Filing a Worker’s Compensation Claim in Missouri:

Ask your employer for a copy of the claim form to report a work injury or illness to your employer.  Many state workers compensation agencies have a standardized claim form as well.  Follow the instructions on the form, complete the "employee" section" and sign and date it.  Make sure you keep a copy for your records.  The employer will fill out the "employer" section.  You can submit the form to your employer in person or by mail, but if you use mail it is usually recommended to send it by certified mail (return receipt requested) so you have a record of the date it was mailed and received. 

Generally, your employer's workers compensation carrier or insurance company must respond with the status of your claim within a certain number of days after your file your claim. .

Missouri Worker’s Compensation Treatment:
Under Missouri law, the employer (and not the insurance company) has the right to select the treating doctor in workers' compensation cases. If you need to see a doctor for treatment as the result of an injury on the job, you should tell your employer you want to see a doctor. If your employer knows that you need treatment because of a compensable accident, your employer should tell you which doctor to see. If your employer does not refer you to any particular doctor, you should ask your employer which doctor your employer wants you to see. Since your employer has the right to select the treating doctor, your employer (and its insurance company) may not have to pay for your bills if you choose to go to your own doctor rather than to your employer's authorized treating doctor.

Missouri Worker’s Compensation Benefits:
Full medical benefits are provided to employees entitled to worker's compensation benefits, with no time or monetary limits. The employer selects the physician who will provide care.

Payments are made for temporary total disability (TTD) in an amount determined by a percentage of the worker's wage, subject to weekly maximum and minimum payment amounts. Payments may continue for up to 400 weeks.

Payments are made for permanent total disability (PTD) based upon a percentage of the worker's wage, subject to weekly minimum and maximum payment amounts. Payments for PTD continue for the duration of the disability.

Payments for permanent partial disability (PPD) are made based upon a percentage of the worker's wage, subject to weekly minimum and maximum payment amounts. Payments for PPD may continue for up to 400 weeks.

Scheduled awards are paid in addition to total temporary disability benefits starting upon termination of the termination of the TTD benefits. Scheduled awards are not reduced because of receipt of TTD benefits.

Benefits may be available for serious and permanent disfigurement about the head, neck, hands or arms, including the loss of a member.

Physical and vocational rehabilitation benefits are available.

With certain constraints and filing deadlines, occupational hearing losses may be compensable.

Death benefits are payable to an employee's surviving spouse, or spouse and children, based upon a percentage of the employee's wages, subject to a cap. A minimum benefit is provided regardless of the employee's earnings. A burial allowance is available.

Missouri Worker’s Compensation Waiting Period:
The waiting period for compensation benefits after the injury is 3 days during the time the employer is open for business.

Compensation is retroactive is disability continues for more than 14 days.

Missouri Worker’s Compensation Contact Information:
Jeff Buker, Director
Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
Division of Workers’ Compensation
3315 West Truman Blvd., Room 131
P. O. Box 58
Jefferson City, MO 65102-0058
 (573) 751-4231  (573) 751-4231 or  1-800-775-2667  1-800-775-2667
(Contact: Richard Stickann)

NOTICE: These questions and answers concern Missouri law only, and should not be construed nor relied upon as reflecting the law in other States, nor as giving legal advice. You are warned that circumstances often vary greatly and that, due to changing decisions and law, the answers to these questions may change over time and not be current, and you should consult an attorney in any specific case, and NOT rely on these questions and answers as giving anything other than general information.