See exactly how long you have to file your California workers' compensation claim — and which date controls your deadline. Miss it and you can lose your benefits.
Missing a deadline is one of the most common — and most preventable — ways injured California workers lose benefits they're entitled to. Four key deadlines control most claims:
Report to your employer — 30 days (LC § 5400). Tell your employer in writing as soon as possible. A late report can jeopardize benefits.
File your claim — 1 year (LC § 5405). You generally have one year to file, but the clock runs from the latest of your date of injury, the last temporary-disability payment, or the last medical treatment your employer provided. That's why two people injured the same day can have different deadlines.
Cumulative trauma — LC § 5412. For injuries that build up over time, the one-year clock starts when disability and knowledge coincide.
Reopen a claim — 5 years (LC § 5410). If your condition worsens, you may petition to reopen within five years of the injury.
This calculator gives you a personalized timeline. It's general information, not legal advice — when a deadline is close, the safest move is to call an attorney today.
Generally one year from your date of injury (Labor Code § 5405). But the clock can run from the last date your employer provided medical treatment or paid temporary disability — which can extend your window. This tool shows the controlling date based on your answers.
For cumulative-trauma injuries, the one-year clock starts when your disability and your knowledge that it's work-related come together (Labor Code § 5412) — not necessarily your first symptom. Use the date you first connected the condition to your job.
Not necessarily. The 30-day rule (Labor Code § 5400) is important and a late report can complicate things, but it doesn't automatically bar your claim. Talk to an attorney right away.
Possibly. California allows a petition to reopen for new and further disability within five years of the date of injury (Labor Code § 5410).
