Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation Guide 2026

Report every injury promptly

Tell a supervisor or employer representative as soon as possible and describe when, where, and how the injury happened. Notice within 21 days generally protects retroactive compensation. Notice more than 120 days after injury can bar compensation unless the employer already knew or an exception applies.

Preserve a written report, delivery proof, witness information, photographs, work schedule, medical notes, and all insurer correspondence. Occupational disease and progressive-disease cases can involve different dates and exceptions.

What happens after notice

The employer reports the claim to its carrier or self-insurance administrator. For qualifying lost-time injuries, the employer also files the required first report. Within 21 days of knowledge or notice, the employer or insurer generally begins compensation, issues temporary acceptance, or sends a denial.

Read every Notice of Compensation Payable, Notice of Temporary Compensation Payable, denial, suspension, modification, or termination document. Confirm the injury description, accepted body parts, AWW, weekly rate, start date, and any stated challenge deadline.

Medical treatment and the 90-day provider rule

If the employer properly posted a list of at least six designated providers and gave the required written notice, the worker generally must use one of those providers for 90 days from the first visit. At least three listed providers must be physicians, the employer cannot direct the worker to one particular provider, and the worker may change among listed providers.

If the list or notice does not comply, or a needed specialty is unavailable, provider choice may differ. Emergency care and a second opinion for listed-provider invasive surgery have separate protections. After the applicable 90 days, the worker generally may choose another provider but should notify the insurer.

Main benefit categories

Total and partial disability rates

The 2026 total-disability schedule uses four wage bands rather than a universal two-thirds rate. Use the Pennsylvania Compensation Calculator for the correct band. Partial disability generally equals two-thirds of the difference between pre-injury AWW and post-injury average weekly earnings.

After 104 weeks of total disability status, an insurer may request an impairment rating evaluation. Pennsylvania’s official injured-worker pamphlet describes a 35% whole-person impairment threshold: below it, status may change to partial; at or above it, total status may continue. Status, payment amount, medical eligibility, and earning power remain separate issues.

Claim petitions and WCAIS

If the claim is denied, the worker can file a Claim Petition through WCAIS for assignment to a Workers’ Compensation Judge. Official guidance states that a denied claim petition generally must be filed within three years of injury. Reinstatement, suspension, modification, termination, review, penalty, medical, and occupational-disease issues have their own petitions and time limits.

Do not treat payment of medical bills as proof that the wage-loss claim was accepted. Preserve medical evidence, wage records, job offers, return-to-work details, and every Bureau or judge notice. A worker may proceed without counsel, but disputed cases require evidence and compliance with hearing deadlines.

Official Pennsylvania help

The Bureau of Workers’ Compensation Claims Information Helpline is 800-482-2383 within Pennsylvania and 717-772-4447 locally or outside Pennsylvania. The Bureau can explain forms and procedure but does not give individualized legal advice.