Your paperwork will depend on the type of injury or occupational disease you are claiming. Read it carefully, respond promptly, and keep copies of everything. Always put your claim number on your paperwork and have it handy when you call L&I or your self-insured employer.
L&I or your self-insured employer must receive your claim application within one year of your injury date to file a claim. We must receive it within two years from the date of your doctor's diagnosis for occupational disease claims.
Information about your injury, employer, wages, diagnosis, treatment and other background information. (Note: The report is called the Report of Industrial Injury or Occupational Disease. If your employer is self-insured, it is called the Self Insurer Accident Report (SIF-2). Your doctor may complete the Physicians Initial Report. If your injury limits your ability to work, your doctor will also complete an Activity Prescription Form (F242‑385‑000).)
Your doctor has five days to send the report to L&I or your self-insured employer. L&I's or your self-insured employer's processing time will vary, depending on the type of claim. If you are eligible for wage-replacement benefits, and no further information is needed, L&I or your self-insured employer sends the first benefit check within 14 days of receiving the report.
Please let us know right away, so your claim isn't delayed. Address changes at L&I must be made in writing via fax or mail and include your claim number and authorizing signature. You can also update your information in the Claim & Account Center . If your employer is self‑insured, send a written notification to both L&I and your employer or their third-party administrator (TPA).
Your rights, benefits, and responsibilities for your claim will remain the same. Washington laws will always apply to your claim regardless of where you live.
Many doctors and health-care providers in other states don't accept workers' compensation cases. Find a Doctor in your area.
All health care providers who treat you must have a provider account with Washington L&I in order to be paid. This includes pharmacies, hospitals, therapists, doctors, clinics and all other providers.
Out of state providers may need to use the L&I Web site to get needed forms to file your claim as well as billing forms for their services.
A Washington worker can file a claim in Washington even if the injury occurs out of state. You may file claims in both Washington State and in the state or country in which you were injured but any benefits you receive from another state will be credited against any benefits to which you may be eligible from L&I. Notify L&I if you filed a claim in another state or country.
Did you know?
Clearly filling out the accident report form and explaining your injury will reduce delays and help ensure you get all the benefits to which you are entitled.
Injured Out of State.
A Washington worker can file a claim in Washington even if the injury occurs out of state. You may file a claim in both Washington State and in the state or country in which you were injured, but any benefits you receive from another state will be credited against any benefits to which you may be eligible from L&I.
You are considered a worker of whatever state your employer has a place of business, if you regularly work at or from that place of business.
If your employer has a place of business in Washington and you regularly work at or from that place of business, you are a Washington worker.
If your employer's place of business is in another state other than Washington and you regularly work at or from that place of business, you are considered a worker of the state that place of business is located, and you aren't a Washington worker.
If your employer doesn't have a place of business in the state where you work, you are considered a worker of the state you reside, if you work a substantial amount of your time in the state where you reside.
If your home is in Washington you work a substantial amount of your time in Washington, you are a Washington worker.
If you home is in another state and you work a substantial amount of your time in that state, then you are considered a worker in the state where you reside, and you aren't a Washington worker.
If your employer has no business location in the state you work, and you don't live in the state you work, then you will be a Washington worker only if your contract of hire was made in the state of Washington.
Understand your rights as an injured worker.
Workers who are injured on the job and file a claim with L&I have rights to:
Protection against discrimination for filing a claim.
Protest L&I decisions.
Change doctors.
Take legal action against a "third-party" (someone not their employer) who may be responsible for the injury.
Your employer may not discriminate against you simply because you filed a claim. However, your employer may fire you and replace you with another worker if no one else can do your job and no light-duty jobs are available - or if your injury happened because you violated a safety rule.
Washington's workers' compensation is "no-fault" insurance. Workers are covered regardless of what caused the on-the-job injury. However, if it was caused by the failure of a machine, product or someone who is not your coworker, you have the right to sue such a "third party."
You may change doctors as long as your claim manager approves it. Use the Change of Attending Physician form (F245‑037‑000). If you wish to get a second medical opinion — about your treatment or upcoming surgery, for example — call your claim manager for approval.
Yes. You and your doctor may apply to reopen your claim if there is objective medical evidence (physical evidence your doctor can measure) that your medical condition is a result of the same injury and that it has worsened since the claim closed.
If you disagree with an L&I decision as your claim is being processed, you, your employer and your doctor all have the right to protest. Read protest instructions.
Your rights, benefits, and responsibilities for your claim will remain the same. Washington laws will always apply to your claim regardless of where you live.
Many doctors and health-care providers in other states don't accept workers' compensation cases. Find a Doctor in your area.
Know how to check the status of your claim.
We know that many injured workers want to check on the progress of their claim as decisions about eligibility and benefits are made. You can do this in a number of ways.
Call 1-800-831-5227 for a fast, automated update on the status of your claim in English or Spanish (en Español).
Call 1-800-547-8367 for a customer service representative. Spanish (en Español) speaking staff or translation service available.
Call 360-902-5797 for hearing/speech impaired TDD service.
For self-insured claims, contact your self-insured employer or their claim representative. If you disagree with how your self-insured employer or their representative is managing your claim, contact Self-Insurance at L&I.
Your claim manager's phone number is located on all correspondence. You may also contact your local L&I office and ask for a "48-hour phone referral." Your claim manager should call you within 48 hours.
You may choose to authorize other people to have online access to your claim. These may include family members, union representatives or anyone you choose. These authorized delegates will need to complete their own registration for the Claim & Account Center as an Authorized Delegate and request access to your information. You will then be notified by e-mail and you will need to log onto the Claim & Account Center and click on 'My Profile' to act on their request. They won't get access until you approve them.
