Filing a Arizona 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 Arizona process in plain English, with the exact deadlines you cannot miss. All figures are from Arizona sources, verified as of June 2026.
Arizona at a Glance
| Report to employer | No fixed statutory day-count for the worker. Arizona law (A.R.S. 23-908) requires the injured worker to notify the employer “forthwith” — meaning as soon as possible/immediately after the injury. The employer then has 10 days to file the Employer’s Report of Injury (Form 101). The hard, claim-barring deadline is the 1-year limit to FILE the claim (see file_deadline), not the report-to-employer step. Report immediately to preserve your rights. |
| Deadline to file | 1 year (365 days) from the date of injury, or from the date the worker knew or should have known the injury/illness was work-related (discovery rule may extend the start date). Per A.R.S. 23-1061. Missing this generally forfeits the claim. |
| Where to file | Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA). File the Worker’s Report of Injury (Form 0407) or the combined Worker’s and Physician’s Report of Injury (Form 0102/Form 102) with the ICA — online, by mail, or in person at the Phoenix (800 W Washington St, Phoenix, AZ 85007) or Tucson (2675 E Broadway, Tucson, AZ 85716) office. A treating physician who reports the injury can also start the claim. |
| Choose your doctor? | Generally the injured worker may choose their own treating doctor in Arizona. EXCEPTION: if the employer is self-insured (or, since a 2021 law, a private self-insured employer) and contracts/directs care through physicians registered with the ICA, the worker must use the employer-directed doctors. To switch doctors in a directed-care situation, file a “Request to Change Doctors” with the ICA / get approval from the claims handler. |
| Benefits start | No compensation is paid for the first 7 days of disability. If disability extends beyond 7 days, wage-loss compensation begins on the 8th day; if disability continues for 14 days (2 weeks) or more, compensation is paid retroactively from the date of injury (the first 7 days are then covered). Per A.R.S. 23-1062, the first installment is due no later than the 21st day after the ICA notifies the carrier of the filed claim (unless denied), then at least every 2 weeks during temporary total disability. |
In This Arizona Guide:
Filing a Workers’ Comp Claim in Arizona
Filing a Arizona 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 Arizona process in plain English, with the exact deadlines you cannot miss. All figures are from Arizona sources, verified as of June 2026.
How to File a Workers’ Comp Claim in Arizona
First steps: 1) Get medical treatment immediately and tell the provider the injury is work-related. 2) Report the injury to your employer/supervisor as soon as possible (forthwith). 3) File the Worker’s (and Physician’s) Report of Injury with the ICA within 1 year. 4) Keep copies of all forms, medical records, and correspondence.
1) Worker reports injury and the claim (Form 102/407) is filed with the ICA. 2) ICA notifies the insurance carrier/self-insured employer. 3) The carrier has 21 days to accept or deny the claim by issuing a Notice of Claim Status (if no response is filed within 21 days the claim may be deemed accepted). 4) If accepted, the carrier pays for authorized medical treatment and any temporary disability (lost-wage) benefits.
5) Treatment continues until the condition is stationary; the carrier issues a Notice of Claim Status closing the claim and rating any permanent impairment. 6) Any party who disagrees with a Notice of Claim Status may request a hearing.
Choosing a Doctor in Arizona
Generally the injured worker may choose their own treating doctor in Arizona. EXCEPTION: if the employer is self-insured (or, since a 2021 law, a private self-insured employer) and contracts/directs care through physicians registered with the ICA, the worker must use the employer-directed doctors. To switch doctors in a directed-care situation, file a “Request to Change Doctors” with the ICA / get approval from the claims handler.
What to Do If Your Arizona Claim Is Denied
If the claim is denied or you disagree with any Notice of Claim Status, file a written “Request for Hearing” with the Industrial Commission of Arizona. An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) holds a hearing. To challenge the ALJ’s award, file a Request for Review within 30 days; the ALJ’s review decision can then be appealed to the Arizona Court of Appeals within 30 days.
Appeal deadline: 90 days from the date on the Notice of Claim Status (the denial) to file a Request for Hearing with the ICA. (Then 30 days for an ALJ Request for Review, and 30 days to appeal to the Arizona Court of Appeals.)
Was your claim denied? A denial is not the end of the road in Arizona — 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 Arizona
Once your claim is filed in Arizona, 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 Arizona Claim
The two most common ways injured workers in Arizona 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 Arizona claim rules: Arizona is a “choice” state — most workers pick their own doctor unless the employer is self-insured and directs ICA-registered care. The 1-year filing clock is suspended (tolled) for the period between when a carrier/self-insured employer receives the worker’s written notice of injury/intent to claim and when it forwards that notice to the ICA (A.R.S. 23-1061).
A carrier’s failure to respond within 21 days can result in the claim being deemed accepted. The discovery rule can delay when the 1-year clock starts for injuries/illnesses not immediately apparent.
Filing Your Arizona Workers Comp Claim the Right Way
A Arizona 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 Arizona 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 Arizona workers comp claim is on solid ground.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long do I have to report a work injury in Arizona?
In Arizona, you generally must tell your employer within No fixed statutory day-count for the worker. Arizona law (A.R.S. 23-908) requires the injured worker to notify the employer “forthwith” — meaning as soon as possible/immediately after the injury. The employer then has 10 days to file the Employer’s Report of Injury (Form 101).
The hard, claim-barring deadline is the 1-year limit to FILE the claim (see file_deadline), not the report-to-employer step. Report immediately to preserve your rights. 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 Arizona?
The Arizona statute of limitations to file is 1 year (365 days) from the date of injury, or from the date the worker knew or should have known the injury/illness was work-related (discovery rule may extend the start date). Per A.R.S. 23-1061. Missing this generally forfeits the claim.. Reporting the injury and filing the claim are two separate deadlines — do not rely on one to cover the other.
What if my Arizona workers’ comp claim is denied?
If the claim is denied or you disagree with any Notice of Claim Status, file a written “Request for Hearing” with the Industrial Commission of Arizona. An Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) holds a hearing. To challenge the ALJ’s award, file a Request for Review within 30 days; the ALJ’s review decision can then be appealed to the Arizona Court of Appeals within 30 days.
Official Arizona Sources & Resources
- Arizona Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA), Claims Division: https://www.azica.gov/claims-workers-compensation-general-information
- Arizona Workers’ Comp Statute: https://www.azleg.gov/ars/23/01061.htm
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- Insurance Information Institute: iii.org
This Arizona 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 Arizona Workers’ Comp Guides
- Arizona Workers’ Comp Settlements
- Arizona 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.