Filing a Workers' Comp Claim in Florida
The deadlines to report a work injury and file a claim in Florida, how to file, and how to appeal a denial.
Short answer: Tell your employer about the injury as soon as possible. The law requires you to report the accident or a job-related injury within 30 days of learning of it, or within 30 days of a doctor determining that you have a work-related injury. Division of Workers' Compensation, System Guide (rev. Sept. 2026)
| Deadline to report the injury | Tell your employer about the injury as soon as possible. The law requires you to report the accident or a job-related injury within 30 days of learning of it, or within 30 days of a doctor determining that you have a work-related injury. The employer must then report the injury to its insurance company within 7 days. |
|---|---|
| Deadline to file a claim | A petition for benefits is barred unless the employee has notified the employer of the injury and the petition is filed within two years after the employee knew or should have known that the injury or death was work-related. Each payment of wage-loss benefits or medical treatment extends the deadline to one year from that payment (except for disputes over compensability, maximum medical improvement or impairment). The time bar applies only if the insurer raises it in its first response to the petition. Source: Fla. Stat. § 440.19 |
| How to file | Report the injury to your employer and ask which doctor to see. The employer reports the injury to its insurer, and you should receive an information brochure from the insurer within 3 to 5 business days. If the insurer will not pay benefits you believe are owed, first talk with the adjuster, then contact the Division's Employee Assistance and Ombudsman Office (free help) at 1-800-342-1741. If the dispute is not resolved, you can file a Petition for Benefits with the Office of the Judges of Compensation Claims. |
| Appealing a denial | Disputed claims are decided by a Judge of Compensation Claims after a Petition for Benefits is filed (the Petition must meet specific content requirements). Any order of a Judge of Compensation Claims may be appealed to Florida's First District Court of Appeal, following the appellate rules set by the Florida Supreme Court. Source: Fla. Stat. §§ 440.192, 440.271 |
| Filing or checking a claim online | In Florida, report a work-related injury or illness to your employer as soon as possible and no later than 30 days from the date of the accident (or from when a doctor tells you it is work-related); late reporting may result in the claim being denied. The employer should post its insurance carrier's information at the workplace, so you can contact the carrier yourself if needed; if it is not posted, the Division of Workers' Compensation's Employee Assistance and Ombudsman Office can help you get it. Help: (800) 342-1741 or (850) 413-1610, wceao@myfloridacfo.com. Employer coverage lookup linked from the page: https://dwcdataportal.fldfs.com/ProofOfCoverage.aspx |
Where to get help in Florida
More Florida workers' compensation
- How Much Workers' Comp Pays in Florida
- Workers' Comp Settlements in Florida
- Retaliation for Filing Workers' Comp in Florida
- Suing Over a Work Injury in Florida
- Appealing a Denied Workers' Comp Claim in Florida
- All Florida workers' compensation rules
FAQ
How long do you have to report a work injury in Florida?
Tell your employer about the injury as soon as possible. The law requires you to report the accident or a job-related injury within 30 days of learning of it, or within 30 days of a doctor determining that you have a work-related injury. The employer must then report the injury to its insurance company within 7 days.
What is the deadline to file a workers' comp claim in Florida?
A petition for benefits is barred unless the employee has notified the employer of the injury and the petition is filed within two years after the employee knew or should have known that the injury or death was work-related. Each payment of wage-loss benefits or medical treatment extends the deadline to one year from that payment (except for disputes over compensability, maximum medical improvement or impairment). The time bar applies only if the insurer raises it in its first response to the petition.
How do you file a workers' comp claim in Florida?
Report the injury to your employer and ask which doctor to see. The employer reports the injury to its insurer, and you should receive an information brochure from the insurer within 3 to 5 business days. If the insurer will not pay benefits you believe are owed, first talk with the adjuster, then contact the Division's Employee Assistance and Ombudsman Office (free help) at 1-800-342-1741. If the dispute is not resolved, you can file a Petition for Benefits with the Office of the Judges of Compensation Claims.
How do you appeal a denied workers' comp claim in Florida?
Disputed claims are decided by a Judge of Compensation Claims after a Petition for Benefits is filed (the Petition must meet specific content requirements). Any order of a Judge of Compensation Claims may be appealed to Florida's First District Court of Appeal, following the appellate rules set by the Florida Supreme Court.
How do I file or check a workers' comp claim online in Florida?
In Florida, report a work-related injury or illness to your employer as soon as possible and no later than 30 days from the date of the accident (or from when a doctor tells you it is work-related); late reporting may result in the claim being denied. The employer should post its insurance carrier's information at the workplace, so you can contact the carrier yourself if needed; if it is not posted, the Division of Workers' Compensation's Employee Assistance and Ombudsman Office can help you get it. Help: (800) 342-1741 or (850) 413-1610, wceao@myfloridacfo.com.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.