Georgia Workers’ Compensation Guide 2026
Understand coverage, the 30-day notice rule, authorized doctors, wage benefits, WC-14 filing, duration limits, and official help.
Report the injury immediately—and within 30 days
Tell the employer, supervisor, foreman, or another authorized representative promptly. Georgia SBWC warns that waiting longer than 30 days may cause benefits to be lost. Preserve a dated written notice, incident report, witness information, photographs, work schedule, payroll records, medical restrictions, and communications with the employer or insurer.
Reporting the injury to the employer is not the same as filing Form WC-14 with the State Board when a claim must be protected or benefits are disputed.
Choose from the authorized panel or WC/MCO
An employer generally posts a traditional panel with at least six physicians or identifies a certified workers’ compensation managed care organization. The worker may choose an eligible provider and generally make one change to another listed provider without employer permission. Emergency care may be obtained until the emergency ends, after which authorized care rules resume.
Authorized treatment can include doctor and hospital services, physical therapy, prescriptions, rehabilitation in qualifying cases, and necessary medical travel. Treatment outside the approved process may create a payment dispute.
Main benefit categories
Temporary total disability
Two-thirds of AWW within the injury-date minimum and maximum while an authorized physician supports inability to work. Use the Georgia Calculator.
Temporary partial disability
Two-thirds of qualifying wage loss after returning to lower-paid work, subject to the TPD maximum.
Medical benefits
Authorized treatment reasonably required for a compensable work injury, subject to statutory duration rules and exceptions.
Permanent partial disability
A physician assigns an impairment rating; the statute supplies scheduled weeks for body members and 300 weeks for whole-body disability.
Catastrophic benefits
Qualifying catastrophic injuries may support unlimited income duration and vocational rehabilitation.
Death benefits
Eligible dependents may receive two-thirds of AWW up to the applicable maximum, plus statutory burial expenses.
Use Form WC-14 to file or request a hearing
The worker files WC-14 with the State Board and sends copies to the employer and insurer. SBWC’s FAQ says a claim should be filed within one year of the accident to protect rights. The employee handbook also identifies rules tied to the last authorized medical treatment or last weekly-benefit payment. Because limitation periods depend on claim history and benefit type, do not assume a later event automatically extends every deadline.
Duration and important stopping points
For non-catastrophic injuries, TTD is limited to 400 weeks from the injury date and TPD to 350 weeks. Current SBWC material says medical treatment for injuries on or after July 1, 2013 is generally limited to 400 weeks, with catastrophic injuries and specified exceptions treated differently. Benefits may change with a return to work, a release to unrestricted or restricted duty, a change in condition, suitable-work issues, or a permanent impairment rating.
Official help and next steps
- Report the accident and request authorized care.Keep proof of notice and the posted provider panel.
- Collect wage and medical evidence.Preserve the 13-week payroll history and every work-status note.
- Track forms and benefit notices.Keep WC-1, WC-2, WC-3, WC-14, and correspondence received.
- Protect filing deadlines.Use SBWC instructions or qualified advice when benefits are denied or stopped.
Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation
Atlanta: (404) 656-3818 · Outside metro Atlanta: (800) 533-0682.
Visit Georgia SBWC →Official sources
Page last reviewed: August 26, 2026. Educational information only; not legal advice.