New Hampshire Workers' Compensation: Fast Facts
Coverage Requirements Under New Hampshire State Law
Most New Hampshire businesses must have workers' compensation insurance, but there are a few exceptions. State law requires this coverage for all temporary, part-time, seasonal, and undocumented workers. See our list of automatically exempt employees that don't have coverage below.
Work-Related Injury or Illness Reporting Requirements
Notify your employer about your work-related illness or injury as soon as possible, preferably in writing. Your employer then has 5 days to report your incident to their insurance carrier and the state's Labor Department. You have two years from your incident date to officially file for New Hampshire workers' compensation benefits.
Where to Seek Medical Care
If your employer uses a managed care network, you must choose a doctor from their list of authorized providers. Otherwise, you can get medical treatment from any doctor you choose. Be sure to tell every doctor you see that you have a work-related injury or occupational illness./p>
Waiting Period for Lost-Wage Benefits in New Hampshire
Your first 3 calendar days off work are always unpaid unless you're out for at least two weeks total to recover. On day 15, you'll qualify for lost-wage benefits for your first 3 unpaid days off. If you don't need at least 3 days off work, workers' compensation only offers medical benefits.
New Hampshire Workers' Compensation Statute of Limitations
You have three years from your work injury or illness diagnosis date to file your New Hampshire workers' compensation claim.
New Hampshire Weekly Compensation Rate
You can receive 60% of your average weekly wage, subject to New Hampshire's annual maximum and minimum benefit amounts.
How Long You Can Receive New Hampshire Workers' Comp Benefits
- Medical benefits: unlimited
- Death benefits: $10,000 for funeral and burial expenses plus weekly TTD payments until surviving spouse remarries; New Hampshire may pay a lump-sum settlement on remarriage to surviving spouses still caring for dependent children
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD): duration of disability or until you go back to work
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): 60% of the difference between your pre-injury and post-injury work earnings for up to 262 weeks, minus the number of weeks you received TTD payments
- Temporary Partial Disability (TPD): 60% of the difference between your pre-injury and post-injury work earnings for up to 262 weeks
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD): duration of disability
New Hampshire Workers' Comp Coverage Exemptions
TThe following employees are automatically exempt from New Hampshire workers' compensation coverage:
- Certain LLC members or officers
- Direct sellers
- Federal employees
- Independent contractors
- Individuals who provide residential placement services for people with disabilities
- Railroad employees working in interstate commerce jobs
- Qualified real estate appraisers, agents, or brokers
- Sole proprietors
New Hampshire Workers' Compensation Attorney Fees
All New Hampshire workers' compensation attorneys work on contingency. This means you only pay legal fees if you win your case. If you don't win, then you owe your New Hampshire workers' comp lawyer $0. New Hampshire workers' compensation attorneys cannot charge more than 20% of your final award in legal fees.
