How to File a Workers' Compensation Claim in Georgia
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Georgia · 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 Georgia, the system is administered by the State Board of Workers' Compensation (SBWC), which also resolves disputes through its Administrative Law Judges. Two deadlines are critical. You must give your employer notice of the accident within 30 days (O.C.G.A. 34-9-80), and you generally have one year from the date of injury to file your claim with the SBWC (O.C.G.A. 34-9-82). Unlike some states, you open the formal claim yourself by filing a Form WC-14, the Notice of Claim, with the State Board and sending a copy to your employer and its insurer. The insurer then accepts, pays, or controverts the claim, and if it is disputed you can request a hearing or mediation on the same WC-14. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft.
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How do I file a workers' compensation claim in Georgia?
First, report the accident to your employer within 30 days (O.C.G.A. 34-9-80). Then complete a Form WC-14, the Notice of Claim, and file it with the State Board of Workers' Compensation, sending a copy to your employer and its insurer. Filing the WC-14 opens your formal claim.
How long do I have to file a workers' compensation claim in Georgia?
Two deadlines matter. You must give your employer notice of the accident within 30 days (O.C.G.A. 34-9-80). Separately, you generally have one year from the date of injury to file your WC-14 claim with the State Board of Workers' Compensation (O.C.G.A. 34-9-82). Missing either can bar your benefits.
What is the WC-14 claim form in Georgia?
The WC-14 is Georgia's official Notice of Claim, Request for Hearing, Request for Mediation form. You complete it, file it with the State Board of Workers' Compensation, and send a copy to your employer and its insurer. Filing the WC-14 opens your claim and can also request a hearing.
Who handles workers' compensation claims in Georgia?
Georgia's workers' compensation system is administered by the State Board of Workers' Compensation (SBWC). Your employer's insurer decides your claim day to day, choosing to accept, pay, or controvert it. If a dispute arises, an Administrative Law Judge at the SBWC decides it after you request a hearing.
Georgia workers' compensation claim law at a glance
In Georgia, 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 State Board of Workers' Compensation (SBWC), which also resolves disputes through its Administrative Law Judges. You must give your employer notice of the accident within 30 days (O.C.G.A. 34-9-80). Georgia does not rely on the employer to open your claim. Instead, you file a Form WC-14, the Notice of Claim, with the State Board and send a copy to your employer and its insurer. The insurer then accepts, pays, or controverts the claim. If it is disputed, you generally have one year from the date of injury to file, and you can request a hearing or mediation on the same WC-14 (O.C.G.A. 34-9-82).
Filing a Georgia workers' compensation claim after a warehouse back injury
Suppose you hurt your back lifting boxes at a Georgia warehouse. You tell your supervisor and put the accident in writing the same week, staying well inside the 30-day notice deadline (O.C.G.A. 34-9-80). You get treatment from the employer's posted panel physician. To open your formal claim, you complete a Form WC-14, the Notice of Claim, file it with the State Board of Workers' Compensation, and send a copy to your employer and its insurer. The insurer pays for treatment but later disputes your wage-replacement benefits. Because you must file within one year of the injury (O.C.G.A. 34-9-82), you request a hearing on the same WC-14, and an Administrative Law Judge decides it. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft.
Relevant Laws
O.C.G.A. 34-9-80 (30-day notice of accident to employer)
Requires the injured employee to give the employer notice of the accident, and provides that no compensation will be payable unless such notice, oral or written, is given within 30 days after the occurrence of the accident, subject to limited exceptions such as the employer already having knowledge of the accident.
O.C.G.A. 34-9-82 (one-year period to file the claim)
Provides that the right to compensation is barred unless a claim is filed within one year after injury, with the period extended to one year after the last remedial treatment furnished by the employer, or two years after the last payment of weekly benefits.
Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation, how to file a claim
The SBWC instructs the injured worker to complete and file a Form WC-14 with the State Board of Workers' Compensation and to send a copy of the form to the employer and its workers' compensation insurance carrier to open the claim.
Georgia State Board of Workers' Compensation, Rules (Rule 61 notice, Rule 82 statute of limitation)
The SBWC Rules implement the statute. Board Rule 61 governs notice of injury under O.C.G.A. 34-9-80, and Board Rule 82, titled Statute of Limitation and Procedure for Filing Claims, implements the one-year filing period under O.C.G.A. 34-9-82.
Regional Variances
Georgia workers' compensation claim rules at a glance
Reporting deadline
30 days from the accident to give your employer notice, oral or written, under O.C.G.A. 34-9-80. No compensation will be payable unless notice is given within 30 days, subject to limited exceptions.
Claim form
The Form WC-14, Notice of Claim, Request for Hearing, Request for Mediation. You file it with the State Board of Workers' Compensation and send a copy to your employer and its insurer to open the claim.
Filing deadline
Generally one year from the date of injury to file the claim with the State Board (O.C.G.A. 34-9-82). The period can extend after remedial treatment by the employer or payment of weekly benefits.
Who administers it
The State Board of Workers' Compensation (SBWC) administers the program and resolves disputes. Administrative Law Judges hear contested claims, subject to review by the Appellate Division and the Board.
How disputes are filed
By requesting a hearing or mediation on the Form WC-14 when the insurer controverts, denies, or underpays the claim. This must occur within the one-year period under O.C.G.A. 34-9-82.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Report the injury to your employer
Within 30 days of the accident days after startingGive your employer notice of the accident, oral or written, within 30 days (O.C.G.A. 34-9-80). No compensation will be payable unless notice is given in time, so do this immediately, put it in writing, and keep a dated copy.
Get medical treatment and keep records
As soon as you are injured days after startingSeek care for your injury, using the employer or insurer's posted panel of physicians for authorized treatment. Keep every medical record, bill, and work restriction, since this documentation supports your claim if the insurer later disputes benefits.
Complete and file a Form WC-14
As soon as you can open the claim days after startingFill out a WC-14, the Notice of Claim, describing the injury and benefits sought, file it with the State Board of Workers' Compensation, and send a copy to your employer and its insurer. Keep a copy. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft.
Track the insurer's decision and deadlines
While the claim is pending days after startingThe insurer will accept and pay benefits or controvert (deny) the claim. Calendar any deadline the insurer sets for information, keep proof of what you sent, and note the date of injury so you can protect the one-year filing window under O.C.G.A. 34-9-82.
Request a hearing or mediation if disputed
Within one year of the injury days after startingIf the claim is controverted, denied, or underpaid, request a hearing or mediation on the WC-14 with the State Board of Workers' Compensation within one year of the injury (O.C.G.A. 34-9-82). File early to protect your rights.
Keep a complete claim file
Ongoing after the injury days after startingMaintain a file with the injury date, the date you gave notice, your WC-14 copy, and all medical records and insurer letters. Calendar both the 30-day reporting deadline and the one-year filing deadline so neither one lapses.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Report the injury to your employer | Give your employer notice of the accident, oral or written, within 30 days (O.C.G.A. 34-9-80). No compensation will be payable unless notice is given in time, so do this immediately, put it in writing, and keep a dated copy. | - | Within 30 days of the accident |
| Get medical treatment and keep records | Seek care for your injury, using the employer or insurer's posted panel of physicians for authorized treatment. Keep every medical record, bill, and work restriction, since this documentation supports your claim if the insurer later disputes benefits. | - | As soon as you are injured |
| Complete and file a Form WC-14 | Fill out a WC-14, the Notice of Claim, describing the injury and benefits sought, file it with the State Board of Workers' Compensation, and send a copy to your employer and its insurer. Keep a copy. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft. | - | As soon as you can open the claim |
| Track the insurer's decision and deadlines | The insurer will accept and pay benefits or controvert (deny) the claim. Calendar any deadline the insurer sets for information, keep proof of what you sent, and note the date of injury so you can protect the one-year filing window under O.C.G.A. 34-9-82. | - | While the claim is pending |
| Request a hearing or mediation if disputed | If the claim is controverted, denied, or underpaid, request a hearing or mediation on the WC-14 with the State Board of Workers' Compensation within one year of the injury (O.C.G.A. 34-9-82). File early to protect your rights. | - | Within one year of the injury |
| Keep a complete claim file | Maintain a file with the injury date, the date you gave notice, your WC-14 copy, and all medical records and insurer letters. Calendar both the 30-day reporting deadline and the one-year filing deadline so neither one lapses. | - | Ongoing after the injury |
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 Georgia, you open a claim by filing a Form WC-14 with the State Board of Workers' Compensation.
Reporting means giving your employer notice of the accident, which you must do within 30 days (O.C.G.A. 34-9-80). Filing the claim is the separate step of completing a Form WC-14 and filing it with the State Board of Workers' Compensation. Reporting comes first; filing the WC-14 follows.
You have 30 days from the accident to give your employer notice, oral or written (O.C.G.A. 34-9-80). The statute says no compensation will be payable unless notice is given within 30 days, so report promptly and keep a dated copy to protect your benefits.
Generally, you have one year from the date of injury to file your claim (O.C.G.A. 34-9-82). The statute says the right to compensation is barred unless a claim is filed within one year after injury. Certain benefits or treatment can extend the period, but missing it can bar your claim.
Reporting after 30 days can jeopardize your claim. O.C.G.A. 34-9-80 says no compensation will be payable unless notice is given within 30 days of the accident. Limited exceptions exist, such as the employer already knowing of the accident, but you should report as soon as you can.
Day to day, your employer's insurer decides whether to accept, pay, or controvert your claim. If you disagree, an Administrative Law Judge at the State Board of Workers' Compensation resolves the dispute after you request a hearing or mediation on your Form WC-14.
No. Georgia 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.
If the insurer controverts or denies your claim, request a hearing or mediation by filing or amending your Form WC-14 with the State Board of Workers' Compensation. You generally must do so within one year of the injury (O.C.G.A. 34-9-82). Attorney review of your case is available through DocDraft.
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