Filing a Michigan workers comp claim comes down to two deadlines and a few clear steps: report the injury to your employer, get medical care, and file with the state before the statute of limitations runs out. This guide walks through the Michigan process in plain English, with the exact deadlines you cannot miss. All figures are from Michigan sources, verified as of June 2026.
Michigan at a Glance
| Report to employer | 90 days. An injured worker must give notice of the injury to the employer within 90 days of the injury (or of when the worker knew/should have known it was work-related). Notice can be oral, but written notice is easier to prove. (MCL 418.381) |
| Deadline to file | 2 years. A worker must make a claim within 2 years of the injury (the “statute of limitations”). There is no further time limit to pursue benefits if the 90-day notice and the 2-year claim are both met. Note: a separate “1-year-back / 2-year-back rule” limits how far back past wage loss and medical reimbursement can be recovered. |
| Where to file | Michigan Workers’ Disability Compensation Agency (WDCA), part of the Dept. of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO). The employer files the Employer’s Basic Report of Injury (Form 100 / WC-100) with the WDCA; if the employer/insurer will not, the worker can file a claim themselves with the WDCA, and disputes are filed on the Application for Mediation or Hearing (Form WC-104A, also called “Form A”). |
| Choose your doctor? | For the first 28 days from the start of medical care, the employer/insurer directs care and may select the treating physician. After 28 days, the worker may treat with a physician of their own choice by giving the employer the physician’s name and intent to treat; the employer/insurer may petition a magistrate to object for cause. (MCL 418.315) |
| Benefits start | Wage-loss benefits have a 7-day waiting period (including weekends/holidays). The worker is eligible for benefits beginning the 8th day of disability. If the worker is off for 14+ days, the first 7 days are also paid retroactively. Benefits generally equal 80% of the after-tax value of the average weekly wage (based on the highest-paid 39 of the 52 weeks before injury). The 2026 maximum weekly rate is 1201. |
In This Michigan Guide:
Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim in Michigan
Filing a Michigan workers comp claim comes down to two deadlines and a few clear steps: report the injury to your employer, get medical care, and file with the state before the statute of limitations runs out. This guide walks through the Michigan process in plain English, with the exact deadlines you cannot miss. All figures are from Michigan sources, verified as of June 2026.
How to File a Workers’ Comp Claim in Michigan
First steps: 1) Report the injury to your employer/supervisor as soon as possible (within the 90-day notice window). 2) Get medical treatment and tell the provider it is a work injury. 3) Keep written records (date, time, how it happened, witnesses, copies of all forms). 4) Confirm your employer files the Employer’s Basic Report of Injury (Form 100) with the WDCA and notifies its insurer.
5) If the employer refuses, file your own claim/Application for Mediation or Hearing with the WDCA. Confirm specifics with the WDCA and a licensed Michigan attorney.
1) Worker reports injury to employer (within 90 days). 2) Employer reports to its insurer and files the Employer’s Basic Report of Injury (Form 100) with the WDCA when disability is expected to exceed 7 days. 3) Insurer investigates and either pays benefits or denies. 4) If benefits are paid, wage-loss benefits begin after the waiting period.
5) If denied/disputed, the worker files an Application for Mediation or Hearing (WC-104A) with the WDCA. 6) Case goes to mediation; if unresolved, to a hearing/trial before a workers’ compensation magistrate (Board of Magistrates). 7) A magistrate’s order can be appealed to the Michigan Compensation Appellate Commission / Workers’ Disability Compensation Appeals Commission, then potentially to the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court.
Choosing a Doctor in Michigan
For the first 28 days from the start of medical care, the employer/insurer directs care and may select the treating physician. After 28 days, the worker may treat with a physician of their own choice by giving the employer the physician’s name and intent to treat; the employer/insurer may petition a magistrate to object for cause. (MCL 418.315)
What to Do If Your Michigan Claim Is Denied
File an Application for Mediation or Hearing (Form WC-104A / “Form A”) with the WDCA. The case is first set for mediation; if not resolved, it proceeds to a formal hearing/trial before a workers’ compensation magistrate (Board of Magistrates). The magistrate’s decision may be appealed to the Workers’ Disability Compensation Appeals Commission (Michigan Compensation Appellate Commission). Confirm deadlines with the WDCA and a licensed attorney.
Appeal deadline: 30 days. A magistrate’s order may be appealed (Claim of Appeal/Claim for Review) to the Appeals Commission within 30 days of the mailing date of the order.
Was your claim denied? A denial is not the end of the road in Michigan — many denials are overturned on appeal. A workers’ comp attorney can review your case, usually for a free consultation.
What Happens After You File in Michigan
Once your claim is filed in Michigan, the employer’s insurer reviews it and either accepts it, asks for more information, or denies it. If it is accepted, your medical treatment is covered and your wage benefits begin after the waiting period.
Keep copies of everything — the injury report, your medical records, and any letters from the insurer — because they are what protect your claim if there is ever a dispute.
Common Mistakes That Hurt a Michigan Claim
The two most common ways injured workers in Michigan lose benefits are missing a deadline and gaps in medical treatment. Report the injury in writing as soon as you can, see a doctor and follow the treatment plan, and do not assume a verbal mention to a supervisor counts as official notice. If anything about the process is unclear, your state workers’-comp board can walk you through the next step.
📨 Get Free Workers Comp Guides Alerts
Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime
Other Michigan claim rules: Michigan’s “1-year-back / 2-year-back rule” (MCL 418.381) limits recovery of past wage-loss and medical benefits to a set period before the claim is filed, so delay can permanently reduce back benefits even when the claim itself is timely. Michigan also uses the “80% of after-tax average weekly wage” formula (not a flat two-thirds of gross), and applies the 28-day employer-directed-care rule.
Benefits and maximum rates change yearly — verify the current figure with the WDCA and a licensed Michigan attorney. This is neutral reference information, not legal advice and not a guarantee of any outcome.
Filing Your Michigan Workers Comp Claim the Right Way
A Michigan workers comp claim stands or falls on two things: hitting the deadlines and documenting the injury. Report the injury to your employer within the state window, file the Michigan workers comp claim with the right agency before the statute of limitations runs out, and keep seeing your doctor.
Most denied claims come down to a missed deadline or a thin medical record — get both right and your Michigan workers comp claim is on solid ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to report a work injury in Michigan?
In Michigan, you generally must tell your employer within 90 days. An injured worker must give notice of the injury to the employer within 90 days of the injury (or of when the worker knew/should have known it was work-related). Notice can be oral, but written notice is easier to prove. (MCL 418.381) of the injury.
Report it in writing as soon as you can — waiting can put your benefits at risk.
How long do I have to file a workers’ comp claim in Michigan?
The Michigan statute of limitations to file is 2 years. A worker must make a claim within 2 years of the injury (the “statute of limitations”). There is no further time limit to pursue benefits if the 90-day notice and the 2-year claim are both met. Note: a separate “1-year-back / 2-year-back rule” limits how far back past wage loss and medical reimbursement can be recovered..
Reporting the injury and filing the claim are two separate deadlines — do not rely on one to cover the other.
What if my Michigan workers’ comp claim is denied?
File an Application for Mediation or Hearing (Form WC-104A / “Form A”) with the WDCA. The case is first set for mediation; if not resolved, it proceeds to a formal hearing/trial before a workers’ compensation magistrate (Board of Magistrates). The magistrate’s decision may be appealed to the Workers’ Disability Compensation Appeals Commission (Michigan Compensation Appellate Commission). Confirm deadlines with the WDCA and a licensed attorney.
Official Michigan Sources & Resources
- Michigan Workers’ Disability Compensation Agency (WDCA), within the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO): https://www.michigan.gov/leo/bureaus-agencies/wdca
- Michigan Workers’ Comp Statute: https://www.legislature.mi.gov/Laws/MCL?objectName=mcl-418-381
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- Insurance Information Institute: iii.org
This Michigan workers comp claim guide was last verified against official sources in June 2026. Deadlines and procedures change — confirm the current rule with your state workers’-comp board or a licensed attorney.
More Michigan Workers’ Comp Guides
- Michigan Workers’ Comp Settlements
- Michigan Workers’ Comp Requirements (Employers)
- Workers’ Comp Guides for All 50 States
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.