Labor Code 5401
Within one (1) working day of receiving notice or knowledge of injury/illness, which results in lost time beyond the date of injury or which results in medical treatment, the Manager/Supervisor shall provide, personally
or by first class mail, a claim form and a notice of potential eligibility for benefits to the injured worker.
Forms required:
Step 1:
The “Employee’s Claim for Workers’ Compensation Benefits” (DWC1) form must be provided to the injured worker within 24 hours. The injured worker must complete the top portion of the form:
Step 2:
The Employer must complete bottom portion of “Employee’s Claim for Workers’ Compensation Benefits” (DWC1) form and must:
Step 3:
The “Employer’s Report of Occupational Injury/Illness” (5020) form must also be completed and forwarded to Risk Management with the “Employee’s Claim for Workers’ Compensation Benefits”
(DWC1) form within 5 working days of employer’s knowledge date.
Step 4:
Worker’s
Compensation Leave runs concurrently with Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA). For information on FMLA, see “Request for Leave of Absence form. (RLOA)
Step 5:
San Joaquin County’s Third Party Administrator (TPA), approves and authorizes worker’s compensation benefits. The TPA will have a period of time in which to accept, deny or delay a claim. This period of
time is the “determination period”. The injured worker may elect to use their leave accruals during this period. The injured worker must complete a “Notice of Leave of Absence for Temporary Disability Indemnity Payment” (Form
29). If the injured worker is not available to complete this form, please mail to the injured worker for completion.
Step 6:
It is the injured worker’s responsibility to provide Manager/Supervisor any and all medical documentation for the workers’ compensation claim. Documents should include and are not limited to doctor’s
first reports, work status reports, leave from work and work restriction notes. Provide Risk Management a copy of all documents received. Failure to submit doctor’s note may cause delay in Temporary Disability (TD) benefits to the injured worker.
Step 7:
Forward original forms (Forms 1-6 above) to Risk Management. If DWC1 was mailed
to injured worker, submit copy indicating “date mailed” along with original documents. Do not delay submitting forms pending receipt of the original DWC1. The Employer has been placed on notice of an injury/illness. When the DWC1 is received
from the injured worker, forward the form to Risk Management. Temporary Disability Indemnity Payments will begin when the workers’ compensation claim is approved by the TPA. Risk Management will coordinate the disbursement of the Temporary Disability
Indemnity Payments. Amounts are based on the employee’s average weekly wage. Please note that claims which involve lost time from work require a three day waiting period before the start of Temporary Disability Indemnity Payments. If an injured
worker is off work more than 7 days or requires immediate hospitalization this waiting period will be waived.