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Labor & employment
Vermont · Workers’ compensation

Filing a workers’ comp claim in Vermont.

Administered by the Vermont Department of Labor, Workers' Compensation Division. Primary form: Form WC-1 — Notice of Injury / Claim for Compensation.

Reporting deadline
Promptly; within 6 years SOL
Filing deadline
6 years from date of injury or last benefit
Waiting period
3 days, retroactive after 10 days

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Vermont State Board

Agency
Vermont Department of Labor, Workers' Compensation Division
Primary claim form
Form WC-1 — Notice of Injury / Claim for Compensation

Deadlines at a glance

Reporting deadline

Promptly; within 6 years SOL

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

Filing deadline

6 years from date of injury or last benefit

File Form WC-1 — Notice of Injury / Claim for Compensation with the Vermont Department of Labor, Workers' Compensation Division before this window closes.

Waiting period for income benefits

3 days, retroactive after 10 days

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

Vermont-specific notes

Vermont has one of the longest SOLs. 21 V.S.A. § 662.

Federal programs that may apply

The Vermont 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 Vermont Department of Labor, Workers' Compensation Division or a licensed Vermont attorney before filing.