California Workers' Compensation Laws

For occupational diseases (like asbestos exposure or repetitive stress), the 1-year period runs from the date the employee knew or should have known the disability was caused by employment.

Report the injury to your employer within 30 days. Written notice is recommended. Your employer must then provide you with a claim form (DWC-1) within one working day.

If benefits are denied or disputed, file an Application for Adjudication of Claim with the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board (WCAB).

All California employers with one or more employees must carry workers' compensation insurance. There is no exception for small employers.

Temporary total disability benefits pay two-thirds of your pre-injury gross weekly wage, subject to minimum and maximum amounts set annually by the state.

Employers must provide all medical treatment reasonably required to cure or relieve the effects of a work injury. Treatment is generally provided through the employer's Medical Provider Network (MPN), but employees may pre-designate their personal physician.

If you cannot return to your usual job and your employer does not offer modified or alternative work, you may receive a voucher for education-related retraining or skill enhancement.

Employers cannot discharge, threaten, or discriminate against an employee for filing or intending to file a workers' compensation claim.