The Iowa workers compensation act — formally the Iowa Workers’ Compensation Act (Iowa Code chapter 85, “Workers’ Compensation”; it works alongside chapter 85A Occupational Disease Compensation, chapter 85B Occupational Hearing Loss, chapter 86 Division of Workers’ Compensation and chapter 87 Workers’ Compensation or Employers’ Liability Insurance), found at Iowa Code Chapter 85 (with Chapters 85A, 85B, 86 and 87) — is the statute behind every workers’ comp claim,
benefit and employer mandate in the state.
This plain-English guide to the Iowa 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.
Iowa at a Glance
| Official name | Workers’ Compensation Act (Iowa Code chapter 85, “Workers’ Compensation”; it works alongside chapter 85A Occupational Disease Compensation, chapter 85B Occupational Hearing Loss, chapter 86 Division of Workers’ Compensation and chapter 87 Workers’ Compensation or Employers’ Liability Insurance) |
| Where it lives | Iowa Code Chapter 85 (with Chapters 85A, 85B, 86 and 87) |
| First enacted | 1913 |
| Reporting deadline | 90 days from the date of injury, unless the employer had actual knowledge within that time — Iowa Code §85.23 |
| Filing deadline | 2 years from the date of injury, or 3 years from the last payment of weekly compensation if weekly benefits were paid — Iowa Code §85.26 |
| Exclusive remedy | Iowa Code §85.20 — workers’ comp is the employee’s only remedy against the employer; main exception: a co-employee can be sued for gross negligence amounting to wanton neglect for the safety of another (§85.20(2)) |
In This Iowa Guide:
What the Iowa Workers Compensation Act Is
An workers’ compensation act is an 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 Iowa workers compensation act dates to 1913. It lives at Iowa Code Chapter 85 (with Chapters 85A, 85B, 86 and 87), and the official text is linked in the sources.
Iowa bases benefits on 80 percent of “spendable” (after-tax) weekly earnings rather than a percentage of gross wages (§85.33, §85.61). Occupational disease is in a separate chapter (85A), and so is occupational hearing loss (85B). An uninsured employer faces a presumption of negligence in court (§87.21). Confirm details with the Iowa Division of Workers’ Compensation and a licensed attorney.
Who the Iowa Workers Compensation Act Covers
Iowa Code §87.1 and §87.14A — employers covered by chapters 85, 85A and 85B must carry insurance or be approved to self-insure before doing business; any employer with 1 or more employees who are not exempt under §85.1 Iowa Code §85.1 — exempts purely casual employees who earn less than 1500 from that employer in the 12 months before the injury; domestic and casual employees under that same 1500 threshold;
agricultural workers of employers whose total cash payroll was less than 2500 in the previous calendar year; certain relatives and officers; and other listed groups
Deadlines in the Iowa Workers Compensation Act
Waiting period: Iowa Code §85.32 — benefits begin on the 4th day of disability (3-day waiting period); if the disability lasts beyond the 14th day, the first 3 days are paid.
Wage-loss rate: Iowa Code §85.33 (temporary total and temporary partial) and §85.37 (compensation schedule and maximums) — 80 percent of the worker’s spendable weekly earnings, meaning gross weekly earnings minus payroll taxes; the yearly maximum is set under §85.37 and published by the Division.
Iowa Workers Compensation Act: Key Sections at a Glance
The sections of the Iowa workers compensation act that decide most cases, each with its citation:
| Coverage mandate | Iowa Code §87.1 and §87.14A — employers covered by chapters 85, 85A and 85B must carry insurance or be approved to self-insure before doing business; any employer with 1 or more employees who are not exempt under §85.1 |
| Exemptions | Iowa Code §85.1 — exempts purely casual employees who earn less than 1500 from that employer in the 12 months before the injury; domestic and casual employees under that same 1500 threshold; agricultural workers of employers whose total cash payroll was less than 2500 in the previous calendar year; certain relatives and officers; and other listed groups |
| Report an injury | 90 days from the date of injury, unless the employer had actual knowledge within that time — Iowa Code §85.23 |
| File a claim | 2 years from the date of injury, or 3 years from the last payment of weekly compensation if weekly benefits were paid — Iowa Code §85.26 |
| Waiting period | Iowa Code §85.32 — benefits begin on the 4th day of disability (3-day waiting period); if the disability lasts beyond the 14th day, the first 3 days are paid |
| Wage-loss rate | Iowa Code §85.33 (temporary total and temporary partial) and §85.37 (compensation schedule and maximums) — 80 percent of the worker’s spendable weekly earnings, meaning gross weekly earnings minus payroll taxes; the yearly maximum is set under §85.37 and published by the Division |
| Exclusive remedy | Iowa Code §85.20 — workers’ comp is the employee’s only remedy against the employer; main exception: a co-employee can be sued for gross negligence amounting to wanton neglect for the safety of another (§85.20(2)) |
| Retaliation | No specific anti-retaliation statute in chapter 85; protection comes from the common-law tort of wrongful discharge in violation of public policy (Springer v. Weeks & Leo Co., 429 N.W.2d 558 (Iowa 1988)), which relies on Iowa Code §85.18 (no contract can relieve an employer of chapter 85 liability); the remedy is a civil tort suit for damages |
| Uninsured employer penalty | Iowa Code §87.14A — willfully and knowingly doing business without insurance is a class “D” felony; Iowa Code §87.21 — an uninsured employer can be sued directly in court, its injury is presumed to be the employer’s negligence (the employer must disprove it), and it cannot use common-law defenses |
| Who hears disputes | Iowa Code Chapter 86 (§86.1 et seq.) — contested cases are heard by deputy workers’ compensation commissioners at the Iowa Division of Workers’ Compensation; appeals go to the Workers’ Compensation Commissioner (§86.24), then to district court on judicial review (§86.26) |
The Exclusive-Remedy Bargain in the Iowa Workers Compensation Act
Iowa Code §85.20 — workers’ comp is the employee’s only remedy against the employer; main exception: a co-employee can be sued for gross negligence amounting to wanton neglect for the safety of another (§85.20(2))
Retaliation and Penalties Under the Iowa Workers Compensation Act
No specific anti-retaliation statute in chapter 85; protection comes from the common-law tort of wrongful discharge in violation of public policy (Springer v.
Weeks & Leo Co., 429 N.W.2d 558 (Iowa 1988)), which relies on Iowa Code §85.18 (no contract can relieve an employer of chapter 85 liability); the remedy is a civil tort suit for damages Iowa Code §87.14A — willfully and knowingly doing business without insurance is a class “D” felony; Iowa Code §87.21 — an uninsured employer can be sued directly in court,
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its injury is presumed to be the employer’s negligence (the employer must disprove it), and it cannot use common-law defenses Iowa Code Chapter 86 (§86.1 et seq.) — contested cases are heard by deputy workers’ compensation commissioners at the Iowa Division of Workers’ Compensation; appeals go to the Workers’ Compensation Commissioner (§86.24), then to district court on judicial review (§86.26)
Recent Amendments to the Iowa Workers Compensation Act
No amendment to the Iowa workers compensation act effective in 2024, 2025 or 2026 was identified in the official code at verification time. Benefit maximums still change every year under the existing sections.
How to Read the Iowa Workers Compensation Act
Statute pages are written for lawyers, so read the Iowa 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 Iowa 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 Iowa claim guide turns these sections into steps and dates, and the Iowa requirements guide covers the employer side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Iowa workers compensation act in the code?
Iowa Code Chapter 85 (with Chapters 85A, 85B, 86 and 87). The sources below link to the official text.
How long do I have to report a work injury under the Iowa act?
90 days from the date of injury, unless the employer had actual knowledge within that time — Iowa Code §85.23. Report in writing as soon as possible either way.
Can I sue my employer instead of using the Iowa 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 Iowa Sources & Resources
- Iowa Iowa Division of Workers’ Compensation (Workers’ Compensation Commissioner), Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing: https://iowaworkcomp.gov
- Iowa Workers’ Comp Statute: https://www.legis.iowa.gov/law/iowaCode/sections?codeChapter=85
- U.S. Department of Labor — Workers’ Comp: dol.gov
- Insurance Information Institute: iii.org
This Iowa workers compensation act guide was last verified against official Iowa 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.