Minnesota Workers' Compensation: Fast Facts

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Coverage Requirements Under Minnesota State Law

Essentially every Minnesota business with any employees must have workers' compensation insurance, though some workers are automatically exempt. See the list of exceptions for this mandatory insurance coverage requirement below.

Work-Related Injury or Illness Reporting Requirements

Notify your employer right away about your work-related illness or injury, preferably in writing, but within 14 days. If you fail to notify your employer within 180 days, you may lose your right to Minnesota workers' comp benefits. Once you report it, your employer has 10 days to submit a first report of injury form to their insurer.

Where to Seek Medical Care

You can go to any doctor, hospital, ER, or healthcare facility you choose to get urgent medical care. If your employer has a managed care plan, then you may need to see their preferred doctor or attend an Independent Medical Exam (IME). Ask your supervisor if there are any restrictions on who can treat your work-related injury or illness for ongoing treatment. Otherwise, you can see your own doctor if you choose.

Waiting Period for Lost-Wage Benefits in Minnesota

Your first 3 days off work are always unpaid unless you're out for a minimum of 14 days total. On day 15, you'll qualify for lost-wage benefits for your first 3 unpaid days off due to injury or illness. If you don't need at least 3 days off work to recover, then workers' compensation only pays your medical bills.

Minnesota Workers' Compensation Statute of Limitations

You have three years from your job injury or illness diagnosis date to file your Minnesota workers' compensation claim.

Minnesota Weekly Compensation Rate

You can receive 66 2/3% of your gross average weekly wage, subject to the state's maximum and minimum benefit amounts.

How Long You Can Receive Minnesota Workers' Comp Benefits

  • Medical benefits: unlimited
  • Death benefits: $15,000 for funeral and burial expenses plus weekly TTD payments for no more than 130 weeks
  • Temporary Total Disability (TTD): no more than 130 weeks
  • Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): lump-sum or weekly payment based on percentage of disability relative to your whole body until you reach maximum medical improvement
  • Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): up to 275 weeks of paid benefits or once 450 weeks pass after your reported injury date
  • Permanent Total Disability (PTD): Until you turn 67 years old

Minnesota Workers' Comp Coverage Exemptions

The following employees are automatically exempt from Minnesota workers' compensation coverage requirements:

  • Casual workers
  • Domestic workers earning less than $1,000 every three months
  • Farmers and any family members they employ, along with temporary or seasonal agricultural workers
  • Federal employees
  • Independent contractors
  • Partnership and corporation officers and partners
  • Sole proprietors and any immediate family members they employ as a family-owned business or LLC

Minnesota Workers' Compensation Attorney Fees

All Minnesota workers' compensation attorneys work on contingency. This means you only pay legal fees for a successful outcome. If you don't win, then you pay your workers' comp attorney $0. Under Minnesota law, you'll pay no more than 20% of the first $130,000 award you receive for a workers' compensation claim. State law says no workman's comp attorney can charge more than $26,000 in legal fees.