Workers' Comp Waiting Periods by State (2026)
How many days you wait before wage benefits start in each state, and when those days are paid back.
| State | Waiting period |
|---|---|
| Alabama | No wage benefits are paid for the first three days of disability; benefits begin on the fourth day. If the disability lasts 21 days, the first three days are paid with the first payment after the 21 days. Alabama Department of Workforce, Benefits and Claims Filing |
| 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. Division of Workers' Compensation, Workers' Compensation and You (rev. 02/15/2025) |
| Arizona | No compensation is paid for the first seven days after the injury. If the disability lasts longer than seven days, payments start on the eighth day; if it continues for one week beyond those seven days, compensation is paid back to the date of injury. A.R.S. § 23-1062(D) |
| Arkansas | The waiting period is seven calendar days, and the time off must be at the direction of the approved doctor. Wage benefits start on the eighth day of disability. The first seven days are paid only if the disability lasts more than 14 days. Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission, Basic Facts |
| California | Temporary disability payments are owed when the treating doctor says you cannot do your usual job for more than three days, or you are hospitalized overnight, and the employer does not offer other work at your usual pay. Payments must be made every two weeks. DWC, I was injured at work: Temporary disability benefits; DWC FAQs for employees |
| Colorado | If the disability lasts three days or less from the day the employee leaves work because of the injury, no wage benefits are paid (only medical benefits). If the disability lasts longer than two weeks, wage benefits are paid back to the day the employee left work. C.R.S. § 8-42-103(1)(a)–(b) |
| Connecticut | No wage benefits are paid if the injury keeps the worker from earning full wages for three days or less. If the incapacity lasts more than three days but less than seven, benefits start after the first three days. If it lasts seven days or more, benefits are paid from the date of injury. The employee gets full wages for the day of the injury. Conn. Gen. Stat. § 31-295(a)–(b) |
| Delaware | Wage benefits begin on the fourth day of incapacity. If the incapacity lasts seven days or more (counting the day of injury), benefits are paid from the first day of injury. Medical care and funeral benefits are paid from the first day. 19 Del. C. § 2321 |
| District of Columbia | No wage benefits are paid for the first three days of disability (medical benefits are paid). If the disability lasts more than 14 days, benefits are paid from the first day of disability. D.C. Code § 32-1505(a) |
| Florida | Wage benefits are paid starting with the 8th day you lose time from work. The first 7 days are paid only if you lose more than 21 days from work. Division of Workers' Compensation, System Guide (rev. Sept. 2026) |
| Georgia | Weekly income benefits are paid if you have more than seven days of lost time. The first check should be mailed within 21 days after the first day of missed work. If you are out more than 21 consecutive days because of the injury, you are also paid for the first week. O.C.G.A. § 34-9-261; State Board of Workers' Compensation, WC-Bill of Rights; Summary of Provisions |
| Hawaii | There is a three-day waiting period; weekly wage-loss benefits are paid from the fourth day of disability, for periods a physician certifies the worker cannot work. Highlights of the Hawaii Workers' Compensation Law (Form WC-101); DLIR Disability Compensation labor law poster (rev. 01/02/2024) |
| Idaho | No income benefits are paid for the first five days of disability. If the disability lasts more than two weeks, benefits are paid from the date of disability (and must be paid within four weeks of it). The waiting period does not apply if the worker is hospitalized as an inpatient. The day of injury counts toward the waiting period unless the worker was paid wages for that day. Idaho Code § 72-402 |
| Illinois | Temporary total disability is not paid for the first three lost workdays unless the employee misses 14 or more calendar days because of the injury. The employer should make the first payment within 14 days after receiving notice of the injury. Illinois Workers' Compensation Commission, Handbook (June 2024), Section 6 |
| Indiana | Weekly income benefits are paid if you cannot return to work for more than seven days. The first weekly payment should be mailed 15 days after the date of injury. The first week of lost time is not paid until you have been out 21 days. Worker's Compensation Board of Indiana, Who Is Eligible (FAQ) |
| Iowa | Temporary total disability benefits begin on the fourth day the worker is off because of the injury. If the worker misses more than 14 days, the first three days are paid (added to the third week's payment). Weekly payments are due beginning on the eleventh day after the injury. Iowa Code §§ 85.30, 85.32; DIAL Workers' Compensation Division, Benefits |
| Kansas | No temporary total disability compensation is paid for the first week of disability unless the disability lasts three consecutive weeks, in which case the first week is paid. The first payment is normally due at the end of the 14th day of lost time. K.S.A. 44-510c(b)(1); Kansas Department of Labor, Information for Injured Employees (K-WC 27-A) |
| Kentucky | No income benefits are paid for the first seven days of disability unless the disability lasts more than two weeks; if it does, benefits are paid from the first day. Benefits must start no later than the 15th day after the employer knows of the disability and are paid at least twice a month. Late payments carry interest. KRS 342.040(1) |
| Louisiana | No compensation is paid for the first week after the injury. If the disability lasts two weeks or longer after the accident, the first week is paid after the first two weeks have passed. The first payment of temporary total, permanent total or death benefits is due on the 14th day after the employer or insurer learns of the injury or death. La. R.S. 23:1224, 23:1201(B) |
| Maine | Wage-loss benefits are not paid for the first 7 days of incapacity (firefighters are paid from the first day). If the incapacity lasts more than 14 days, benefits are paid back to the date the incapacity began. 39-A M.R.S. § 204 |
| Maryland | If temporary total disability lasts 14 days or less, no wage benefits are paid for the first 3 calendar days (medical, hospital, medicine and funeral expenses are still paid). If the worker was not paid for the day of the injury, that day counts as one of the 3 days. If the disability lasts more than 14 days, benefits are paid from the first day of disability. Md. Code, Lab. & Empl. § 9-620 |
| Massachusetts | No weekly wage benefits are paid unless the injury keeps the worker from earning full wages for at least five calendar days. If the incapacity lasts 21 days or more, benefits are paid from the first day of incapacity. If it lasts at least five but fewer than 21 days, benefits are paid starting on the sixth day. M.G.L. c. 152, § 29 |
| Michigan | No wage benefits are paid unless the injury keeps the worker from earning full wages for at least 1 week. If the incapacity lasts more than 1 week, benefits begin on the eighth day after the injury. If the incapacity lasts 2 weeks or longer (or the injury causes death), benefits are paid back to the date of injury. MCL 418.311 |
| Minnesota | No wage-loss benefits are paid for the first three calendar days of disability. If the disability lasts 10 calendar days or longer, benefits are paid back to the first day of disability. Any lost time, even part of a day, counts as the first day of disability, and the days are counted as consecutive calendar days, not workdays. Minn. Stat. § 176.121 |
| Mississippi | Wage-loss payments are not made for the first 5 days of disability. If the worker has 14 or more days of disability, payments are made for the whole period, including the first 5 days. Medical benefits are paid regardless of how many days are missed. Mississippi Workers' Compensation Commission, Workers' Compensation Facts (Miss. Code Ann. § 71-3-11) |
| Missouri | No wage-loss compensation is paid for the first three days (or less) of disability during which the employer is open for business, unless the disability lasts longer than 14 days. If it lasts longer than 14 days, the first three days are paid retroactively. RSMo § 287.160.1 |
| Montana | Wage-loss compensation is not paid for the first 32 hours or 4 days of lost wages, whichever is less; benefits start on the 5th day. If the worker is totally disabled and unable to work in any capacity for 21 days or longer, compensation is paid back to the first day of total wage loss. Medical benefits are provided from the date of injury. MCA 39-71-736 |
| Nebraska | No compensation is paid for the first seven calendar days of disability; payments start on the eighth day. If the disability lasts six weeks or longer, compensation is paid back to the date the disability began. A partial day of disability counts as a full calendar day. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 48-119 |
| Nevada | Temporary disability benefits are not paid for an injury that keeps the worker from earning full wages for fewer than 5 consecutive days, or 5 days total within a 20-day period. If the incapacity reaches 5 consecutive days, or 5 days within a 20-day period, compensation is figured from the date of the injury. Medical (accident) benefits are not subject to this waiting period. NRS 616C.400 |
| New Hampshire | No wage-loss compensation is paid for the first 3 days of disability unless the disability lasts 14 days or longer, in which case those first 3 days are paid. If an injured employee returns to temporary alternative (light-duty) work within 5 days of the injury, compensation is paid from the first day of injury. N.H. RSA 281-A:22, 281-A:23-b, 281-A:28 |
| New Jersey | No wage benefits are payable until the worker has been disabled for 7 days (the days need not be consecutive, and weekends and holidays count). If the disability lasts beyond 7 days, the waiting period is paid retroactively from the first day. There is no waiting period for medical benefits or permanent disability benefits. N.J.S.A. 34:15-14; NJ Division of Workers' Compensation, Worker FAQs |
| New Mexico | Temporary total disability benefits begin on the 8th day the worker is unable to work (the days need not be consecutive). The first 7 days are not paid unless the worker is off work for more than 4 weeks. WCA Frequently Asked Questions |
| New York | Lost wage benefits are not paid for the first seven days of disability unless the disability lasts more than 14 days; after 14 days, benefits are paid from the first day the worker was unable to work. Medical care is provided regardless of how long the disability lasts. If the claim is accepted, payments should begin within 18 days of the injury or within 10 days after the employer learned of it, whichever is later. N.Y. Workers' Compensation Board, Lost Wage Benefits |
| North Carolina | No wage-loss compensation is paid for the first seven calendar days of disability (medical care is still provided). If the disability lasts more than 21 days, compensation is paid from the first day of disability. Employers may let employees use paid sick leave, vacation or employer disability benefits during the first seven days. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 97-28 |
| North Dakota | Wage-loss benefits are not paid for a disability lasting less than five consecutive calendar days. If the disability lasts five consecutive calendar days or longer, the statute says benefits are paid for the period of disability. An employer may not require the worker to use sick leave or vacation before or instead of receiving benefits, but may allow it to make up the difference between benefits and regular pay. N.D. Cent. Code § 65-05-08 |
| Ohio | No compensation is paid for the first week of total disability unless the worker is totally disabled for a continuous period of two weeks or more; in that case, the first week is paid after the second week of total disability. There is no waiting period for medical and funeral payments. Ohio Rev. Code § 4123.55 |
| Oklahoma | There is no payment for the first three days of the initial period of temporary total disability. 85A Okla. Stat. § 45(A)(1) |
| Oregon | Temporary disability is not paid for the first three calendar days after the worker leaves work or loses wages because of the injury, unless the worker is totally disabled for 14 consecutive days or is admitted to a hospital as an inpatient within 14 days of the start of total disability. If the worker leaves work on the day of injury, that day counts as the first of the three days. ORS 656.210(3) |
| Pennsylvania | The worker must be disabled more than seven calendar days (including weekends) before wage-loss benefits are payable; benefits begin on the eighth day. Once the worker has been off work 14 days, the first seven days are paid retroactively. LIBC-100 |
| Rhode Island | No weekly benefits are paid for an injury that does not keep the worker from earning full wages for at least three days. If the incapacity lasts longer than three days, compensation begins on the fourth day after the injury. R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-33-4; DLT FAQ |
| South Carolina | No wage-loss compensation is paid for the first seven calendar days of disability. If the disability lasts more than 14 days, compensation is paid from the first day of disability. Medical benefits are not subject to the waiting period. S.C. Code § 42-9-200; S.C. Workers' Compensation Commission, Injured Worker FAQ's |
| South Dakota | No temporary disability benefits are paid unless the injury keeps the worker from working for seven consecutive days. If the seven-day waiting period is met, benefits are calculated from the date of injury. SDCL 62-4-2 |
| 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. Tenn. Bureau of Workers' Compensation, Beginner's Guide; Benefits |
| Texas | No income benefits are paid for an injury that does not cause disability for at least one week; if disability continues longer, benefits begin to accrue on the eighth day after the disability began. If the disability lasts two weeks or longer, benefits are paid from the date the disability began. Medical benefits are not affected. Tex. Lab. Code § 408.082 |
| Utah | No compensation is paid for the first three days after the injury, unless temporary total disability lasts more than 14 days, in which case the first three days are also paid. Medical, hospital and funeral expenses are payable from the first day. The Labor Commission notes the waiting period does not apply to temporary partial payments. Utah Code § 34A-2-408; Utah Labor Commission, 2026 Quick Reference Guide |
| Vermont | Temporary total disability is not paid for the first three days of disability (the day of the accident counts as the first day unless the worker received full wages for it). If total disability continues after the third day for seven consecutive calendar days or more, compensation is paid for the whole period of disability. 21 V.S.A. § 642 |
| Virginia | No compensation is paid for the first seven calendar days of incapacity (medical care is still provided); if incapacity lasts longer, compensation starts on the eighth day. If incapacity continues for more than three weeks, compensation is paid from the first day. Va. Code § 65.2-509 |
| Washington | Workers are never paid time-loss for the day of injury. For injuries on or after June 6, 2024, time-loss (or loss of earning power) is not paid for the first three days after the injury unless the worker is still disabled on the seventh day after the injury, in which case the first three days are paid. RCW 51.32.090; L&I, Time-Loss Compensation (March 2026) |
| West Virginia | If the disability does not last longer than three days from the day the employee leaves work, no award is made (other than medical payments). If the disability lasts longer than seven days, the first three days are paid. W. Va. Code § 23-4-5 |
| Wisconsin | Wage-loss compensation begins on the fourth calendar day (not counting Sundays unless the employee works Sundays) after the employee leaves work because of the injury. If the disability lasts more than seven calendar days, the first three days are also paid. Wis. Stat. § 102.43; DWD, Worker's Compensation for Workers |
| Wyoming | Temporary total disability payments are not allowed for the first three days of disability unless the incapacity lasts more than eight days. Wyo. Stat. § 27-14-404(d) |
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.