First Steps

First Steps

• Immediately report the work injury or illness to your supervisor and/or human resources department, and make sure your employer fills out a Form 1, also called the First Report of Injury. You must report your injury to your employer within six months of learning you have a work-related illness or injury.

• Make sure the Form 1 is filed with the Vermont Department of Labor. Your employer is supposed to file the Form 1 within 48 hours. Call the Vermont Department of Labor to confirm your claim has been filed at 802-828-2286.  If it is not filed, file your own report of injury on a Form 5. This form can be provided to you by the Department of Labor. A workers compensation claim cannot be pursued if it is not filed with the Department of Labor within six years.

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  Your employer has purchased insurance to cover workers compensation claims.  Workers compensation claims are handled by insurance companies, not by your employer. Ask your employer the name of the insurance company, the phone number, and your claim number.

• The insurance company should send you a medical release, called a Form 7, for your signature authorizing it to get your medical records. Make sure the release is limited to the records related to this injury or other similar prior injuries. You will want to see all medical records related to your claim, so when you send the insurance company the signed release ask them, in writing, to send you copies of all medical records they obtain.

• The insurance company has 21 days to accept or deny the claim. During this time, they may review the medical records related to your injury and investigate the claim. That investigation can include talking to you, talking to your employer, and talking to your co-workers. If the insurance company accepts the claim, they will start paying the associated benefits. To determine what benefits you may be entitled to, visit the WC Benefits section. If the insurance company denies the claim, it must file a Form 2 – Denial of Workers Compensation Benefits with the VT Department of Labor.

• Get a copy of the Form 2 if your claim is denied.  If the insurance company denies your claim, you should appeal the denial by completing the bottom section of the Form 2 and sending it back to the Vermont Department of Labor.