How to File a Workers' Compensation Claim in Michigan
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Michigan · 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 Michigan, the system is administered by the Workers' Disability Compensation Agency (WDCA) within the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO). Two deadlines are critical. You must give your employer notice of the injury within 90 days (MCL 418.381), and you generally have two years to make your claim, running from the later of the date of injury, the date the disability manifests, or your last day of employment (MCL 418.381). After you report the injury, your employer must report it to its insurer and the WDCA, and the insurer decides whether to pay benefits. If the employer or insurer fails to report the injury or start benefits, you can file Form WC-117, the Employee's Report of Claim, directly with the WDCA. If your claim is denied or disputed, you file an Application for Mediation or Hearing (Form WC-104A). 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 Michigan?
First, report your injury to your employer within 90 days (MCL 418.381). Your employer must report it to its insurer and the WDCA, and the insurer should start benefits. If the employer or insurer fails to report or pay, file Form WC-117 directly with the WDCA to make your claim.
How long do I have to file a workers' compensation claim in Michigan?
Two deadlines matter. You must give your employer notice of the injury within 90 days (MCL 418.381). Separately, you generally have two years to make your claim, running from the later of the date of injury, the date the disability manifests, or your last day of employment. Missing either can bar benefits.
What is Form WC-117 in Michigan?
Form WC-117, the Employee's Report of Claim, is how an injured worker files a workers' compensation claim directly with the Workers' Disability Compensation Agency. You use it when your employer or its insurer fails or refuses to report your injury to the state. Filing it makes a formal written claim.
Who handles workers' compensation claims in Michigan?
Michigan's workers' compensation system is administered by the Workers' Disability Compensation Agency (WDCA), part of the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Your employer's insurer decides your claim day to day. If a dispute arises, a WDCA magistrate resolves it after you file an Application for Mediation or Hearing.
Michigan workers' compensation claim law at a glance
In Michigan, 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 Workers' Disability Compensation Agency (WDCA) within the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. You must give your employer notice of the injury within 90 days (MCL 418.381). Your employer then reports the injury to its insurer and the WDCA, and the insurer should begin benefits. If the employer or insurer fails to report the injury or start benefits, you file Form WC-117, the Employee's Report of Claim, directly with the WDCA. Your entire claim must be made within two years, running from the later of the date of injury, the date the disability manifests, or your last day of employment (MCL 418.381).
Filing a Michigan workers' compensation claim after a warehouse back injury
Suppose you hurt your back lifting boxes at a Michigan warehouse. You tell your supervisor and, that same week, give written notice of the injury, staying well inside the 90-day reporting deadline (MCL 418.381). Your employer should report the injury to its insurer and the WDCA, but weeks pass and no benefits start. You file Form WC-117, the Employee's Report of Claim, directly with the WDCA to make a formal claim. The insurer then disputes how much wage-replacement you are owed. Because your claim must be made within two years (MCL 418.381), you file an Application for Mediation or Hearing with the WDCA. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft.
Relevant Laws
MCL 418.381 (90-day notice of injury and 2-year claim period)
Requires the employee to provide notice of injury to the employer within 90 days after the injury, or within 90 days after the employee knew or should have known of it, and provides that a claim is not valid unless made within 2 years after the later of the date of injury, the date disability manifests itself, or the last day of employment with the employer against whom the claim is made.
Michigan Workers' Disability Compensation Agency (WDCA)
The WDCA, within the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, administers Michigan's Worker's Disability Compensation Act. It processes claims, oversees wage-loss and medical benefits, and resolves disputes through mediation and hearings before workers' compensation magistrates.
Regional Variances
Michigan workers' compensation claim rules at a glance
Reporting deadline
90 days to give your employer notice of the injury, under MCL 418.381, measured from the injury or from when you knew or should have known of it. Notice may be oral or written, but written notice gives you proof.
Claim form
Form WC-117, the Employee's Report of Claim. You file it directly with the WDCA when your employer or its insurer fails or refuses to report your injury to the state.
Filing deadline
Generally two years to make your claim (MCL 418.381), running from the later of the date of injury, the date the disability manifests, or your last day of employment with the employer.
Who administers it
The Workers' Disability Compensation Agency (WDCA), within the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity. Disputes are decided by workers' compensation magistrates.
How disputes are filed
By filing an Application for Mediation or Hearing (Form WC-104A) with the WDCA when the insurer denies, stops, or underpays benefits. The case proceeds to mediation or a hearing.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Report the injury to your employer
Within 90 days of the injury days after startingGive your employer notice of the injury within 90 days of its occurrence or of when you knew of it (MCL 418.381). Notice may be oral, but put it in writing and keep a dated copy so you have proof you reported on time.
Confirm the employer reported it to its insurer and the WDCA
Soon after reporting days after startingYour employer must report the injury to its workers' compensation insurer and the WDCA. Ask for the insurer's name and claim number, and confirm the report was made. If benefits are due, the insurer should begin paying wage-loss and medical benefits.
File Form WC-117 if the employer fails to report
As soon as benefits are delayed days after startingIf your employer or its insurer fails or refuses to report your injury, or benefits do not start, file Form WC-117, the Employee's Report of Claim, directly with the WDCA. This makes a formal written claim. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft.
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 benefits.
Track the insurer's decision and deadlines
While the claim is pending days after startingThe insurer will pay, dispute, or deny your claim. Keep proof of everything you send, note the date of injury and the date you reported it, and calendar the two-year window to make your claim under MCL 418.381.
File an Application for Mediation or Hearing if disputed
Within two years of the injury days after startingIf the claim is denied, stopped, or underpaid, file an Application for Mediation or Hearing (Form WC-104A) with the WDCA. Your claim must be made within two years (MCL 418.381), so act early to protect your rights.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Report the injury to your employer | Give your employer notice of the injury within 90 days of its occurrence or of when you knew of it (MCL 418.381). Notice may be oral, but put it in writing and keep a dated copy so you have proof you reported on time. | - | Within 90 days of the injury |
| Confirm the employer reported it to its insurer and the WDCA | Your employer must report the injury to its workers' compensation insurer and the WDCA. Ask for the insurer's name and claim number, and confirm the report was made. If benefits are due, the insurer should begin paying wage-loss and medical benefits. | - | Soon after reporting |
| File Form WC-117 if the employer fails to report | If your employer or its insurer fails or refuses to report your injury, or benefits do not start, file Form WC-117, the Employee's Report of Claim, directly with the WDCA. This makes a formal written claim. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft. | - | As soon as benefits are delayed |
| 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 benefits. | - | Ongoing after the injury |
| Track the insurer's decision and deadlines | The insurer will pay, dispute, or deny your claim. Keep proof of everything you send, note the date of injury and the date you reported it, and calendar the two-year window to make your claim under MCL 418.381. | - | While the claim is pending |
| File an Application for Mediation or Hearing if disputed | If the claim is denied, stopped, or underpaid, file an Application for Mediation or Hearing (Form WC-104A) with the WDCA. Your claim must be made within two years (MCL 418.381), so act early to protect your rights. | - | Within two years of 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 Michigan, you start a claim by reporting the injury to your employer, and disputes are resolved by the Workers' Disability Compensation Agency.
Reporting means giving your employer notice of the injury, which you must do within 90 days (MCL 418.381). Filing the claim is the separate step of making a formal claim, either through your employer and its insurer or by filing Form WC-117 with the WDCA. Reporting comes first; filing follows.
You have 90 days to give your employer notice of the injury, measured from the injury or from when you knew or should have known of it (MCL 418.381). Notice can be oral or written, but written notice is safer because it gives you proof. Report promptly to protect your claim.
You generally have two years to make your claim (MCL 418.381). The two-year period runs from the later of the date of injury, the date the disability manifests, or your last day of employment with the employer you are claiming against. Missing this deadline can bar your claim entirely.
Reporting after 90 days can jeopardize your claim, because MCL 418.381 requires notice within 90 days of the injury or of when you knew of it. A late notice may sometimes be excused if the delay did not prejudice your employer, but you should not rely on that. Report promptly.
Day to day, your employer's insurer decides whether to pay your claim. If you disagree, you file an Application for Mediation or Hearing (Form WC-104A) with the Workers' Disability Compensation Agency. The dispute then goes to mediation or a hearing before a workers' compensation magistrate, who issues a binding decision.
No. Michigan 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 denies or stops your benefits, you can dispute it by filing an Application for Mediation or Hearing (Form WC-104A) with the Workers' Disability Compensation Agency. You generally must make your claim within two years (MCL 418.381). Attorney review of your case is available through DocDraft.
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