The Vermont workers compensation act — formally the Vermont Employer’s Liability and Workers’ Compensation (Vermont Workers’ Compensation Act), found at 21 V.S.A. Chapter 9 (21 V.S.A. § 601 et seq.) — is the statute behind every workers’ comp claim, benefit and employer mandate in the state.
This plain-English guide to the Vermont workers compensation act gives the section numbers next to the rules people actually need: who must be covered, the deadlines, the waiting period, the pay rate, the exclusive-remedy bargain, the ban on retaliation and the penalties. Verified against the official code as of October 2026.
Vermont at a Glance
| Official name | Employer’s Liability and Workers’ Compensation (Vermont Workers’ Compensation Act) |
| Where it lives | 21 V.S.A. Chapter 9 (21 V.S.A. § 601 et seq.) |
| First enacted | 1915 (an earlier, more limited compensation law was passed in 1910) |
| Reporting deadline | Notice of injury to the employer “as soon as practicable,” and a claim for compensation within 6 months of the injury — 21 V.S.A. § 656. A late notice may still be allowed if the employer knew of the accident or was not harmed by the delay (§ 660). |
| Filing deadline | Proceedings to start a claim may not be commenced more than 3 years after the date of injury — 21 V.S.A. § 660 |
| Exclusive remedy | 21 V.S.A. § 622 — workers’ comp replaces all other remedies against the employer, with exceptions written into § 618(b) and § 624 (third-party claims); courts recognize an exception only for a specific intent to injure (Vermont Supreme Court, e.g., Kittell v. Vermont Weatherboard) |
In This Vermont Guide:
What the Vermont Workers Compensation Act Is
A workers’ compensation act is a no-fault deal written into state law: the employer pays for work injuries without the worker proving fault, and the worker gives up most lawsuits against the employer in return. The Vermont workers compensation act dates to 1915 (an earlier, more limited compensation law was passed in 1910). It lives at 21 V.S.A.
Chapter 9 (21 V.S.A. § 601 et seq.), and the official text is linked in the sources. Weekly benefits include an extra 20 per week for each dependent child under 21 (§ 642). Injured workers may request medical case management, which is granted when it is reasonably supported, for example by a provider’s recommendation (§ 640b, from July 1, 2025).
Insurers must provide translation at no cost to claimants with limited English. Late payments trigger escalating penalties. Many claimants find it helpful to confirm their specific situation with the Vermont Department of Labor and a licensed attorney.
Who the Vermont Workers Compensation Act Covers
21 V.S.A. § 687 — an employer subject to the chapter must secure workers’ compensation insurance or qualify as self-insured; generally applies to employers with one or more employees A separate section lists the exempt classes — commonly some domestic, casual and agricultural work, and owners who elect out.
Deadlines in the Vermont Workers Compensation Act
Waiting period: 21 V.S.A. § 642 — 3-day waiting period; the excerpt seen says the first 3 days are paid back if disability lasts 7 consecutive calendar days or more (confirm on the official page).
Wage-loss rate: 21 V.S.A. § 642 — two-thirds (66 2/3 percent) of the average weekly wage, within the state weekly maximum and minimum (set annually; check the current-year figures with the Vermont Department of Labor), plus 20 per week for each dependent child under 21.
Vermont Workers Compensation Act: Key Sections at a Glance
The sections of the Vermont workers compensation act that decide most cases, each with its citation:
| Coverage mandate | 21 V.S.A. § 687 — an employer subject to the chapter must secure workers’ compensation insurance or qualify as self-insured; generally applies to employers with one or more employees |
| Report an injury | Notice of injury to the employer “as soon as practicable,” and a claim for compensation within 6 months of the injury — 21 V.S.A. § 656. A late notice may still be allowed if the employer knew of the accident or was not harmed by the delay (§ 660). |
| File a claim | Proceedings to start a claim may not be commenced more than 3 years after the date of injury — 21 V.S.A. § 660 |
| Waiting period | 21 V.S.A. § 642 — 3-day waiting period; the excerpt seen says the first 3 days are paid back if disability lasts 7 consecutive calendar days or more (confirm on the official page) |
| Wage-loss rate | 21 V.S.A. § 642 — two-thirds (66 2/3 percent) of the average weekly wage, within the state weekly maximum and minimum (set annually; check the current-year figures with the Vermont Department of Labor), plus 20 per week for each dependent child under 21 |
| Exclusive remedy | 21 V.S.A. § 622 — workers’ comp replaces all other remedies against the employer, with exceptions written into § 618(b) and § 624 (third-party claims); courts recognize an exception only for a specific intent to injure (Vermont Supreme Court, e.g., Kittell v. Vermont Weatherboard) |
| Retaliation | 21 V.S.A. § 710 — bars firing or discriminating against an employee for asserting or trying to assert a workers’ comp claim; enforced by the Attorney General or a State’s Attorney under 9 V.S.A. §§ 2458–2461, and the retaliation and penalty/enforcement provisions of 21 V.S.A. §§ 495(a)(8) and 495b also apply |
| Uninsured employer penalty | 21 V.S.A. § 692 — administrative penalty of up to 100 per day for the first 7 days of being uninsured and up to 150 per day after that; up to 250 per day after an order to obtain insurance, and up to 250 per employee per day; emergency stop-work orders, with civil penalties of up to 5000 (first violation) or 10000 (later violations) for breaking one, or criminal penalties |
The Exclusive-Remedy Bargain in the Vermont Workers Compensation Act
21 V.S.A. § 622 — workers’ comp replaces all other remedies against the employer, with exceptions written into § 618(b) and § 624 (third-party claims); courts recognize an exception only for a specific intent to injure (Vermont Supreme Court, e.g., Kittell v. Vermont Weatherboard)
Retaliation and Penalties Under the Vermont Workers Compensation Act
21 V.S.A. § 710 — bars firing or discriminating against an employee for asserting or trying to assert a workers’ comp claim; enforced by the Attorney General or a State’s Attorney under 9 V.S.A. §§ 2458–2461,
and the retaliation and penalty/enforcement provisions of 21 V.S.A. §§ 495(a)(8) and 495b also apply 21 V.S.A. § 692 — administrative penalty of up to 100 per day for the first 7 days of being uninsured and up to 150 per day after that; up to 250 per day after an order to obtain insurance, and up to 250 per employee per day; emergency stop-work orders,
with civil penalties of up to 5000 (first violation) or 10000 (later violations) for breaking one, or criminal penalties
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Recent Amendments to the Vermont Workers Compensation Act
No amendment to the Vermont workers compensation act effective in 2024, 2025 or 2026 was identified in the official code at verification time. Benefit maximums still change every year under the existing sections.
How to Read the Vermont Workers Compensation Act
Statute pages are written for lawyers, so read the Vermont workers compensation act in this order: the definitions section (who is an employee), the coverage section, then the specific section for your question, using the citations above. The official code is the source; the summaries on legal-information sites are not.
If a section of the Vermont workers compensation act seems to conflict with what an insurer told you, the section wins — and the state agency’s information line can confirm it for free.
Applying the act: the Vermont claim guide turns these sections into steps and dates, and the Vermont requirements guide covers the employer side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Vermont workers compensation act in the code?
21 V.S.A. Chapter 9 (21 V.S.A. § 601 et seq.). The sources below link to the official text.
How long do I have to report a work injury under the Vermont act?
Notice of injury to the employer “as soon as practicable,” and a claim for compensation within 6 months of the injury — 21 V.S.A. § 656. A late notice may still be allowed if the employer knew of the accident or was not harmed by the delay (§ 660).. Report in writing as soon as possible either way.
Can I sue my employer instead of using the Vermont workers compensation act?
Usually not — the exclusive-remedy section bars most lawsuits against a covered employer. Claims against third parties, and against an uninsured employer, are the common exceptions.
Official Vermont Sources & Resources
- Vermont Vermont Department of Labor — Workers’ Compensation and Safety Division: https://labor.vermont.gov/workers%E2%80%99-compensation
- Vermont Workers’ Comp Statute: https://legislature.vermont.gov/statutes/chapter/21/009
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- Insurance Information Institute: iii.org
This Vermont workers compensation act guide was last verified against official Vermont sources in October 2026. Rules change — confirm the current figure with the state agency or a licensed attorney.
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Disclaimer: This guide is informational only and is not legal, medical, or financial advice. Workers Comp Explained is an independent educational resource, not a law firm or insurer. Workers’ comp benefits, settlement values, deadlines, and requirements vary by state and by the specific facts of your injury and change over time, and any settlement figures here are illustrative only.
Confirm your rights and any deadline with your state’s workers’ compensation board and a licensed attorney before you act.