Filing an Alaska 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 Alaska process in plain English, with the exact deadlines you cannot miss. All figures are from Alaska sources, verified as of October 2026.
Alaska at a Glance
| Report to employer | 30 days. Under AS 23.30.100, written notice of the injury must go to the employer and the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board within 30 days after the injury. The usual way to do this is the Report of Occupational Injury or Illness, Form 07-6101. If notice is late, the claim may be barred unless the Board excuses it. |
| Deadline to file | 2 years. Under AS 23.30.105(a), a disability claim must be filed within 2 years after the worker knows the nature of the disability and its link to the job, and after disablement. For injuries other than occupational disease, the outer limit is 4 years from the date of injury. |
| Where to file | Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Workers’ Compensation, and the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board. To report the injury, Form 07-6101 (Report of Occupational Injury or Illness) goes to the employer. To formally claim disputed benefits, file Form 07-6106 (Workers’ Compensation Claim) with the Board/Division. To ask for a hearing, file Form 07-6107. Forms are at labor.alaska.gov/wc/formdef.htm. |
| Choose your doctor? | In general the worker chooses. Under AS 23.30.095(a), you may pick your own attending physician and may change once without the employer’s or insurer’s consent. Further changes generally need written consent. The employer or insurer may require exams by its own chosen physician (an EME). If the doctors disagree, the Board may order a Second Independent Medical Evaluation (SIME). |
| Benefits start | The first installment is due by the 14th day after the employer learns of the injury (AS 23.30.155(b)). Late installments may carry a 25% penalty (AS 23.30.155(e)). The first 3 days of disability are a waiting period with no pay unless the disability lasts more than 28 days (AS 23.30.150). |
In This Alaska Guide:
Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim in Alaska
Filing an Alaska 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 Alaska process in plain English, with the exact deadlines you cannot miss. All figures are from Alaska sources, verified as of October 2026.
How to File a Workers’ Comp Claim in Alaska
First steps: (1) Get medical care right away and tell the provider the injury happened at work. (2) Give your employer written notice, generally Form 07-6101, within 30 days. (3) Keep copies of every report, medical record, and letter. (4) Choose your attending physician. (5) Watch for benefit payments or a Controversion Notice from the insurer. (6) For help, contact the Division’s Workers’ Compensation Technical Assistance Office.
Confirm with the Division and a licensed attorney.
(1) The worker gives written notice to the employer within 30 days (Form 07-6101). (2) The employer reports the injury to the Division and its insurer within 10 days of learning of it (AS 23.30.070). (3) The insurer pays benefits or files a Controversion Notice denying some or all of them.
(4) If benefits are denied or disputed, the worker files a Workers’ Compensation Claim (Form 07-6106) within the 2-year limit. (5) The parties attend prehearing conferences, and mediation is available. (6) The worker files a request for a hearing (Form 07-6107), and the Board hears the case and issues a decision.
Choosing a Doctor in Alaska
In general the worker chooses. Under AS 23.30.095(a), you may pick your own attending physician and may change once without the employer’s or insurer’s consent. Further changes generally need written consent. The employer or insurer may require exams by its own chosen physician (an EME). If the doctors disagree, the Board may order a Second Independent Medical Evaluation (SIME).
What to Do If Your Alaska Claim Is Denied
Denials come as a Controversion Notice. File a Workers’ Compensation Claim (Form 07-6106) with the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board, then request a hearing (Form 07-6107). The Board holds prehearings and offers mediation before a formal hearing. A final Board decision can be appealed to the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Appeals Commission, and Commission decisions can be appealed to the Alaska Supreme Court.
Confirm your options with the Division and a licensed attorney.
Appeal deadline: There are 2 deadlines. (1) After the insurer files a Controversion Notice, you have 2 years from that filing to request a Board hearing, or the claim is denied (AS 23.30.110(c)). (2) To appeal a final Board decision to the Appeals Commission, you have 30 days from the date the Board serves the decision (AS 23.30.127).
Was your claim denied? A denial is not the end of the road in Alaska — 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 Alaska
Once your claim is filed in Alaska, 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 an Alaska Claim
The two most common ways injured workers in Alaska 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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Filing Your Alaska Workers Comp Claim the Right Way
An Alaska 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 Alaska 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 Alaska workers comp claim is on solid ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to report a work injury in Alaska?
In Alaska, you generally must tell your employer within 30 days. Under AS 23.30.100, written notice of the injury must go to the employer and the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board within 30 days after the injury. The usual way to do this is the Report of Occupational Injury or Illness, Form 07-6101. If notice is late, the claim may be barred unless the Board excuses it. 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 Alaska?
The Alaska statute of limitations to file is 2 years. Under AS 23.30.105(a), a disability claim must be filed within 2 years after the worker knows the nature of the disability and its link to the job, and after disablement. For injuries other than occupational disease, the outer limit is 4 years from the date of injury..
Reporting the injury and filing the claim are two separate deadlines — do not rely on one to cover the other.
What if my Alaska workers’ comp claim is denied?
Denials come as a Controversion Notice. File a Workers’ Compensation Claim (Form 07-6106) with the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board, then request a hearing (Form 07-6107). The Board holds prehearings and offers mediation before a formal hearing. A final Board decision can be appealed to the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Appeals Commission, and Commission decisions can be appealed to the Alaska Supreme Court.
Confirm your options with the Division and a licensed attorney.
Official Alaska Sources & Resources
- Alaska Alaska Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Division of Workers’ Compensation / Alaska Workers’ Compensation Board. Appeals go to the Alaska Workers’ Compensation Appeals Commission.: https://labor.alaska.gov/wc/
- Alaska Workers’ Comp Statute: https://www.akleg.gov/basis/statutes.asp#23.30.105
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- Insurance Information Institute: iii.org
This Alaska workers comp claim guide was last verified against official sources in October 2026. Deadlines and procedures change — confirm the current rule with your state workers’-comp board 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.