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WorkersCompDeadline
Last verified May 4, 2026Verified statute

District of Columbiaworkers' comp filing deadline

Claim barred unless filed within 1 year after injury or death; clock does not begin until claimant aware (or by reasonable diligence should have been aware) of relationship between injury and employment. If voluntary payment was made without award, 1 year from last payment (§32-1514)

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Notice to employer

30d

Notice within 30 days of injury or death, OR 30 days after employee/beneficiary knows or should have known of relationship between injury and employment (§32-1513). Notice must go to Mayor and employer in writing.

Filing with the state

1yr

Claim barred unless filed within 1 year after injury or death; clock does not begin until claimant aware (or by reasonable diligence should have been aware) of relationship between injury and employment. If voluntary payment was made without award, 1 year from last payment (§32-1514)

Compute your District of Columbia deadline

Pick your state, your injury type, and the trigger date. We'll show notice + filing deadlines.

Last verified May 4, 2026

Exceptions and tolling

Statute-of-limitations rules have many exceptions that can extend or pause the clock. The most common in District of Columbia:

  • Occupational disease — Discovery rule

    Statute itself codifies discovery rule for both notice (§32-1513) and filing (§32-1514) — clock starts on awareness of work-relationship.

  • Death claim deadline

    Survivors filing for death benefits typically have 1 year from date of death. This calculator does not yet handle death claims; consult a lawyer for those.

Attribution

Last verified
May 4, 2026
Editorial review
Statute linked to primary source
Primary source
https://code.dccouncil.gov/us/dc/council/code/sections/32-1514