Tennessee Workers' Compensation: Deadlines, Benefits and How to File
Tennessee 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 Tennessee
- Deadline to report the injury
- Report the injury to your supervisor immediately. For injuries on or after July 1, 2016, employees generally have 15 calendar days from when they knew or should have known about a suspected work injury to report it to the employer. Tenn. Bureau of Workers' Compensation, Filing a Claim
- Deadline to file a claim
- If the claim is disputed, the worker protects their rights by filing a Petition for Benefit Determination with the Bureau. Tenn. Bureau of Workers' Compensation, What Are My Rights; Beginner's Guide
- Weekly benefit rate
- Temporary disability benefits are usually two-thirds (66⅔%) of the worker's average weekly wage earned during the 52 weeks before the injury, subject to the state minimum and maximum. Tenn. Bureau of Workers' Compensation, Beginner's Guide
- Maximum weekly benefit
- For injuries from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, the maximum temporary benefit is $1,488.30 per week (110% of the $1,353 state average weekly wage) and the minimum is $202.95. Tenn. Bureau of Workers' Compensation, Compensation Rates
Last verified: 2026-10-27
Coverage and deadlines
| Which employers must carry it | In most industries, an employer with five or more full- or part-time employees must carry workers' compensation insurance. Construction and mining employers must provide coverage even with only one employee; construction business owners may apply for an exemption through the state Exemption Registry, but all construction employees must be covered. Coverage page: https://www.tn.gov/workforce/injuries-at-work/employers/employers/who-must-carry-insurance.html |
|---|---|
| Deadline to report the injury | Report the injury to your supervisor immediately. For injuries on or after July 1, 2016, employees generally have 15 calendar days from when they knew or should have known about a suspected work injury to report it to the employer. |
| Deadline to file a claim | If the claim is disputed, the worker protects their rights by filing a Petition for Benefit Determination with the Bureau. In most cases, the deadline is one year from the date of injury, or from the date the last temporary disability benefits were paid or medical benefits were provided, whichever is latest. |
| Waiting period | Temporary disability benefits are due beginning on the eighth day of disability. If the disability lasts 14 days or longer, benefits are paid back to the first day. Temporary disability payments must be paid no later than 15 days after notice of injury. |
Benefits
| Weekly benefit rate | Temporary disability benefits are usually two-thirds (66⅔%) of the worker's average weekly wage earned during the 52 weeks before the injury, subject to the state minimum and maximum. Partial disability benefits may be paid if the worker can work but earns less because of work restrictions. |
|---|---|
| Maximum weekly benefit | For injuries from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, the maximum temporary benefit is $1,488.30 per week (110% of the $1,353 state average weekly wage) and the minimum is $202.95. The maximum for permanent benefits is $1,353 per week, and the maximum total benefit is $608,850. For July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026, the temporary maximum was $1,426.70. |
| How long benefits last | Temporary total disability is paid until the worker reaches maximum medical improvement or returns to work, or for 450 weeks, whichever is shorter. Temporary partial disability is paid until maximum medical improvement or for 450 weeks, whichever is shorter. For permanent partial disability, all injuries are valued against a total of 450 weeks; the initial compensation period is 450 weeks times the impairment rating, or, for injuries on or after June 22, 2020, 180 days after maximum medical improvement if that is later. Increased benefits may be available at the end of that period, and in extraordinary cases a judge may award more, up to 275 weeks. Permanent total disability is paid until the worker becomes eligible for Social Security old-age retirement; if the injury happened within five years of full retirement eligibility, it is paid for 260 weeks. This is a Bureau form used with settlement approvals; the statute itself (Tenn. |
| Permanent disability | At maximum medical improvement, the authorized treating physician may assign a permanent impairment rating under the AMA Guides. Permanent partial disability is 66⅔% of the average weekly wage; the rating combined with vocational factors and the worker's ability to return to prior work determines the award (body-as-a-whole awards are based on 450 weeks for current injuries). Permanent total disability applies if the worker cannot return to any job in the open market and continues until the worker becomes eligible for Social Security old-age retirement. Permanent disability disputes must go through Bureau mediation before a lawsuit. |
| Death benefits | For deaths on or after July 1, 2023, a dependent spouse and/or dependent children receive 66⅔% of the worker's average weekly wage, subject to the maximum weekly benefit. If the worker leaves no dependents, $20,000 is paid to the estate. Burial expenses are paid up to $10,000 for deaths from injuries on or after May 19, 2017. Claims must be settled and approved by the Court of Workers' Compensation Claims or decided at a hearing. |
Doctors, filing, settlements and appeals
| Choosing a doctor | The employer (or its adjuster) gives the worker a panel of three doctors, and the worker picks the authorized treating physician by signing an Employee's Choice of Physician form (Form C-42); accepting treatment from a doctor on the panel without signing may count as choosing that doctor. In an emergency, the panel should be provided after the worker is stabilized. The employer is usually not required to offer a second opinion, but the worker can ask, or get one at their own expense. |
|---|---|
| How to file | Reporting the injury to your employer starts the claims process; the employer reports it to its insurance adjuster, which is the filing of the claim, and the adjuster should contact you within 48 hours. If the claim is denied or there is a dispute, file a Petition for Benefit Determination with the Bureau of Workers' Compensation, which offers free mediation. The Bureau's ombudsmen help unrepresented workers at 800-332-2667. |
| Settlements | Yes. A settlement is not final until all parties sign the agreement and a workers' compensation judge approves it. At the approval hearing, the judge decides whether the worker is receiving substantially the benefits provided by Tennessee's workers' compensation law, reviews the worker's rights (including the right to future medical care and what happens if that right is given up), and asks whether the worker wants the settlement approved. If the claim is disputed, the judge instead decides whether the settlement is in the worker's best interest. A settlement may leave future medical care open or close it. |
| Appealing a denial | Disputes not resolved in mediation go to the Court of Workers' Compensation Claims. A judge's final compensation order becomes final 30 days after it is entered unless a party files a Notice of Appeal to the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board within 30 calendar days (filing fee $75, or an affidavit of indigency); alternatively, a party may appeal a final compensation order directly to the Tennessee Supreme Court. Interlocutory orders (such as orders for temporary or medical benefits) may be appealed to the Appeals Board within seven business days. |
| Deadline to challenge a denial | If benefits are denied or disputed, the worker files a Petition for Benefit Determination with the Bureau of Workers' Compensation within one year after the accident (or, if the employer paid benefits, within one year of the later of the last authorized treatment or the last payment). After a decision of the Court of Workers' Compensation Claims, a notice of appeal of a compensation order to the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board is due within 30 calendar days after the order is issued; an interlocutory order may be appealed within 7 business days. Appeals Board decisions on compensation orders may be appealed to the Tennessee Supreme Court under the appellate rules. Read on codes.findlaw.com (a public copy of the official code); check against the official code. The FindLaw page says it is current as of January 2, 2024. |
| Retaliation for filing | The Bureau states that it is illegal for an employer to fire an employee for reporting a work injury. A worker who believes they were fired for that reason may wish to consult an attorney; the Bureau does not have authority to resolve wrongful-termination claims. |
| Filing or checking a claim online | Report the injury to your supervisor immediately; for injuries on or after July 1, 2016, employees generally have 15 calendar days from when they knew or should have known of the injury. Your employer must report the injury to its insurance adjuster, which is the filing of the claim; the adjuster should contact you within 48 hours, and you choose a treating doctor from a panel the adjuster or employer provides. Bureau of Workers' Compensation questions: 615-532-4812 or 800-332-2667, wc.info@tn.gov. |
Lawsuits and uninsured employers
| Suing your employer | Generally no: workers' compensation rights and remedies exclude all other rights and remedies of the employee, personal representative, dependents or next of kin against the employer, at common law or otherwise. If an employer fails to secure the required workers' comp coverage, the employee may sue, and the employer cannot defend on the grounds of the employee's negligence, a co-worker's negligence, or assumption of risk. The rule does not bar a third party's indemnity claim against an employer that expressly agreed to indemnify it. Read on codes.findlaw.com (a public copy of the official code); check against the official code. The FindLaw page says it is current as of January 2, 2024. This section states no intentional-injury exception; none is described here. |
|---|---|
| Suing someone other than your employer | Yes. An injured worker may take workers' comp benefits and also sue a third party who is legally liable for the injury. An employer that has paid benefits has a subrogation lien against the recovery and may intervene, and gets a credit against future benefits for the worker's net recovery. If the worker does not sue the third party within one year from the date of injury, the claim is treated as assigned to the employer, which then has six months to sue. The worker's attorney gets a reasonable fee from the recovery. Read on codes.findlaw.com (a public copy of the official code); check against the official code. The FindLaw page says it is current as of January 2, 2024. |
| If your employer has no workers' comp | If the employer failed to carry required coverage, the worker can sue the employer, which loses the defenses of the worker's negligence, a co-worker's negligence and assumption of risk. The Uninsured Employers Fund may pay temporary disability, medical or death benefits to an eligible employee: one injured on or after July 1, 2015, who was a Tennessee resident on the date of injury, told the Bureau of the injury and the employer's failure to insure within a reasonable time and no more than 180 days after the injury, and obtained a judgment for benefits against the employer (with limited exceptions). Read on codes.findlaw.com (a public copy of the official code); check against the official code. The FindLaw page says it is current as of January 2, 2024. |
Where to get help in Tennessee
Workers' Compensation FAQ
Which employers must have workers' comp in Tennessee?
In most industries, an employer with five or more full- or part-time employees must carry workers' compensation insurance. Construction and mining employers must provide coverage even with only one employee; construction business owners may apply for an exemption through the state Exemption Registry, but all construction employees must be covered.
How long do you have to report a work injury in Tennessee?
Report the injury to your supervisor immediately. For injuries on or after July 1, 2016, employees generally have 15 calendar days from when they knew or should have known about a suspected work injury to report it to the employer.
What is the deadline to file a workers' comp claim in Tennessee?
If the claim is disputed, the worker protects their rights by filing a Petition for Benefit Determination with the Bureau. In most cases, the deadline is one year from the date of injury, or from the date the last temporary disability benefits were paid or medical benefits were provided, whichever is latest.
Is there a waiting period for workers' comp in Tennessee?
Temporary disability benefits are due beginning on the eighth day of disability. If the disability lasts 14 days or longer, benefits are paid back to the first day. Temporary disability payments must be paid no later than 15 days after notice of injury.
How much does workers' comp pay in Tennessee?
Temporary disability benefits are usually two-thirds (66⅔%) of the worker's average weekly wage earned during the 52 weeks before the injury, subject to the state minimum and maximum. Partial disability benefits may be paid if the worker can work but earns less because of work restrictions.
What is the maximum workers' comp benefit in Tennessee?
For injuries from July 1, 2026, through June 30, 2027, the maximum temporary benefit is $1,488.30 per week (110% of the $1,353 state average weekly wage) and the minimum is $202.95. The maximum for permanent benefits is $1,353 per week, and the maximum total benefit is $608,850. For July 1, 2025 to June 30, 2026, the temporary maximum was $1,426.70.
Can you choose your own doctor for workers' comp in Tennessee?
The employer (or its adjuster) gives the worker a panel of three doctors, and the worker picks the authorized treating physician by signing an Employee's Choice of Physician form (Form C-42); accepting treatment from a doctor on the panel without signing may count as choosing that doctor. In an emergency, the panel should be provided after the worker is stabilized. The employer is usually not required to offer a second opinion, but the worker can ask, or get one at their own expense.
How does permanent disability work under workers' comp in Tennessee?
At maximum medical improvement, the authorized treating physician may assign a permanent impairment rating under the AMA Guides. Permanent partial disability is 66⅔% of the average weekly wage; the rating combined with vocational factors and the worker's ability to return to prior work determines the award (body-as-a-whole awards are based on 450 weeks for current injuries). Permanent total disability applies if the worker cannot return to any job in the open market and continues until the worker becomes eligible for Social Security old-age retirement. Permanent disability disputes must go through Bureau mediation before a lawsuit.
What workers' comp death benefits are available in Tennessee?
For deaths on or after July 1, 2023, a dependent spouse and/or dependent children receive 66⅔% of the worker's average weekly wage, subject to the maximum weekly benefit. If the worker leaves no dependents, $20,000 is paid to the estate. Burial expenses are paid up to $10,000 for deaths from injuries on or after May 19, 2017. Claims must be settled and approved by the Court of Workers' Compensation Claims or decided at a hearing.
How do you file a workers' comp claim in Tennessee?
Reporting the injury to your employer starts the claims process; the employer reports it to its insurance adjuster, which is the filing of the claim, and the adjuster should contact you within 48 hours. If the claim is denied or there is a dispute, file a Petition for Benefit Determination with the Bureau of Workers' Compensation, which offers free mediation. The Bureau's ombudsmen help unrepresented workers at 800-332-2667.
How do you appeal a denied workers' comp claim in Tennessee?
Disputes not resolved in mediation go to the Court of Workers' Compensation Claims. A judge's final compensation order becomes final 30 days after it is entered unless a party files a Notice of Appeal to the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board within 30 calendar days (filing fee $75, or an affidavit of indigency); alternatively, a party may appeal a final compensation order directly to the Tennessee Supreme Court. Interlocutory orders (such as orders for temporary or medical benefits) may be appealed to the Appeals Board within seven business days.
Can you be fired for filing workers' comp in Tennessee?
The Bureau states that it is illegal for an employer to fire an employee for reporting a work injury. A worker who believes they were fired for that reason may wish to consult an attorney; the Bureau does not have authority to resolve wrongful-termination claims.
How long can you receive workers' comp in Tennessee?
Temporary total disability is paid until the worker reaches maximum medical improvement or returns to work, or for 450 weeks, whichever is shorter. Temporary partial disability is paid until maximum medical improvement or for 450 weeks, whichever is shorter. For permanent partial disability, all injuries are valued against a total of 450 weeks; the initial compensation period is 450 weeks times the impairment rating, or, for injuries on or after June 22, 2020, 180 days after maximum medical improvement if that is later. Increased benefits may be available at the end of that period, and in extraordinary cases a judge may award more, up to 275 weeks. Permanent total disability is paid until the worker becomes eligible for Social Security old-age retirement; if the injury happened within five years of full retirement eligibility, it is paid for 260 weeks.
How do workers' comp settlements work in Tennessee?
Yes. A settlement is not final until all parties sign the agreement and a workers' compensation judge approves it. At the approval hearing, the judge decides whether the worker is receiving substantially the benefits provided by Tennessee's workers' compensation law, reviews the worker's rights (including the right to future medical care and what happens if that right is given up), and asks whether the worker wants the settlement approved. If the claim is disputed, the judge instead decides whether the settlement is in the worker's best interest. A settlement may leave future medical care open or close it.
How do I file or check a workers' comp claim online in Tennessee?
Report the injury to your supervisor immediately; for injuries on or after July 1, 2016, employees generally have 15 calendar days from when they knew or should have known of the injury. Your employer must report the injury to its insurance adjuster, which is the filing of the claim; the adjuster should contact you within 48 hours, and you choose a treating doctor from a panel the adjuster or employer provides. Bureau of Workers' Compensation questions: 615-532-4812 or 800-332-2667, wc.info@tn.gov.
Can you sue your employer for a work injury in Tennessee?
Generally no: workers' compensation rights and remedies exclude all other rights and remedies of the employee, personal representative, dependents or next of kin against the employer, at common law or otherwise. If an employer fails to secure the required workers' comp coverage, the employee may sue, and the employer cannot defend on the grounds of the employee's negligence, a co-worker's negligence, or assumption of risk. The rule does not bar a third party's indemnity claim against an employer that expressly agreed to indemnify it.
Can you sue a third party for a work injury in Tennessee?
Yes. An injured worker may take workers' comp benefits and also sue a third party who is legally liable for the injury. An employer that has paid benefits has a subrogation lien against the recovery and may intervene, and gets a credit against future benefits for the worker's net recovery. If the worker does not sue the third party within one year from the date of injury, the claim is treated as assigned to the employer, which then has six months to sue. The worker's attorney gets a reasonable fee from the recovery.
What if my employer doesn't have workers' comp insurance in Tennessee?
If the employer failed to carry required coverage, the worker can sue the employer, which loses the defenses of the worker's negligence, a co-worker's negligence and assumption of risk. The Uninsured Employers Fund may pay temporary disability, medical or death benefits to an eligible employee: one injured on or after July 1, 2015, who was a Tennessee resident on the date of injury, told the Bureau of the injury and the employer's failure to insure within a reasonable time and no more than 180 days after the injury, and obtained a judgment for benefits against the employer (with limited exceptions).
How long do you have to appeal a denied workers' comp claim in Tennessee?
If benefits are denied or disputed, the worker files a Petition for Benefit Determination with the Bureau of Workers' Compensation within one year after the accident (or, if the employer paid benefits, within one year of the later of the last authorized treatment or the last payment). After a decision of the Court of Workers' Compensation Claims, a notice of appeal of a compensation order to the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board is due within 30 calendar days after the order is issued; an interlocutory order may be appealed within 7 business days. Appeals Board decisions on compensation orders may be appealed to the Tennessee Supreme Court under the appellate rules.
Workers' Compensation in other states
More Tennessee law
- Tennessee tenant rights & landlord-tenant law
- Tennessee small claims court
- Tennessee wills, probate & estates
- Tennessee protective & restraining orders
- Tennessee employment law
- Tennessee debt & collections
- Tennessee unemployment benefits
- Tennessee divorce & family law
- Tennessee expungement & criminal records
- Tennessee traffic tickets & dui
- Tennessee personal injury & wrongful death
- Tennessee foreclosure & homeowner law
- Tennessee consumer protection
- Tennessee starting an llc & small business
- Tennessee bankruptcy
- Tennessee car insurance & vehicle laws
- Tennessee property tax & homestead exemptions
- Tennessee criminal law
- Tennessee gun laws
- Find a lawyer or free legal help in Tennessee
- All Tennessee law guides
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.