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Labor & employment
Pennsylvania · Workers’ compensation

Filing a workers’ comp claim in Pennsylvania.

Administered by the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers' Compensation. Primary form: LIBC-362 — Claim Petition for Workers' Compensation.

Reporting deadline
21 days from date of injury (notify employer); 3 years to file petition
Filing deadline
3 years from date of injury or last benefit
Waiting period
7 days, retroactive after 14 days

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Pennsylvania State Board

Agency
Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers' Compensation
Primary claim form
LIBC-362 — Claim Petition for Workers' Compensation

Deadlines at a glance

Reporting deadline

21 days from date of injury (notify employer); 3 years to file petition

Report to your employer first. Put it in writing — email, text, or signed letter. Missing this window can reduce or eliminate benefits.

Filing deadline

3 years from date of injury or last benefit

File LIBC-362 — Claim Petition for Workers' Compensation with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers' Compensation before this window closes.

Waiting period for income benefits

7 days, retroactive after 14 days

Medical benefits typically begin immediately. The waiting period applies to wage-replacement (TTD/TPD) benefits only.

Pennsylvania-specific notes

Workers' Compensation Act, Act 338 of 1915 as amended.

Federal programs that may apply

The Pennsylvania program covers most private-sector workers. Three federal programs run in parallel for specific worker categories:

  • FECA — Federal Employees’ Compensation Act. Covers civilian federal employees. Filed through the US DOL, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs.
  • LHWCA — Longshore and Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act. Covers maritime workers (longshoremen, shipbuilders, harbor workers) on navigable US waters.
  • Jones Act — 46 U.S.C. § 30104. Covers seamen injured in the course of employment. Provides a negligence cause of action and maintenance and cure rights outside the state WC system.

Need help with more than the notice letter?

Disputed claims, denial appeals, permanent disability ratings, and third-party tort claims alongside workers’ comp require sustained documentation. SynthCounsel’s Case Pass gives you unlimited documents, deadline tracking, and AI-assisted brief building for 12 months.

Workers’ comp guides for other states

This is general information, not legal advice. Workers’ compensation rules change frequently. Confirm the current form, deadlines, and benefits framework with the Pennsylvania Bureau of Workers' Compensation or a licensed Pennsylvania attorney before filing.