How to File a Workers' Compensation Claim in Alaska
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Alaska · Last updated 2026-09-07
A workers' compensation claim is how an employee who is injured on the job, or made ill by work, obtains medical care and wage-replacement benefits from the employer's insurer, without having to prove the employer was at fault. In Alaska, the system is administered by the Division of Workers' Compensation within the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and disputes are decided by the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board (AWCB). Two deadlines are critical. You must give your employer written notice of the injury within 15 days of the date of injury (AS 23.30.100), a period shortened from 30 days effective January 1, 2025, and you generally have two years to file a claim, running from when you have knowledge of the nature of your disability and its relation to your employment (AS 23.30.105). After you report the injury, the employer or its insurer reports it to the Division, usually through electronic data interchange; the Report of Occupational Injury or Illness, Form 07-6101, is available but not required for your notice. If the insurer controverts, delays, or stops benefits, you file a Workers' Compensation Claim (WCC), Form 07-6106, with the Board, which schedules a prehearing and hearing and issues a Decision and Order. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft.
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How do I file a workers' compensation claim in Alaska?
First, give your employer written notice of the injury within 15 days of the date of injury (AS 23.30.100). Your employer or its insurer then reports the injury to the state. If the insurer denies or stops benefits, you file a Workers' Compensation Claim, Form 07-6106, with the Board.
How long do I have to file a workers' compensation claim in Alaska?
Two deadlines matter. You must give your employer written notice within 15 days of the injury (AS 23.30.100). Separately, you generally have two years from when you knew of your disability and its work connection to file your claim with the Board (AS 23.30.105). Missing either can bar benefits.
What form do I use to file a workers' compensation claim in Alaska?
To open a contested claim, you file a Workers' Compensation Claim (WCC), Form 07-6106, with the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board. Before that, you simply give your employer written notice of the injury; the Report of Occupational Injury or Illness, Form 07-6101, is available but not required for that notice.
Who handles workers' compensation claims in Alaska?
Alaska's workers' compensation system is administered by the Division of Workers' Compensation within the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Your employer's insurer or claims administrator decides your claim day to day. If a dispute arises, the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board adjudicates it after you file a claim.
Alaska workers' compensation claim law at a glance
In Alaska, workers' compensation gives an employee who is injured on the job medical care and wage-replacement benefits from the employer's insurer, regardless of fault. The system is run by the Division of Workers' Compensation within the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, and contested claims are decided by the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board. You must give your employer written notice of the injury within 15 days of the date of injury (AS 23.30.100), a deadline shortened from 30 days effective January 1, 2025. The employer's insurer then accepts or controverts benefits. If benefits are denied, delayed, or stopped, you file a Workers' Compensation Claim, Form 07-6106, and you generally have two years from knowledge of your disability and its work relation to do so (AS 23.30.105).
Filing an Alaska workers' compensation claim after a warehouse back injury
Suppose you hurt your back lifting freight at an Anchorage warehouse. You tell your supervisor and, the same week, give written notice of the injury, staying inside the 15-day reporting deadline (AS 23.30.100). Your employer's insurer starts paying for medical treatment but later controverts how much wage-replacement you are owed. Because you generally have two years from knowledge of your disability and its work relation (AS 23.30.105), you file a Workers' Compensation Claim, Form 07-6106, with the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board. The Board schedules a prehearing, and after an Affidavit of Readiness for Hearing it issues a Decision and Order. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft.
Relevant Laws
AS 23.30.100 (15-day notice of injury to employer)
Provides that notice to an employer of an injury or death for which compensation is payable shall be given within 15 days after the date of the injury or death. The 15-day period took effect January 1, 2025, replacing the prior 30-day period.
AS 23.30.105 (two-year limitation on filing a claim)
Bars the right to compensation for disability unless a claim is filed within two years after the employee has knowledge of the nature of the disability and its relation to the employment and after disablement. For injuries other than occupational disease, an outer limit of four years from the date of injury applies.
SB 147, ch. 32, SLA 2024 (amendment shortening the notice period)
Section 13 of enrolled Senate Bill 147 amended AS 23.30.100(a) to read that notice shall be given within 15 days after the date of the injury or death, striking the prior 30-day period. The change took effect January 1, 2025.
Alaska Division of Workers' Compensation, Info for Injured Workers
The Division of Workers' Compensation, within the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, administers workers' compensation and provides injured-worker information, the claim and reporting forms (including Form 07-6101 and Form 07-6106), and the process for filing a claim with the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board.
Regional Variances
Alaska workers' compensation claim rules at a glance
Reporting deadline
15 days from the date of the injury to give your employer written notice, under AS 23.30.100. Alaska shortened this from 30 days effective January 1, 2025. Late notice can bar your claim unless an exception applies.
Reporting form
The Report of Occupational Injury or Illness, Form 07-6101, is provided for convenience but is not required. Your obligation is written notice to the employer; the employer or insurer reports the injury to the Division.
Filing deadline
Generally two years to file a claim, running from when you have knowledge of the nature of your disability and its relation to your employment (AS 23.30.105), with a four-year outer limit for non-occupational-disease injuries.
Who administers it
The Division of Workers' Compensation, within the Department of Labor and Workforce Development. Disputes are adjudicated by the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board (AWCB); appeals go to the Workers' Compensation Appeals Commission.
How disputes are filed
By filing a Workers' Compensation Claim (WCC), Form 07-6106, with the Board when the insurer controverts, delays, or stops benefits. This must occur within the two-year period under AS 23.30.105.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Report the injury to your employer in writing
Within 15 days of the injury days after startingGive your employer written notice of the injury within 15 days of the date of injury (AS 23.30.100). Alaska shortened this from 30 days effective January 1, 2025, so do this immediately and keep a dated copy. Late notice can cost you your right to benefits.
Confirm the injury is reported to the state
Soon after you notify your employer days after startingThe employer or its insurer reports the injury to the Division of Workers' Compensation, usually by electronic data interchange. The Report of Occupational Injury or Illness, Form 07-6101, is available but not required. Confirm the report was made and keep a copy of your notice.
Get medical care and keep records
Ongoing after the injury days after startingSeek treatment for your injury and keep every medical record, bill, and letter from the insurer. Documenting the diagnosis, treatment dates, and any work restrictions supports your claim if the claims administrator later controverts benefits or disputes the work connection.
Track the insurer's decision and deadlines
While the claim is pending days after startingThe insurer or claims administrator will accept or controvert (deny) benefits, using a Controversion Notice, Form 07-6105. Calendar any deadline the insurer sets, keep proof of what you sent, and note the injury date so you can protect the two-year filing window under AS 23.30.105.
File a Workers' Compensation Claim if disputed
Within two years of knowledge of the disability days after startingIf benefits are denied, delayed, or stopped, file a Workers' Compensation Claim (WCC), Form 07-6106, with the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board within two years (AS 23.30.105). File early to protect your rights. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft.
Prepare for a prehearing and Board hearing
After you file the claim days after startingAfter filing, the Board schedules a prehearing. When the case is ready, file an Affidavit of Readiness for Hearing, Form 07-6107, and the Board holds a hearing and issues a Decision and Order. A Board decision may be appealed to the Workers' Compensation Appeals Commission.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Report the injury to your employer in writing | Give your employer written notice of the injury within 15 days of the date of injury (AS 23.30.100). Alaska shortened this from 30 days effective January 1, 2025, so do this immediately and keep a dated copy. Late notice can cost you your right to benefits. | - | Within 15 days of the injury |
| Confirm the injury is reported to the state | The employer or its insurer reports the injury to the Division of Workers' Compensation, usually by electronic data interchange. The Report of Occupational Injury or Illness, Form 07-6101, is available but not required. Confirm the report was made and keep a copy of your notice. | - | Soon after you notify your employer |
| Get medical care and keep records | Seek treatment for your injury and keep every medical record, bill, and letter from the insurer. Documenting the diagnosis, treatment dates, and any work restrictions supports your claim if the claims administrator later controverts benefits or disputes the work connection. | - | Ongoing after the injury |
| Track the insurer's decision and deadlines | The insurer or claims administrator will accept or controvert (deny) benefits, using a Controversion Notice, Form 07-6105. Calendar any deadline the insurer sets, keep proof of what you sent, and note the injury date so you can protect the two-year filing window under AS 23.30.105. | - | While the claim is pending |
| File a Workers' Compensation Claim if disputed | If benefits are denied, delayed, or stopped, file a Workers' Compensation Claim (WCC), Form 07-6106, with the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board within two years (AS 23.30.105). File early to protect your rights. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft. | - | Within two years of knowledge of the disability |
| Prepare for a prehearing and Board hearing | After filing, the Board schedules a prehearing. When the case is ready, file an Affidavit of Readiness for Hearing, Form 07-6107, and the Board holds a hearing and issues a Decision and Order. A Board decision may be appealed to the Workers' Compensation Appeals Commission. | - | After you file the claim |
Frequently Asked Questions
A workers' compensation claim is how an employee injured on the job, or made sick by work, obtains medical care and wage-replacement benefits from the employer's insurer, without proving fault. In Alaska, you start by reporting the injury to your employer, and disputes are decided by the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board.
Reporting means giving your employer written notice of the injury, which you must do within 15 days (AS 23.30.100). Filing a claim is the separate step of submitting a Workers' Compensation Claim, Form 07-6106, to the Board when benefits are disputed. Reporting comes first; filing a claim follows if there is a dispute.
You have 15 days from the date of the injury to give your employer written notice (AS 23.30.100). Alaska shortened this period from 30 days effective January 1, 2025, so report promptly. Late notice can bar your claim unless the employer already knew or the Board excuses the delay.
Generally, you have two years to file your claim, running from when you have knowledge of the nature of your disability and its relation to your employment (AS 23.30.105). For injuries other than occupational disease, an outer limit of four years from the date of injury also applies. Missing it can bar benefits.
Reporting after 15 days can jeopardize your claim, since AS 23.30.100 requires written notice within that window. Your claim is not automatically lost, though. The Board may still allow it if your employer or its insurer already knew of the injury and was not prejudiced, or excuses the delay for good cause.
Day to day, your employer's insurer or claims administrator decides whether to accept or controvert benefits. If you disagree, the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board resolves the dispute after you file a Workers' Compensation Claim, Form 07-6106. A party unhappy with the Board's decision may appeal to the Workers' Compensation Appeals Commission.
No. Alaska workers' compensation is a no-fault system, so you do not have to prove your employer did anything wrong to receive benefits. You generally need to show the injury arose out of and in the course of your employment. In exchange, benefits are set by statute rather than a jury.
If the insurer controverts or stops your benefits, take it to the Alaska Workers' Compensation Board by filing a Workers' Compensation Claim, Form 07-6106. You generally must do so within two years (AS 23.30.105). Attorney review of your case and any Board filing is available through DocDraft.
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