How to File a Workers' Compensation Claim in Massachusetts
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Massachusetts · 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 Massachusetts, the system is overseen by the Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA). Two deadlines are critical. You must give notice of the injury to the insurer or insured as soon as practicable after it happens (M.G.L. c. 152, s. 41), and you must file your claim within four years from the date you first became aware of the causal relationship between your disability and your employment. Your employer files a First Report of Injury with its insurer, which decides whether to pay benefits. If the insurer denies, delays, or underpays, you file Form 110, the Employee's Claim, with the DIA, and the Division of Dispute Resolution handles the case through conciliation, a conference, and a hearing. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft.
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Where are you after your work injury?
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How do I file a workers' compensation claim in Massachusetts?
First, report your injury to your employer as soon as practicable, so notice reaches the insurer (M.G.L. c. 152, s. 41). Your employer files a First Report of Injury with its insurer. If the insurer denies, delays, or underpays, you file Form 110, the Employee's Claim, with the Department of Industrial Accidents.
How long do I have to file a workers' compensation claim in Massachusetts?
Two deadlines matter. You must give notice of the injury to the insurer or insured as soon as practicable (M.G.L. c. 152, s. 41). Separately, you must file your claim within four years from the date you first became aware of the causal relationship between your disability and your employment. Missing either can bar benefits.
What is Form 110 in Massachusetts?
Form 110 is the Employee's Claim form filed with the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents. You use it to open a dispute when your employer's insurer denies, delays, or underpays benefits. You complete the form, describe your injury and wages, attach medical records, and mail or bring it to the DIA, keeping a copy.
Who handles workers' compensation claims in Massachusetts?
The Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents oversees the state's workers' compensation system. Day to day, your employer's insurer decides whether to pay benefits. If a dispute arises, the DIA Division of Dispute Resolution handles it through conciliation, a conference before an administrative judge, and a hearing, with appeal to the reviewing board.
Massachusetts workers' compensation claim law at a glance
In Massachusetts, 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 overseen by the Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA). You must give notice of the injury to the insurer or insured as soon as practicable after it happens (M.G.L. c. 152, s. 41). Your employer files a First Report of Injury with its insurer, which then decides whether to pay benefits. If the insurer denies, delays, or underpays, you file Form 110, the Employee's Claim, with the DIA. You must file that claim within four years from the date you first became aware of the causal relationship between your disability and your employment.
Filing a Massachusetts workers' compensation claim after a warehouse back injury
Suppose you strain your back lifting boxes at a Massachusetts warehouse. You tell your supervisor the same day and put the injury in writing, so notice reaches the insurer as soon as practicable (M.G.L. c. 152, s. 41). Your employer files a First Report of Injury, and the insurer starts paying for treatment but later disputes your wage-replacement benefits. Because you must file within four years of first learning your back problem is work-related, you file Form 110, the Employee's Claim, with the Department of Industrial Accidents. Your case moves to conciliation. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft.
Relevant Laws
M.G.L. c. 152, s. 41 (notice as soon as practicable and four-year claim limit)
Provides that no proceedings for compensation shall be maintained unless notice of the injury was given to the insurer or insured as soon as practicable after it happened, and unless the claim is filed within four years from the date the employee first became aware of the causal relationship between the disability and the employment.
Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents (workers' compensation oversight)
The DIA oversees the Massachusetts workers' compensation system, assisting injured workers, employers, insurers, attorneys, and health care providers in following the state's workers' compensation laws and regulations, and administering the process by which claims are decided.
Massachusetts DIA, How to file a claim (Form 110, Employee's Claim)
Explains that an injured worker files Form 110, the Employee's Claim, with the DIA, that a self-represented worker must mail or bring the completed form and attachments, and gives the DIA filing address in Boston for opening a claim.
Massachusetts DIA, The steps in the dispute resolution process
Describes how a disputed claim moves through the DIA Division of Dispute Resolution, starting with conciliation, an informal meeting with a conciliator, then a conference before an administrative judge, a hearing, and appeal to the reviewing board.
Regional Variances
Massachusetts workers' compensation claim rules at a glance
Reporting deadline
Notice of the injury must reach the insurer or insured as soon as practicable after it happens, under M.G.L. c. 152, s. 41. Massachusetts sets no fixed number of days, so report in writing right away.
Claim form
Form 110, the Employee's Claim, filed with the Department of Industrial Accidents. The worker files it to open a dispute when the insurer denies, delays, or underpays benefits, and mails or brings it to the DIA.
Filing deadline
Four years from the date the employee first became aware of the causal relationship between the disability and the employment (M.G.L. c. 152, s. 41). The clock runs from when you connect the condition to work.
Who administers it
The Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA) oversees the Massachusetts workers' compensation system. Disputes run through its Division of Dispute Resolution, with a reviewing board hearing appeals of hearing decisions.
How disputes are handled
After Form 110 is filed, the case moves through conciliation, a conference before an administrative judge, and a hearing, with appeal to the reviewing board. All of this must occur within the four-year limit.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Report the injury to your employer
As soon as practicable after the injury days after startingGive your employer written notice of the injury so it reaches the insurer or insured as soon as practicable (M.G.L. c. 152, s. 41). Massachusetts sets no fixed day count, but late notice can be contested, so do this immediately and keep a dated copy.
Confirm the employer filed a First Report of Injury
Shortly after you report days after startingYour employer files a First Report of Injury with its workers' compensation insurer, which then decides whether to pay benefits. Ask for confirmation, and if you do not hear from the insurer, follow up in writing and note the date you asked.
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 insurer later disputes whether your condition is work-related.
File Form 110 if the insurer denies or delays
When the insurer denies, delays, or underpays days after startingFile Form 110, the Employee's Claim, with the Department of Industrial Accidents, describing your injury and wages and attaching medical records. Keep a copy, and mail or bring it to the DIA. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft.
Track the four-year filing deadline
Within four years of learning it is work-related days after startingYou must file your claim within four years from the date you first became aware of the causal relationship between your disability and your employment (M.G.L. c. 152, s. 41). Calendar that date and file Form 110 early to protect your rights.
Follow the DIA dispute resolution process
After you file Form 110 days after startingThe DIA Division of Dispute Resolution moves your case through conciliation, a conference before an administrative judge, and a hearing, with appeal to the reviewing board. Track every notice and deadline, and keep proof of what you send at each stage.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Report the injury to your employer | Give your employer written notice of the injury so it reaches the insurer or insured as soon as practicable (M.G.L. c. 152, s. 41). Massachusetts sets no fixed day count, but late notice can be contested, so do this immediately and keep a dated copy. | - | As soon as practicable after the injury |
| Confirm the employer filed a First Report of Injury | Your employer files a First Report of Injury with its workers' compensation insurer, which then decides whether to pay benefits. Ask for confirmation, and if you do not hear from the insurer, follow up in writing and note the date you asked. | - | Shortly after you report |
| 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 insurer later disputes whether your condition is work-related. | - | Ongoing after the injury |
| File Form 110 if the insurer denies or delays | File Form 110, the Employee's Claim, with the Department of Industrial Accidents, describing your injury and wages and attaching medical records. Keep a copy, and mail or bring it to the DIA. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft. | - | When the insurer denies, delays, or underpays |
| Track the four-year filing deadline | You must file your claim within four years from the date you first became aware of the causal relationship between your disability and your employment (M.G.L. c. 152, s. 41). Calendar that date and file Form 110 early to protect your rights. | - | Within four years of learning it is work-related |
| Follow the DIA dispute resolution process | The DIA Division of Dispute Resolution moves your case through conciliation, a conference before an administrative judge, and a hearing, with appeal to the reviewing board. Track every notice and deadline, and keep proof of what you send at each stage. | - | After you file Form 110 |
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 Massachusetts, the Department of Industrial Accidents oversees the system, and you formally open a disputed claim by filing Form 110, the Employee's Claim.
Reporting means telling your employer about the injury so notice reaches the insurer as soon as practicable (M.G.L. c. 152, s. 41). Filing a claim is the separate step of submitting Form 110 to the Department of Industrial Accidents, usually after the insurer denies or delays benefits. Reporting comes first; filing Form 110 follows.
Massachusetts does not set a fixed number of days. Under M.G.L. c. 152, s. 41, notice of the injury must reach the insurer or insured as soon as practicable after it happens. No specific date makes late reporting safe, so tell your employer in writing right away to protect your claim.
You must file your claim within four years from the date you first became aware of the causal relationship between your disability and your employment (M.G.L. c. 152, s. 41). Because the clock runs from when you connect the condition to work, calendar that date and file Form 110 well before the deadline.
Delay can jeopardize your claim. M.G.L. c. 152, s. 41 says no proceedings for compensation shall be maintained unless notice was given to the insurer or insured as soon as practicable after the injury. Late notice gives the insurer grounds to contest your claim, so report as soon as you can.
Day to day, your employer's insurer decides whether to pay benefits. If you disagree, the Department of Industrial Accidents resolves the dispute after you file Form 110. Its Division of Dispute Resolution moves the case through conciliation, a conference before an administrative judge, and a hearing, with appeal to the reviewing board.
No. Massachusetts 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 your injury or illness arose out of and in the course of your employment. In exchange, benefits are set by statute rather than a jury.
If your employer's insurer denies, delays, or underpays your benefits, file Form 110, the Employee's Claim, with the Department of Industrial Accidents. You must do so within four years of first learning your condition is work-related (M.G.L. c. 152, s. 41). Attorney review of your case is available through DocDraft.
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