Filing a Missouri 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 Missouri process in plain English, with the exact deadlines you cannot miss. All figures are from Missouri sources, verified as of June 2026.
Missouri at a Glance
| Report to employer | 30 days — an injured worker must give WRITTEN notice of the injury to the employer within 30 days of the accident (RSMo 287.420). Verbal notice is not sufficient; notice should state who was injured, and when, where, and how the injury occurred. |
| Deadline to file | 2 years from the date of injury (or from the last payment of benefits made by the employer/insurer, whichever is later). This extends to 3 years if the employer fails to file a First Report of Injury (Report of Injury) with the Division (RSMo 287.430). For occupational diseases, the clock generally starts when the worker knew or should have known the condition was work-related. |
| Where to file | Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation (within the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations). File the “Claim for Compensation” form (WC-5). File online at labor.mo.gov, in person at any Division adjudication office, or by mail (original + 3 copies) to Division of Workers’ Compensation, P.O. Box 58, Jefferson City, MO 65102-0058. Division help line: 800-775-2667. |
| Choose your doctor? | No free choice for the worker — under RSMo 287.140, the EMPLOYER (usually through its insurer) has the right to select/authorize the treating physician and that care is provided at no cost to the worker. A worker may see a doctor of their own choosing but only at their own expense. The authorized treating physician directs the actual care using independent medical judgment. |
| Benefits start | Temporary total disability (wage) benefits have a 3-day waiting period — no wage benefits are paid for the first 3 days/business days of lost time. If disability extends beyond 14 days, those first 3 days are paid retroactively. TTD is paid at 66 2/3% of the worker’s average weekly wage, up to the state maximum. Medical treatment is covered from the start, independent of the wage waiting period. (RSMo 287.170) |
In This Missouri Guide:
Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim in Missouri
Filing a Missouri 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 Missouri process in plain English, with the exact deadlines you cannot miss. All figures are from Missouri sources, verified as of June 2026.
How to File a Workers’ Comp Claim in Missouri
First steps: 1) Report the injury to your employer in writing within 30 days. 2) Get medical treatment — for an emergency, seek care immediately; otherwise ask your employer to authorize/direct you to a treating physician (the employer/insurer selects the doctor). 3) Keep written records (notice, dates, witnesses, body parts injured, treatment).
4) If the claim is not handled or is disputed, file a Claim for Compensation (WC-5) with the Division within 2 years.
1) Worker gives written notice to employer within 30 days. 2) Employer reports the injury to its insurer/TPA within 5 days, and the employer/insurer files a Report of Injury with the Division (generally within 30 days of knowledge, for injuries beyond first aid). 3) Insurer authorizes medical care and, if applicable, begins wage (temporary disability) benefits.
4) If a benefit is denied/disputed or care stalls, the worker files a Claim for Compensation (WC-5) with the Division within the limitations period. 5) The Division dockets the claim; parties may use mediation/dispute resolution. 6) If unresolved, an evidentiary hearing is held before an administrative law judge (ALJ), who issues an Award.
7) Either party may appeal to the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission, then to the Missouri Court of Appeals.
Choosing a Doctor in Missouri
No free choice for the worker — under RSMo 287.140, the EMPLOYER (usually through its insurer) has the right to select/authorize the treating physician and that care is provided at no cost to the worker. A worker may see a doctor of their own choosing but only at their own expense. The authorized treating physician directs the actual care using independent medical judgment.
What to Do If Your Missouri Claim Is Denied
If the claim or a benefit is denied or disputed, file a Claim for Compensation (WC-5) with the Division of Workers’ Compensation. The case proceeds to dispute resolution/mediation and, if unresolved, to a hearing before an administrative law judge who issues an Award. A party unhappy with the ALJ’s Award files an Application for Review with the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission (LIRC), which can affirm, reverse, or modify.
The LIRC’s award can then be appealed to the Missouri Court of Appeals.
Appeal deadline: 20 days — an Application for Review of an ALJ’s Award must be filed in writing with the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission within 20 days of the mailing/notification of the Award. A further appeal of the Commission’s award to the Missouri Court of Appeals must be filed within 30 days of the Commission’s award.
Was your claim denied? A denial is not the end of the road in Missouri — 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 Missouri
Once your claim is filed in Missouri, 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 Missouri Claim
The two most common ways injured workers in Missouri 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.
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Other Missouri claim rules: Missouri uses an employer-directed medical care model (RSMo 287.140) — the worker generally cannot pick the treating doctor at the insurer’s expense. The 2-year filing deadline EXTENDS to 3 years if the employer never files a Report of Injury with the Division, so confirm whether that report was filed.
Missouri also reduced its standard of causation to “the prevailing factor” (post-2005 reforms), meaning the work accident must be the prevailing factor causing the injury and disability. These are general references — confirm your exact deadlines and rights with the Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation and a licensed Missouri attorney.
Filing Your Missouri Workers Comp Claim the Right Way
A Missouri 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 Missouri 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 Missouri workers comp claim is on solid ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to report a work injury in Missouri?
In Missouri, you generally must tell your employer within 30 days — an injured worker must give WRITTEN notice of the injury to the employer within 30 days of the accident (RSMo 287.420). Verbal notice is not sufficient; notice should state who was injured, and when, where, and how the injury occurred. 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 Missouri?
The Missouri statute of limitations to file is 2 years from the date of injury (or from the last payment of benefits made by the employer/insurer, whichever is later). This extends to 3 years if the employer fails to file a First Report of Injury (Report of Injury) with the Division (RSMo 287.430).
For occupational diseases, the clock generally starts when the worker knew or should have known the condition was work-related.. Reporting the injury and filing the claim are two separate deadlines — do not rely on one to cover the other.
What if my Missouri workers’ comp claim is denied?
If the claim or a benefit is denied or disputed, file a Claim for Compensation (WC-5) with the Division of Workers’ Compensation. The case proceeds to dispute resolution/mediation and, if unresolved, to a hearing before an administrative law judge who issues an Award. A party unhappy with the ALJ’s Award files an Application for Review with the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission (LIRC), which can affirm, reverse, or modify.
The LIRC’s award can then be appealed to the Missouri Court of Appeals.
Official Missouri Sources & Resources
- Missouri Missouri Division of Workers’ Compensation, Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (appeals heard by the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission): https://labor.mo.gov/dwc
- Missouri Workers’ Comp Statute: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=287.430
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- Insurance Information Institute: iii.org
This Missouri 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 Missouri Workers’ Comp Guides
- Missouri Workers’ Comp Settlements
- Missouri Workers’ Comp Requirements (Employers)
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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.