Alaska Workers' Compensation: Deadlines, Benefits and How to File
Alaska workers' comp rules: who must carry it, deadlines to report and file, weekly benefit rate and maximum, choosing a doctor, appeals and retaliation.
Quick answers for Alaska
- Deadline to report the injury
- For injuries on or after January 1, 2025, the worker (or someone on the worker's behalf, in a death case) must report the injury, illness or death to the supervisor in writing within 15 days of the event, or within 15 days after discovering that the injury or illness is believed to be… Division of Workers' Compensation, Workers' Compensation and You (rev. 02/15/2025)
- Deadline to file a claim
- If the insurer denies benefits with a Controversion Notice before a claim is filed, the worker must file a written claim (Form 07-6106) with the Division within two years of the date the Controversion Notice was filed. Division of Workers' Compensation, Workers' Compensation and You (rev. 02/15/2025)
- Weekly benefit rate
- Temporary total disability pays 80% of the worker's spendable weekly wages (take-home pay after taxes, based on gross weekly earnings, marital status and dependents) while the disability continues, but not after the date of medical stability. AS 23.30.185
- Maximum weekly benefit
- For calendar year 2026, the maximum weekly compensation rate is $1,627 (120% of the Alaska average weekly wage of $1,356) and the minimum is $358 (22% of the maximum). AS 23.30.175(a); Division of Workers' Compensation Bulletin No. 25-06 (Dec. 12, 2025)
Last verified: 2026-10-27
Coverage and deadlines
| Which employers must carry it | Nearly all Alaska employees are covered. Not covered: commercial fishers (though some workers on floating fish-processing vessels are covered), independent contractors, contract entertainers, some taxicab drivers, part-time babysitters, some cleaning persons, some sports officials, harvest help, some realtors, and most unpaid volunteers (some volunteer firefighters, police, EMTs and ambulance attendants are covered). Sole proprietors, partners, nonprofit executive officers and LLC members are not covered but may elect coverage; for-profit corporate executive officers are covered but may obtain a waiver. Federal employees and most maritime workers fall under federal law instead. |
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| Deadline to report the injury | For injuries on or after January 1, 2025, the worker (or someone on the worker's behalf, in a death case) must report the injury, illness or death to the supervisor in writing within 15 days of the event, or within 15 days after discovering that the injury or illness is believed to be work-related. For injuries before January 1, 2025, the deadline was 30 days. Use Division Form 07-6100. Reporting the injury to the employer is not the same as filing a claim with the Division. |
| Deadline to file a claim | If the insurer denies benefits with a Controversion Notice before a claim is filed, the worker must file a written claim (Form 07-6106) with the Division within two years of the date the Controversion Notice was filed. If the insurer paid and then stopped disability benefits without a Controversion Notice, the claim must be filed within two years of the last disability payment. In death cases, dependents must file within one year after the death. If the insurer denies benefits after a claim is filed, the worker must request a hearing (or ask the Board for more time) within two years of that denial. |
| Waiting period | No disability benefits are paid for the first three days of disability unless the worker is disabled for more than 28 calendar days; in that case the insurer must also pay for the first three days. |
Benefits
| Weekly benefit rate | Temporary total disability pays 80% of the worker's spendable weekly wages (take-home pay after taxes, based on gross weekly earnings, marital status and dependents) while the disability continues, but not after the date of medical stability. The Division's online Benefits Calculator figures the weekly rate. Benefits Calculator: https://labor.alaska.gov/wc/benefitcalculator.htm Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: AS 23.30.185 |
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| Maximum weekly benefit | For calendar year 2026, the maximum weekly compensation rate is $1,627 (120% of the Alaska average weekly wage of $1,356) and the minimum is $358 (22% of the maximum). The insurer may pay less than the minimum in some cases, for example if the worker does not provide proof of earnings ($110 per week). The rates change each January 1. |
| How long benefits last | Temporary total disability is paid until the worker is medically stable or can return to work, whichever comes first. Temporary partial disability is paid until medical stability or for up to five years, whichever comes first. Permanent total disability is paid until the disability ends or until death. Permanent partial impairment is a set amount based on the impairment rating and is usually paid in a lump sum (or every 14 days while the worker is in the reemployment process). The Division explains that medical stability means no further objectively measurable improvement is expected from more medical care. |
| Permanent disability | Permanent partial impairment (PPI) is paid when the worker reaches medical stability: a doctor rates the whole-person impairment using the AMA Guides (Sixth Edition), and that percentage is multiplied by $273,000 (for injuries on or after January 1, 2023). PPI is usually paid in a lump sum. Permanent total disability is paid at the weekly compensation rate if the worker can no longer regularly and continuously work because of the injury, until the disability ends or the worker dies; loss of both hands, arms, feet, legs or eyes is presumed permanent total disability unless the worker can actually earn a regular income. From April 1, 2026, impairment ratings must use the AMA Guides, Sixth Edition 2025 (Bulletin No. 26-01). |
| Death benefits | For deaths in 2026: a funeral benefit of up to $12,000; a one-time $8,000 payment to the surviving spouse (or divided among surviving children); and weekly benefits to the surviving spouse and dependent children based on the worker's spendable weekly wages (for example, 80% for a spouse with no children), up to $1,627 per week in total. If there is no spouse or child, dependent parents, grandchildren, brothers and sisters share 42% of spendable weekly wages, up to $150,000 in total. Children generally receive benefits up to age 23 (longer if disabled). |
Doctors, filing, settlements and appeals
| Choosing a doctor | The worker chooses the attending doctor (a licensed medical doctor, surgeon, chiropractor, osteopath, dentist or optometrist). The worker may change attending physicians once without the employer's consent, but must notify the employer or insurer before the change. A referral to a specialist does not count as a change. A second change requires the insurer's written approval; otherwise the insurer may not have to pay that doctor and the Board may not consider that doctor's opinions. |
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| How to file | Report the injury to the employer in writing (Form 07-6100). If the insurer denies (controverts) benefits or you disagree with what is paid, file a Claim for Workers' Compensation Benefits (Form 07-6106) with a Medical Summary with the Division; the Division serves the claim on the employer. Other documents you file must also be served on every other party with written proof of service. Filings can be made in person, by mail, fax, or by email (PDF attachments) to workerscomp@alaska.gov. Division offices: Juneau (907) 465-2790, Anchorage (907) 269-4980, Fairbanks (907) 451-2889. |
| Settlements | Claims can be settled through a compromise and release (C&R), a written settlement agreement that resolves all or some issues in the case. If the worker is not represented by an attorney, the Workers' Compensation Board must approve the agreement for it to be binding. A separate rule applies to lawsuits against third parties: the worker must get the workers' comp insurer's written consent before settling a third-party case. |
| Appealing a denial | Disputed claims are heard by the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board after the worker files an Affidavit of Readiness for Hearing (Form 07-6107). A party may ask the Board to reconsider a decision within 15 days of service, or to modify it within one year after the last disability or impairment payment (or the claim's rejection). A final Board decision may be appealed to the Alaska Workers' Compensation Appeals Commission within 30 days after it is filed; Commission decisions may then go to the Alaska Supreme Court. Re-verified 2026-10-27. |
| Deadline to challenge a denial | Denied claims: if the insurer denies benefits before a claim is filed, the worker must file a claim (Form 07-6106) with the Division within two years after the Controversion Notice was filed. If benefits are denied after a claim is filed, the worker must request a hearing (Affidavit of Readiness for Hearing) or ask the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board for more time within two years after that Controversion Notice. A final Board decision may be appealed to the Alaska Workers' Compensation Appeals Commission no later than 30 days after the Board serves it (15 days for a petition for review of a non-final order). Commission deadlines: https://labor.alaska.gov/WCcomm/home.htm . |
| Retaliation for filing | An employer may not discriminate in hiring, promotion or retention against an employee who has in good faith filed a claim for or received workers' compensation benefits. An employee can sue the employer for damages in court. The law still allows employers to base decisions on the employee's safety practices or physical and mental abilities. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: AS 23.30.247 |
| Filing or checking a claim online | If you are hurt at work in Alaska, notify your supervisor immediately, tell your medical provider the injury is work-related, and fill out the Report of Injury (Form 07-6100) as soon as possible but no later than 30 days after the injury or the start of the illness; give it to your employer (you may send a copy to the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board). The employer notifies its insurer, its adjuster and the Board. If benefits are disputed, a Workers' Compensation Claim is filed with the Board. Filings can be emailed to workerscomp@alaska.gov or mailed to P.O. Box 115512, Juneau, AK 99811-5512; Division toll-free line (877) 783-4980. Guide: https://labor.alaska.gov/wc/publications/guide_to_AK_WC_process.pdf. Offices: Juneau (907) 465-2790, Anchorage (907) 269-4980. |
| Lawyer fees in comp cases | Attorney fees in Alaska workers' comp cases are governed by AS 23.30.145 and awarded by the Workers' Compensation Board. Subsection (a) applies when an employer controverts a claim and sets a minimum fee but not a maximum; subsection (b) requires the employer to pay reasonable fees when it delays or resists payment and the worker's attorney successfully prosecutes the claim. The Board considers the nature, length and complexity of the services and the benefits obtained. |
Lawsuits and uninsured employers
| Suing someone other than your employer | Suing someone else: if a person other than a coworker caused the work injury (a driver in a car crash, for example), the injured worker may sue that third party in civil court in addition to getting workers' comp benefits. The comp insurer has the right to recover the benefits it paid out of any settlement or judgment. The worker must give the Division and the employer written notice within 30 days of filing the lawsuit, and must get the insurer's written consent before settling (even a dismissal counts as a settlement); settling without consent may forfeit further benefits and let the insurer recover what it paid. |
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| If your employer has no workers' comp | Employer without coverage: the worker should notify the Division's Special Investigations Unit, which civilly prosecutes uninsured employers, and file a claim against the employer and a claim against the Workers' Compensation Benefits Guaranty Fund (on the same Form 07-6106) within two years of the injury or of knowing it was work-related (one year after death for dependents). If the Board orders the employer to pay and the employer defaults, the Fund pays and seeks recovery from the employer. The worker may also record a lien on the employer's business property within one year after the injury. Fund page: https://labor.alaska.gov/wc/benefit-guaranty.htm (the Fund applies to injuries on or after Nov. 7, 2005). |
Where to get help in Alaska
Workers' Compensation FAQ
Which employers must have workers' comp in Alaska?
Nearly all Alaska employees are covered. Not covered: commercial fishers (though some workers on floating fish-processing vessels are covered), independent contractors, contract entertainers, some taxicab drivers, part-time babysitters, some cleaning persons, some sports officials, harvest help, some realtors, and most unpaid volunteers (some volunteer firefighters, police, EMTs and ambulance attendants are covered). Sole proprietors, partners, nonprofit executive officers and LLC members are not covered but may elect coverage; for-profit corporate executive officers are covered but may obtain a waiver. Federal employees and most maritime workers fall under federal law instead.
How long do you have to report a work injury in Alaska?
For injuries on or after January 1, 2025, the worker (or someone on the worker's behalf, in a death case) must report the injury, illness or death to the supervisor in writing within 15 days of the event, or within 15 days after discovering that the injury or illness is believed to be work-related. For injuries before January 1, 2025, the deadline was 30 days. Use Division Form 07-6100.
What is the deadline to file a workers' comp claim in Alaska?
If the insurer denies benefits with a Controversion Notice before a claim is filed, the worker must file a written claim (Form 07-6106) with the Division within two years of the date the Controversion Notice was filed. If the insurer paid and then stopped disability benefits without a Controversion Notice, the claim must be filed within two years of the last disability payment. In death cases, dependents must file within one year after the death. If the insurer denies benefits after a claim is filed, the worker must request a hearing (or ask the Board for more time) within two years of that denial.
Is there a waiting period for workers' comp in Alaska?
No disability benefits are paid for the first three days of disability unless the worker is disabled for more than 28 calendar days; in that case the insurer must also pay for the first three days.
How much does workers' comp pay in Alaska?
Temporary total disability pays 80% of the worker's spendable weekly wages (take-home pay after taxes, based on gross weekly earnings, marital status and dependents) while the disability continues, but not after the date of medical stability. The Division's online Benefits Calculator figures the weekly rate.
What is the maximum workers' comp benefit in Alaska?
For calendar year 2026, the maximum weekly compensation rate is $1,627 (120% of the Alaska average weekly wage of $1,356) and the minimum is $358 (22% of the maximum). The insurer may pay less than the minimum in some cases, for example if the worker does not provide proof of earnings ($110 per week). The rates change each January 1.
Can you choose your own doctor for workers' comp in Alaska?
The worker chooses the attending doctor (a licensed medical doctor, surgeon, chiropractor, osteopath, dentist or optometrist). The worker may change attending physicians once without the employer's consent, but must notify the employer or insurer before the change. A referral to a specialist does not count as a change. A second change requires the insurer's written approval; otherwise the insurer may not have to pay that doctor and the Board may not consider that doctor's opinions.
How does permanent disability work under workers' comp in Alaska?
Permanent partial impairment (PPI) is paid when the worker reaches medical stability: a doctor rates the whole-person impairment using the AMA Guides (Sixth Edition), and that percentage is multiplied by $273,000 (for injuries on or after January 1, 2023). PPI is usually paid in a lump sum. Permanent total disability is paid at the weekly compensation rate if the worker can no longer regularly and continuously work because of the injury, until the disability ends or the worker dies; loss of both hands, arms, feet, legs or eyes is presumed permanent total disability unless the worker can actually earn a regular income.
What workers' comp death benefits are available in Alaska?
For deaths in 2026: a funeral benefit of up to $12,000; a one-time $8,000 payment to the surviving spouse (or divided among surviving children); and weekly benefits to the surviving spouse and dependent children based on the worker's spendable weekly wages (for example, 80% for a spouse with no children), up to $1,627 per week in total. If there is no spouse or child, dependent parents, grandchildren, brothers and sisters share 42% of spendable weekly wages, up to $150,000 in total. Children generally receive benefits up to age 23 (longer if disabled).
How do you file a workers' comp claim in Alaska?
Report the injury to the employer in writing (Form 07-6100). If the insurer denies (controverts) benefits or you disagree with what is paid, file a Claim for Workers' Compensation Benefits (Form 07-6106) with a Medical Summary with the Division; the Division serves the claim on the employer. Other documents you file must also be served on every other party with written proof of service. Filings can be made in person, by mail, fax, or by email (PDF attachments) to workerscomp@alaska.gov.
How do you appeal a denied workers' comp claim in Alaska?
Disputed claims are heard by the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board after the worker files an Affidavit of Readiness for Hearing (Form 07-6107). A party may ask the Board to reconsider a decision within 15 days of service, or to modify it within one year after the last disability or impairment payment (or the claim's rejection). A final Board decision may be appealed to the Alaska Workers' Compensation Appeals Commission within 30 days after it is filed; Commission decisions may then go to the Alaska Supreme Court.
Can you be fired for filing workers' comp in Alaska?
An employer may not discriminate in hiring, promotion or retention against an employee who has in good faith filed a claim for or received workers' compensation benefits. An employee can sue the employer for damages in court. The law still allows employers to base decisions on the employee's safety practices or physical and mental abilities.
How long can you receive workers' comp in Alaska?
Temporary total disability is paid until the worker is medically stable or can return to work, whichever comes first. Temporary partial disability is paid until medical stability or for up to five years, whichever comes first. Permanent total disability is paid until the disability ends or until death. Permanent partial impairment is a set amount based on the impairment rating and is usually paid in a lump sum (or every 14 days while the worker is in the reemployment process).
How do workers' comp settlements work in Alaska?
Claims can be settled through a compromise and release (C&R), a written settlement agreement that resolves all or some issues in the case. If the worker is not represented by an attorney, the Workers' Compensation Board must approve the agreement for it to be binding.
How do I file or check a workers' comp claim online in Alaska?
If you are hurt at work in Alaska, notify your supervisor immediately, tell your medical provider the injury is work-related, and fill out the Report of Injury (Form 07-6100) as soon as possible but no later than 30 days after the injury or the start of the illness; give it to your employer (you may send a copy to the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board). The employer notifies its insurer, its adjuster and the Board. If benefits are disputed, a Workers' Compensation Claim is filed with the Board. Filings can be emailed to workerscomp@alaska.gov or mailed to P.O. Box 115512, Juneau, AK 99811-5512; Division toll-free line (877) 783-4980.
How much can a workers' comp lawyer charge in Alaska?
Attorney fees in Alaska workers' comp cases are governed by AS 23.30.145 and awarded by the Workers' Compensation Board. Subsection (a) applies when an employer controverts a claim and sets a minimum fee but not a maximum; subsection (b) requires the employer to pay reasonable fees when it delays or resists payment and the worker's attorney successfully prosecutes the claim. The Board considers the nature, length and complexity of the services and the benefits obtained.
Can you sue a third party for a work injury in Alaska?
Suing someone else: if a person other than a coworker caused the work injury (a driver in a car crash, for example), the injured worker may sue that third party in civil court in addition to getting workers' comp benefits. The comp insurer has the right to recover the benefits it paid out of any settlement or judgment. The worker must give the Division and the employer written notice within 30 days of filing the lawsuit, and must get the insurer's written consent before settling (even a dismissal counts as a settlement); settling without consent may forfeit further benefits and let the insurer recover what it paid.
What if my employer doesn't have workers' comp insurance in Alaska?
Employer without coverage: the worker should notify the Division's Special Investigations Unit, which civilly prosecutes uninsured employers, and file a claim against the employer and a claim against the Workers' Compensation Benefits Guaranty Fund (on the same Form 07-6106) within two years of the injury or of knowing it was work-related (one year after death for dependents). If the Board orders the employer to pay and the employer defaults, the Fund pays and seeks recovery from the employer. The worker may also record a lien on the employer's business property within one year after the injury.
How long do you have to appeal a denied workers' comp claim in Alaska?
Denied claims: if the insurer denies benefits before a claim is filed, the worker must file a claim (Form 07-6106) with the Division within two years after the Controversion Notice was filed. If benefits are denied after a claim is filed, the worker must request a hearing (Affidavit of Readiness for Hearing) or ask the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board for more time within two years after that Controversion Notice. A final Board decision may be appealed to the Alaska Workers' Compensation Appeals Commission no later than 30 days after the Board serves it (15 days for a petition for review of a non-final order).
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