Guide
Workers' comp waiting period by state
Unpaid days (3 to 7) and the payback trigger (5 to 42 days) for all 51 jurisdictions.
By the Workers' Comp Pay Calc Editorial Team · Updated
How waiting periods work
Workers' compensation does not pay for the first few days you miss. The unpaid stretch is short — between 3 and 7 days in every jurisdiction — but the rule that pays it back varies a lot. In most states, if your disability lasts long enough the waiting days are added to a later check, so a long absence ends up fully paid. In Hawaii, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, they are never paid back. In Connecticut, Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, the payback arrives after a week or less.
A few states use a threshold rather than a deductible: in Nevada and North Dakota nothing is paid for a disability under 5 days, but once it reaches 5 days every day is paid. Some count calendar days, some count work days or shifts, and several count the day of injury when you were not paid for it. The calculator applies the rule below when you enter the number of days you have been unable to work.
Waiting period and payback, all 51 jurisdictions
| State | Unpaid days | Paid back if out | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | 3 | 21 days | No pay for the first 3 days of disability; those days are added to the first check once disability has lasted 21 days. |
| Alaska | 3 | more than 28 days | No pay for the first 3 days of disability; they are paid back if the disability lasts more than 28 days. |
| Arizona | 7 | more than 14 days | No pay for the first 7 days after the injury; if the disability continues a week beyond those 7 days, compensation is paid from the date of injury. |
| Arkansas | 7 | 14 days | No pay for the first 7 days of disability, counted from the day after the injury; if the disability lasts 14 calendar days, benefits are paid from the day after the injury. |
| California | 3 | more than 14 days | No pay for the first 3 days; benefits are paid from the first day if the disability lasts more than 14 days or you are hospitalized as an inpatient. |
| Colorado | 3 | more than 14 days | No pay for the first 3 days or shifts; they are paid back if the disability lasts more than two weeks from the day you left work. |
| Connecticut | 3 | 7 days | No pay for the first 3 days of incapacity; if it lasts 7 days, compensation is paid from the date of injury. |
| Delaware | 3 | 7 days | No pay for the first 3 days; if the incapacity lasts 7 days or more, counting the day of injury, compensation is paid from the first day. |
| District of Columbia | 3 | more than 14 days | No pay for the first 3 days of disability; if the disability lasts more than 14 days, compensation is allowed from the first day. |
| Florida | 7 | more than 21 days | No pay for the first 7 days of disability; if the injury causes more than 21 days of disability, compensation is paid from the start. |
| Georgia | 7 | 21 days | No pay for the first 7 days; they are paid if the disability lasts 21 consecutive days. |
| Hawaii | 3 | Never | No pay for the first 3 days of disability, and Hawaii never pays them back. |
| Idaho | 5 | more than 14 days | No pay for the first 5 days; benefits are paid from the start if the disability lasts more than 2 weeks, and there is no waiting period if you are hospitalized as an inpatient. |
| Illinois | 3 | 14 days | No pay for the first 3 working days; if the disability lasts 14 days or more, compensation is paid from the first day. |
| Indiana | 7 | more than 21 days | No pay for the first 7 days; they are paid if the disability continues longer than 21 days. |
| Iowa | 3 | more than 14 days | No pay for the first 3 days; if the disability extends beyond the 14th day, those days are added to the third week's payment. |
| Kansas | 7 | 21 days | No pay for the first week; it is paid if temporary total disability lasts three consecutive weeks. |
| Kentucky | 7 | more than 14 days | No pay for the first 7 days; if the disability lasts more than two weeks, benefits are paid from the first day. |
| Louisiana | 7 | 14 days | No pay for the first week; if the disability lasts two weeks or longer, the first week is paid. |
| Maine | 7 | more than 14 days | No pay for the first 7 days of incapacity; if it continues more than 14 days, compensation is paid from the start. Firefighters have no waiting period. |
| Maryland | 3 | more than 14 days | No pay for the first 3 days (an unpaid day of injury counts as one); if the disability lasts more than 14 days, it is paid from the first day. |
| Massachusetts | 5 | 21 days | No pay for the first 5 calendar days; if incapacity lasts 21 days or more, it is paid from the first day. |
| Michigan | 7 | 14 days | No pay for the first 7 days; if the disability lasts 2 weeks or longer, compensation is paid from the date of injury. |
| Minnesota | 3 | 10 days | No pay for the first 3 calendar days; if the disability lasts 10 days or longer, it is paid from the start. |
| Mississippi | 5 | 14 days | No pay for the first 5 days; if the disability lasts 14 days or more, the whole period is paid. |
| Missouri | 3 | more than 14 days | No pay for the first 3 business days of disability; if the disability lasts longer than 14 days, they are paid retroactively. |
| Montana | 4 | 21 days | No pay for the first 32 hours or 4 days of lost wages, whichever is less; if you are totally unable to work for 21 days or longer, benefits are paid back to the first day. |
| Nebraska | 7 | 42 days | No pay for the first 7 calendar days; if the disability continues six weeks or longer, it is paid from the day it began. |
| Nevada | 5 | 5 days | Nothing is paid unless you are off at least 5 consecutive days (or 5 days within 20); once you are, compensation runs from the date of injury. |
| New Hampshire | 3 | 14 days | No pay for the first 3 days; they are paid if the disability lasts 14 days or longer. |
| New Jersey | 7 | more than 7 days | No pay for the first 7 days; if the disability lasts beyond 7 days, the waiting week is paid at once. |
| New Mexico | 7 | 28 days | No pay for the first 7 days of missed work; they are paid only if you miss a full 28 days on a doctor's order. |
| New York | 7 | more than 14 days | No pay for the first 7 days unless the disability extends beyond 14 days. |
| North Carolina | 7 | more than 21 days | No pay for the first 7 days; if the disability lasts more than 21 days, compensation runs from the first day. |
| North Dakota | 5 | 5 days | Nothing is paid if the disability lasts less than 5 consecutive days; once it reaches 5 days, every day is paid. |
| Ohio | 7 | 14 days | No pay for the first week unless you are totally disabled for two continuous weeks or more. |
| Oklahoma | 3 | Never | No pay for the first 3 days, and Oklahoma never pays them back. |
| Oregon | 3 | 14 days | No pay for the first 3 calendar days unless you are off 14 consecutive days or admitted to a hospital as an inpatient within 14 days. |
| Pennsylvania | 7 | 14 days | No pay for the first 7 days; if the disability lasts 14 days or more, they are paid. |
| Rhode Island | 3 | Never | Benefits begin on the fourth day; the first 3 days are never paid back. |
| South Carolina | 7 | more than 14 days | No pay for the first 7 days; if the disability lasts more than 14 days, it is paid from the start. |
| South Dakota | 7 | 7 days | Nothing is paid for a disability under 7 days; once the 7-day waiting period is met, benefits run from the date of injury. |
| Tennessee | 7 | 14 days | No pay for the first 7 days; they are paid if the disability lasts at least 14 days. |
| Texas | 7 | 14 days | No income benefits for the first week; if the disability continues two weeks or longer, it is paid from the date it began. |
| Utah | 3 | more than 14 days | No pay for the first 3 days; they are paid if the disability lasts more than 14 days. |
| Vermont | 3 | 7 days | No pay for the first 3 days; if total disability lasts 7 consecutive days or more, they are paid. |
| Virginia | 7 | more than 21 days | No pay for the first 7 days; if the incapacity continues more than three weeks, they are paid. |
| Washington | 3 | 7 days | No pay for the first 3 days after the injury; they are paid if you are still disabled on the 7th day (14th day for injuries before June 6, 2024). |
| West Virginia | 3 | more than 7 days | No pay for the first 3 days; they are paid if the disability lasts longer than 7 days. |
| Wisconsin | 3 | more than 7 days | No pay for the first 3 days (Sundays excluded unless you work them); they are paid if the disability lasts more than 7 days. |
| Wyoming | 3 | more than 8 days | No pay for the first 3 days; they are paid if the incapacity lasts more than 8 days. |
From each state's statute or agency guidance, cited on the state's page.