You reported the injury, kept every appointment and submitted the paperwork — you did your part, but the check still hasn’t come, and no one has explained why you are left waiting. And while you’re stuck without answers, the bills are not slowing down — rent, groceries and everything you need to stay afloat is still due. So what’s actually going on, and what can you do about it?
What needs to happen before the first check is sent
Getting approved for workers’ compensation is only part of the process. Before any money comes through, your employer has to file an injury report, a doctor certified by the Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) needs to confirm you can’t work and the managed care organization (MCO) overseeing your treatment must send in your medical records. If even one of these steps gets delayed, so does your payment, whether you know it or not.
Where delays usually happen
Delays are common, and most of them have nothing to do with anything you did wrong. Sometimes your employer holds off reporting the injury because they don’t understand the urgency, or they are hoping it will resolve without a formal claim.
In other cases, the doctor’s office might miss a form or submit it to the wrong place. Even if everything is filed, the BWC still needs to process the claim and verify all documents before issuing payment. It’s not always quick, but understanding where the gaps are can help you close them faster.
What you can do to get answers
If your check has not arrived, don’t wait for someone else to follow up. You can log in to the BWC’s website and check the status of your claim. Look for missing forms, notes about what’s been processed or flags about pending documentation.
You can also call your claims representative or the MCO listed on your file — and don’t be afraid to ask your doctor’s office if they sent everything in. If you are still stuck, it may be time to talk to someone who’s dealt with this system before and can figure out what’s holding things up.
When the system keeps you waiting
If you have done everything you were supposed to and your check still has not come, it’s not just bad luck; it’s a system that doesn’t always move when you need it to, but that does not mean you’re out of options. When delays start piling up and no one is giving you answers, it helps to have someone in your corner who knows how the process works and how to get things moving again — not someday, but now.