The Connecticut workers compensation act — formally the Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Act (Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 568), found at Connecticut General Statutes Title 31, Chapter 568, §§ 31-275 to 31-355b — is the statute behind every workers’ comp claim, benefit and employer mandate in the state.
This plain-English guide to the Connecticut 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.
Connecticut at a Glance
| Official name | Workers’ Compensation Act (Connecticut General Statutes Chapter 568) |
| Where it lives | Connecticut General Statutes Title 31, Chapter 568, §§ 31-275 to 31-355b |
| First enacted | 1913 |
| Reporting deadline | § 31-294b. The worker must report the injury to the employer immediately or as soon as practicable. The statute sets no fixed number of days. |
| Filing deadline | § 31-294c(a). Written notice of claim is due within 1 year of the accident, or within 3 years of the first sign of an occupational disease. Some exceptions in § 31-294c(c) can save a late claim, for example when the employer paid for medical care within the filing period. Confirm with the Commission and a licensed attorney. |
| Exclusive remedy | § 31-284(a). Workers’ comp is the exclusive remedy against the employer. Main exception: injuries the employer intended or knew were substantially certain to happen (Suarez v. Dickmont Plastics). Co-workers are immune under § 31-293a, except for negligence in driving a motor vehicle. |
| Recent amendments | (1) P.A. 23-35, effective January 1, 2024, extended § 31-294k post-traumatic stress injury benefits to all employees, not only first responders. (2) P.A. 25-12, effective on passage in 2025, responded to a 2025 state Supreme Court decision. It removed a judge’s discretion to award temporary partial benefits instead of permanent partial disability benefits once a worker reaches maximum medical improvement. For claims on or after July 1, 2025, it raised cervical spine permanency from 117 to 208 weeks and added esophagus (180 weeks) and intestinal tract (347 weeks). It also lets parents of a deceased worker with no dependents share benefits, and allows up to 60 weeks of supplemental benefits in limited cases. (3) P.A. 26-12, effective October 1, 2026, covers certain health care and education employees hurt by an assault on the job. They receive 100% of average weekly earnings with no maximum weekly cap, and those absences cannot be charged to their sick, vacation or personal leave. |
In This Connecticut Guide:
What the Connecticut 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 Connecticut workers compensation act dates to 1913. It lives at Connecticut General Statutes Title 31, Chapter 568, §§ 31-275 to 31-355b, and the official text is linked in the sources.
Connecticut renamed its workers’ compensation “commissioners” to “administrative law judges” in 2021. § 31-294k covers post-traumatic stress injuries for all employees, with qualifying-event requirements. The Second Injury Fund (§ 31-355) can pay claims when an employer is uninsured. Benefits generally depend on individual facts, so confirm with the Commission and a licensed attorney.
Who the Connecticut Workers Compensation Act Covers
§ 31-284(b). Every employer with one or more employees must insure through a carrier or get approval to self-insure. § 31-275(9)(B). Excludes casual employees, outworkers, family members living in the employer’s private dwelling, and domestic workers who work 26 hours a week or less for one private household.
Deadlines in the Connecticut Workers Compensation Act
Waiting period: § 31-295. No wage benefits for the first 3 days of incapacity. If incapacity lasts 7 days or more, benefits are paid back to the first day.. Wage-loss rate: § 31-307. Temporary total benefits are 75% of the worker’s average weekly wage after taxes and Social Security. The maximum weekly rate changes every year under § 31-309..
Connecticut Workers Compensation Act: Key Sections at a Glance
The sections of the Connecticut workers compensation act that decide most cases, each with its citation:
| Coverage mandate | § 31-284(b). Every employer with one or more employees must insure through a carrier or get approval to self-insure. |
| Exemptions | § 31-275(9)(B). Excludes casual employees, outworkers, family members living in the employer’s private dwelling, and domestic workers who work 26 hours a week or less for one private household. |
| Report an injury | § 31-294b. The worker must report the injury to the employer immediately or as soon as practicable. The statute sets no fixed number of days. |
| File a claim | § 31-294c(a). Written notice of claim is due within 1 year of the accident, or within 3 years of the first sign of an occupational disease. Some exceptions in § 31-294c(c) can save a late claim, for example when the employer paid for medical care within the filing period. Confirm with the Commission and a licensed attorney. |
| Waiting period | § 31-295. No wage benefits for the first 3 days of incapacity. If incapacity lasts 7 days or more, benefits are paid back to the first day. |
| Wage-loss rate | § 31-307. Temporary total benefits are 75% of the worker’s average weekly wage after taxes and Social Security. The maximum weekly rate changes every year under § 31-309. |
| Exclusive remedy | § 31-284(a). Workers’ comp is the exclusive remedy against the employer. Main exception: injuries the employer intended or knew were substantially certain to happen (Suarez v. Dickmont Plastics). Co-workers are immune under § 31-293a, except for negligence in driving a motor vehicle. |
| Retaliation | § 31-290a. An employer may not fire or discriminate against a worker for filing a claim or using benefits. The worker can sue in Superior Court or file a complaint with the Commission. Remedies can include reinstatement, back pay, restored benefits, attorney’s fees and costs, and punitive damages in court. |
| Uninsured employer penalty | § 31-288(b). An uninsured employer faces a civil penalty of at least 500 per employee or 5000, whichever is less, and at most 50000. An extra 100 per day is added for each day of continued noncompliance after the finding. |
| Who hears disputes | Administrative law judges of the Workers’ Compensation Commission hear contested claims (§§ 31-278, 31-297, 31-298). Their decisions can be appealed to the Compensation Review Board (§§ 31-280b, 31-301), then to the Appellate Court (§ 31-301b). |
The Exclusive-Remedy Bargain in the Connecticut Workers Compensation Act
§ 31-284(a). Workers’ comp is the exclusive remedy against the employer. Main exception: injuries the employer intended or knew were substantially certain to happen (Suarez v. Dickmont Plastics). Co-workers are immune under § 31-293a, except for negligence in driving a motor vehicle.
Retaliation and Penalties Under the Connecticut Workers Compensation Act
§ 31-290a. An employer may not fire or discriminate against a worker for filing a claim or using benefits. The worker can sue in Superior Court or file a complaint with the Commission. Remedies can include reinstatement, back pay, restored benefits, attorney’s fees and costs, and punitive damages in court. § 31-288(b).
An uninsured employer faces a civil penalty of at least 500 per employee or 5000, whichever is less, and at most 50000. An extra 100 per day is added for each day of continued noncompliance after the finding. Administrative law judges of the Workers’ Compensation Commission hear contested claims (§§ 31-278, 31-297, 31-298).
Their decisions can be appealed to the Compensation Review Board (§§ 31-280b, 31-301), then to the Appellate Court (§ 31-301b).
Recent Amendments to the Connecticut Workers Compensation Act
(1) P.A. 23-35, effective January 1, 2024, extended § 31-294k post-traumatic stress injury benefits to all employees, not only first responders. (2) P.A. 25-12, effective on passage in 2025, responded to a 2025 state Supreme Court decision. It removed a judge’s discretion to award temporary partial benefits instead of permanent partial disability benefits once a worker reaches maximum medical improvement.
For claims on or after July 1, 2025, it raised cervical spine permanency from 117 to 208 weeks and added esophagus (180 weeks) and intestinal tract (347 weeks). It also lets parents of a deceased worker with no dependents share benefits, and allows up to 60 weeks of supplemental benefits in limited cases. (3) P.A.
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26-12, effective October 1, 2026, covers certain health care and education employees hurt by an assault on the job. They receive 100% of average weekly earnings with no maximum weekly cap, and those absences cannot be charged to their sick, vacation or personal leave.
How to Read the Connecticut Workers Compensation Act
Statute pages are written for lawyers, so read the Connecticut 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 Connecticut 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 Connecticut claim guide turns these sections into steps and dates, and the Connecticut requirements guide covers the employer side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Connecticut workers compensation act in the code?
Connecticut General Statutes Title 31, Chapter 568, §§ 31-275 to 31-355b. The sources below link to the official text.
How long do I have to report a work injury under the Connecticut act?
§ 31-294b. The worker must report the injury to the employer immediately or as soon as practicable. The statute sets no fixed number of days.. Report in writing as soon as possible either way.
Can I sue my employer instead of using the Connecticut 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 Connecticut Sources & Resources
- Connecticut Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Commission: https://portal.ct.gov/wcc
- Connecticut Workers’ Comp Statute: https://www.cga.ct.gov/current/pub/chap_568.htm
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- Insurance Information Institute: iii.org
This Connecticut workers compensation act guide was last verified against official Connecticut 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.