Employees

Workers' compensation is an insurance program required by State law. Nearly every Maryland employer with one or more employees must provide coverage. Neither employers nor employees can waive it.

To be covered, your injury must be an accidental personal injury that arises out of and in the course of your employment. Not every injury at work qualifies.

Benefits include medical and hospital treatment and partial replacement of lost wages, until you can return to work or reach maximum medical improvement (MMI).

Your employer pays the full cost. Premiums cannot be taken out of your paycheck.

If your claim is compensable, your employer's insurer pays weekly benefits and medical bills directly. Do not send bills to the Commission.

Employers must post an official notice at the workplace. It lists the employer's legal name, address, Employer Identification Number (EIN) and insurer. You need this information to complete the claim form.

Report the accident to your employer right away. Delays can affect your claim.

File an Employee Claim online through the CompHub portal. If you can't file online, contact the Commission at (410) 864-5100 and a paper form will be mailed to you.

For a covered injury, your employer or its insurer pays for doctor visits and treatment.

Doctor and hospital bills, physical therapy, prescriptions and other necessary expenses related to the injury. Amounts are limited by the Maryland Workers' Compensation Medical Fee Guide.

If you miss more than three days of work, you receive wage replacement benefits. If you miss more than 14 days, you are also paid for the first three days, as long as your employer didn't already pay you for them.

When a claim is filed, it gets a claim number and a “consideration date.” That is the deadline for the employer or insurer to raise objections.

The employer or insurer usually contacts you directly and must notify the Commission in writing. Contested claims go to a hearing before a Commissioner, and you will be notified of the date.

Temporary Total Disability payments equal two-thirds of your average weekly wage, up to a maximum set by the State's average weekly wage for the year of your accident.

Payments continue while your injury keeps you from working, or until you reach maximum medical improvement.

If you can't return to your job or a comparable one, you may qualify for services such as testing, job placement, vocational counseling, on-the-job training and retraining. Eligibility depends on whether your injury keeps you from your former occupation. See Vocational Rehabilitation.

Weekly benefits for a set period, based on the type and extent of your disability. Benefits for total and permanent disability may continue indefinitely. Medical evaluations are required to decide the extent of any permanent disability.

If you are not receiving benefits, you may request a hearing. A Commissioner decides the case based on the law and the facts. Any party may appeal the decision to the Circuit Court.

See Hearing Information for locations and schedules.

You can hire an attorney or represent yourself. The Commission does not represent claimants or give legal advice.

If you hire a lawyer, the Commission sets the fee. It is deducted from your award and paid separately by the employer or insurer.

Call the Lawyer Referral and Information Service at (410) 539-3112, or visit the Maryland State Bar Association (external site).