, the days left to file, and how long it has been since the injury.
Legal basis (as of September 2026) — workers compensation is state law, and there is no single national deadline. Employee notice to the employer is commonly required within about 30 days, though some states allow far less and others far more, and the claim petition is usually due within one to three years of the injury. Federal employees are covered instead by FECA, where 5 U.S.C. §8122 sets a three year limit, and maritime workers by the Longshore Act, where 33 U.S.C. §913 sets one year.
For an occupational illness the clock generally starts when the condition is diagnosed or when the worker reasonably should have connected it to the job, not on the day of exposure. Missing the notice deadline does not always end a claim, but it gives the insurer a defense, so reporting early matters.
This calculator is for reference only and is not legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney or your state workers compensation board about your specific claim.
Frequently Asked Questions
Most states require notice to the employer within roughly 30 days, but the range runs from a few days to several months. Check your state agency and adjust the field, because late notice gives the insurer a defense.
Usually one to three years from the injury, depending on the state. Federal employees have three years under 5 U.S.C. §8122, and Longshore Act claims must be filed within one year under 33 U.S.C. §913.
Generally at diagnosis, or when the worker reasonably should have known the condition was work related, rather than on the date of first exposure. States word this discovery rule differently.