Indiana Workers' Compensation: Fast Facts
Coverage Requirements Under Indiana State Law
Most businesses with at least one part-time or full-time employee must carry Indiana workers' compensation insurance.
Work-Related Injury or Illness Reporting Requirements
Notify your supervisor immediately about your work-related illness or injury, preferably in writing. You must report it within 30 days or lose your right to claim Indiana workers' compensation benefits.
Where to Seek Medical Care
Your employer's insurance provider directs all medical care, including which doctor can treat your work-related injury or illness. Going to your own doctor without your employer's approval means you must pay all those medical bills yourself.
Waiting Period for Lost-Wage Benefits in Indiana
Your first week off work is always unpaid unless you're unable to work at all for at least 3 weeks. On day 22, you'll qualify for lost-wage benefits for those first 7 days you need off work after your accident. If you don't need at least 7 days off work to recover, then you'll only qualify for medical benefits. Expect your first lost-wage payment about 14 days after the date you report your on-the-job injury or illness.
Indiana Workers' Compensation Statute of Limitations
You have two years from your job injury or illness diagnosis date to file your Indiana workers' compensation claim.
Indiana Weekly Compensation Rate
You can receive 66 2/3% of the average weekly wage in TTD benefits paid biweekly until you return to work. This amount is subject to the state's current maximum and minimum benefit limits approved for each calendar year.
How Long You Can Receive Indiana Workers' Comp Benefits
- Medical benefits: unlimited
- Death benefits: $7,500 for funeral and burial expenses, plus monthly survivor's benefit payments until the surviving spouse remarries or dies
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD): up to 500 weeks
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): up to 125 weeks or in one lump-sum payment based on a one-time medical assessment
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): up to 300 weeks
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD): up to 500 weeks
Indiana Workers' Comp Coverage Exemptions
The following employees are automatically exempt from Indiana workers' comp coverage:
- Agricultural workers
- Casual laborers
- Federal employees
- Fire or police department employees whose jobs include pension fund benefits
- Independent contractors
- Household laborers
- Some railroad and railyard workers
Indiana Workers' Compensation Attorney Fees
All Indiana workers' compensation attorneys work on contingency. This means you only pay your lawyer after your case wins. State law says your Indiana workers' compensation lawyer can charge the following legal fees for successful claims only:
- $200
- 20% of the first $50,000 award you receive
- 15% of any award you receive that goes beyond $50,000
- 10% of the value assigned to any unpaid, out-of-pocket, or future medical expenses stemming from your case