How to File a Workers' Compensation Claim in Missouri
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Missouri · 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 Missouri, the system is administered by the Division of Workers' Compensation within the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DOLIR), and disputed claims are heard by the Division's administrative law judges, with appeals to the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission. Two deadlines are critical. You must give your employer written notice of the injury no later than 30 days after the accident (Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.420), and you generally have two years from the date of injury or the last payment to file your claim (Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.430). After you report the injury, your employer files a Report of Injury with the Division. If your benefits are denied, delayed, or disputed, you file a Claim for Compensation, Form WC-21, with the Division to open a contested case before an administrative law judge. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft.
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How do I file a workers' compensation claim in Missouri?
First, report your injury to your employer in writing within 30 days of the accident (Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.420). Your employer then files a Report of Injury with the Division of Workers' Compensation. If benefits are denied or disputed, you file a Claim for Compensation, Form WC-21, with the Division to open your case.
How long do I have to file a workers' compensation claim in Missouri?
Two deadlines matter. You must give your employer written notice within 30 days of the accident (Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.420). Separately, you generally have two years from the date of injury or the last payment to file your Claim for Compensation, extended to three years if your employer never filed the injury report (Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.430).
What is the Claim for Compensation form in Missouri?
The Claim for Compensation, Form WC-21, is the document you file with the Division of Workers' Compensation to open a formal claim when benefits are disputed. Unlike some states, your employer does not hand it to you; you download it from the Division or file online, complete it, and submit it to the Division.
Who handles workers' compensation claims in Missouri?
Missouri's workers' compensation system is administered by the Division of Workers' Compensation, part of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Your employer's insurer decides your claim day to day. If a dispute arises, an administrative law judge in the Division hears the case, and awards may be appealed to the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission.
Missouri workers' compensation claim law at a glance
In Missouri, workers' compensation gives an employee who is injured on the job, or made ill by work, 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 Industrial Relations. You must give your employer written notice of the injury no later than 30 days after the accident (Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.420). The employer then files a Report of Injury with the Division. If your benefits are denied, delayed, or disputed, you file a Claim for Compensation, Form WC-21, with the Division. You generally have two years from the date of injury or the last payment to file, extended to three years if your employer never filed the injury report (Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.430).
Filing a Missouri workers' compensation claim after a warehouse back injury
Suppose you hurt your back lifting boxes at a Missouri warehouse. You tell your supervisor and, the same week, give written notice of the injury, staying well inside the 30-day reporting deadline (Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.420). Your employer files a Report of Injury with the Division of Workers' Compensation and its insurer starts paying for medical treatment. Later the insurer disputes how much wage-replacement you are owed. Because you generally have two years from the date of injury or the last payment (Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.430), you file a Claim for Compensation, Form WC-21, with the Division to open a contested case. An administrative law judge hears it. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft.
Relevant Laws
Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.420 (30-day written notice of injury to employer)
Provides that no compensation is payable unless written notice of the time, place and nature of the injury, and the name and address of the person injured, is given to the employer no later than thirty days after the accident, or, for occupational disease, thirty days after the diagnosis of the condition.
Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.430 (two-year limitation on filing a claim)
Provides that no proceedings for compensation shall be maintained unless a claim is filed with the Division within two years after the date of injury or death, or the last payment made on account of the injury, extended to three years if the employer failed to file the report of injury required by section 287.380.
Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.380 (employer's Report of Injury to the Division)
Requires the employer to file a report of the injury or death with the Division of Workers' Compensation. When the employer does not file this report, the injured worker's deadline to file a Claim for Compensation is extended from two years to three years under section 287.430.
Missouri Division of Workers' Compensation, Injured Workers information
The Division's injured-worker page instructs employees to report the injury immediately to their employer, warns that failing to report within 30 days may jeopardize the ability to receive benefits, and explains how to file a Claim for Compensation and resolve disputes before an administrative law judge.
Regional Variances
Missouri workers' compensation claim rules at a glance
Reporting deadline
Written notice to your employer no later than 30 days after the accident, under Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.420. For occupational disease, the 30 days run from the diagnosis. Failing to report within 30 days may cost you benefits.
Claim form
The Claim for Compensation, Form WC-21. You obtain it from the Division of Workers' Compensation, not your employer, and file it with the Division to open a contested case when benefits are disputed.
Filing deadline
Generally two years from the date of injury or the last payment to file the claim with the Division (Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.430). The deadline extends to three years if the employer never filed the report of injury.
Who administers it
The Division of Workers' Compensation, within the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations. Disputes are heard by the Division's administrative law judges, with appeals to the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission.
How disputes are filed
By filing a Claim for Compensation, Form WC-21, with the Division when the insurer denies, delays, or underpays benefits. This must occur within the two-year period under Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.430.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Report the injury to your employer in writing
Within 30 days of the accident days after startingGive your employer written notice of the injury no later than 30 days after the accident (Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.420). The Division warns that reporting late may jeopardize your benefits, so do this immediately and keep a dated copy of the notice.
Confirm the employer filed the Report of Injury
Shortly after you report days after startingYour employer must file a Report of Injury with the Division of Workers' Compensation (Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.380). Confirm it was filed. If it was not, note that, because a missing employer report can extend your filing deadline to three years.
Get medical care and keep records
Ongoing after the injury days after startingGet treatment through the employer or insurer and keep every medical record, bill, and letter. Documenting the diagnosis, treatment dates, and any work restrictions supports your claim if the insurer later disputes the benefits you are owed.
File a Claim for Compensation if benefits are disputed
Within two years of injury or last payment days after startingIf benefits are denied, delayed, or underpaid, file a Claim for Compensation (Form WC-21) with the Division of Workers' Compensation (Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.430). 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, delay, or deny benefits. Calendar any deadline it sets, keep proof of what you sent, and note the date of injury and last payment so you can protect the two-year filing window under Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.430.
Attend the hearing and appeal if needed
After you file the claim days after startingAn administrative law judge in the Division hears your Claim for Compensation and issues an award. If you disagree, you may appeal to the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission. File early and keep copies of everything to protect your rights.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Report the injury to your employer in writing | Give your employer written notice of the injury no later than 30 days after the accident (Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.420). The Division warns that reporting late may jeopardize your benefits, so do this immediately and keep a dated copy of the notice. | - | Within 30 days of the accident |
| Confirm the employer filed the Report of Injury | Your employer must file a Report of Injury with the Division of Workers' Compensation (Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.380). Confirm it was filed. If it was not, note that, because a missing employer report can extend your filing deadline to three years. | - | Shortly after you report |
| Get medical care and keep records | Get treatment through the employer or insurer and keep every medical record, bill, and letter. Documenting the diagnosis, treatment dates, and any work restrictions supports your claim if the insurer later disputes the benefits you are owed. | - | Ongoing after the injury |
| File a Claim for Compensation if benefits are disputed | If benefits are denied, delayed, or underpaid, file a Claim for Compensation (Form WC-21) with the Division of Workers' Compensation (Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.430). Keep a copy. Attorney review of your claim is available through DocDraft. | - | Within two years of injury or last payment |
| Track the insurer's decision and deadlines | The insurer will accept, delay, or deny benefits. Calendar any deadline it sets, keep proof of what you sent, and note the date of injury and last payment so you can protect the two-year filing window under Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.430. | - | While the claim is pending |
| Attend the hearing and appeal if needed | An administrative law judge in the Division hears your Claim for Compensation and issues an award. If you disagree, you may appeal to the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission. File early and keep copies of everything to protect your rights. | - | 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 Missouri, you preserve the claim by reporting the injury, and you formalize a dispute by filing a Claim for Compensation with the Division of Workers' Compensation.
Reporting means giving your employer written notice of the injury, which you must do within 30 days of the accident (Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.420). Filing the claim is a separate step: submitting a Claim for Compensation, Form WC-21, to the Division of Workers' Compensation when benefits are disputed. Reporting comes first; filing the WC-21 follows.
You have 30 days from the accident to give your employer written notice of the injury (Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.420). For an occupational disease, the 30 days run from the diagnosis. The Division of Workers' Compensation warns that failing to report within 30 days may jeopardize your ability to receive benefits, so report promptly.
Generally you must file a Claim for Compensation with the Division within two years after the date of injury or death, or the last payment made on account of the injury (Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.430). If your employer never filed the required report of injury, the deadline extends to three years.
Reporting late can jeopardize your claim. Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.420 requires written notice within 30 days of the accident. The Division of Workers' Compensation warns that failing to report within 30 days may jeopardize your ability to receive benefits. Some exceptions exist, such as when the employer already had actual knowledge, so report immediately.
Day to day, your employer's insurer decides whether to accept, delay, or deny benefits. If you disagree, you file a Claim for Compensation, Form WC-21, and an administrative law judge in the Division of Workers' Compensation hears the case. You may appeal the award to the Labor and Industrial Relations Commission.
No. Missouri 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 delays benefits, file a Claim for Compensation, Form WC-21, with the Division of Workers' Compensation. You generally have two years from the date of injury or last payment, or three years if your employer never filed the injury report (Mo. Rev. Stat. 287.430). Attorney review is available through DocDraft.
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