Missouri Workers' Compensation: Fast Facts
Coverage Requirements Under Missouri State Law
Most Missouri businesses with at least five employees must have workers' compensation insurance. Construction companies with at least one employee must also carry coverage under Missouri state law. However, some workers are automatically exempt from this insurance coverage requirement; see our list below.
Work-Related Injury or Illness Reporting Requirements
Notify your employer in writing immediately about your work-related illness or injury and before you seek medical care. You must report it within 30 days or else risk losing your right to claim any Missouri workers' compensation.
Where to Seek Medical Care
Your employer has the right to choose which doctor treats your work-related injury or illness. If you see your own doctor or a different healthcare provider, then you must pay all your medical bills yourself.
Waiting Period for Lost-Wage Benefits in Missouri
Your first 5 days off work are always unpaid unless you're out for at least 14 days total due to your incident. On day 15, you'll qualify for lost-wage benefits for your first 5 unpaid days off. If you don't need at least 5 days off work, workers' compensation only pays for medical expenses.
Missouri Workers' Compensation Statute of Limitations
You have two years from your job injury or illness diagnosis date to file your Missouri workers' compensation claim.
Missouri 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 Missouri Workers' Comp Benefits
- Medical benefits: unlimited
- Death benefits: $5,000 for funeral and burial expenses plus TTD payments until the surviving spouse remarries or dies; on remarriage, the surviving spouse receives two years of benefits in a lump-sum payments
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD): no more than 400 weeks or until you return to work in any capacity
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): for non-scheduled injuries, up to 400 weeks; scheduled injuries can receive up to 232 weeks of benefits or a lump-sum payment
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): 2/3 the difference between your pre-injury and post-injury AWW for no more than 100 weeks
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD): for the duration of disability or until you negotiate a lump-sum settlement
Missouri Workers' Comp Coverage Exemptions
The following employees are automatically exempt from Missouri workers' comp coverage:
- Casual laborers working in a private household
- Certain inmates
- Direct sellers, including qualified real estate agents
- Domestic workers in private homes
- Farm laborers
- Federal employees
- Independent contractors
- Partnership members
- Sole proprietors
- Sports officials working for student activities or similar youth programs
- Volunteers
Missouri Workers' Compensation Attorney Fees
All Missouri workers' compensation attorneys work on contingency. This means you only pay legal fees for a successful claim. If you don't win, then you pay your workers' comp lawyer $0. Missouri law limits legal fees to no more than 25% of your workers' compensation award.