Getting hurt on the job is stressful enough without also trying to figure out the paperwork. Iowa's workers' compensation system is designed to cover your medical care and replace part of your wages while you recover, regardless of who was at fault — but a few deadlines in the first days and weeks matter more than almost anything else in your claim. Here's what to do, in plain English.
The deadlines, up front
90 days — your employer must have notice or knowledge of the injury within 90 days of the date you knew, or should have known, the injury was work-related (Iowa Code §85.23). Miss this and no compensation is allowed.
2 years — if no weekly benefits have been paid, you generally must file a petition with the Workers' Compensation Division within two years of that same date (Iowa Code §85.26).
3 years — if weekly benefits have been paid, you generally have three years from the last weekly payment to seek more (§85.26).
20 days — to appeal a deputy commissioner's arbitration decision to the Workers' Compensation Commissioner.
30 days — to seek judicial review of the Commissioner's appeal decision in Iowa district court.
What to do first
Get medical care. If it's an emergency, go to the ER. Otherwise, tell the treating provider the injury happened at work.
Tell your employer, in writing if you can, as soon as possible. Iowa Code §85.23 requires the employer (or its representative) to have actual knowledge of the injury within 90 days of the “date of the occurrence of the injury,” which the statute defines as the date the employee knew or should have known that the injury was work-related. Do not wait — this window can permanently cost you your right to benefits.
Keep your own records. Write down the date, time, place, and how the injury happened, and get the names of any witnesses.
Watch for your employer's report. The Division says an employer must file a First Report of Injury with the Workers' Compensation Division within four days of notice or knowledge of an alleged work injury (for injuries causing more than three days of temporary disability, a permanent injury, or death). That report is the employer's job, not yours — but if it never happens, raise it.
Iowa's workers' compensation agency
In Iowa, you don't file an application with a state office to start a claim the way you would with a benefits agency. Your employer or its insurance carrier handles and pays the claim directly. The state's role is to referee disputes.
That referee is the Workers' Compensation Division (WCD) of the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing (DIAL), headed by the Workers' Compensation Commissioner. The Division administers Iowa's workers' compensation system and describes itself as the neutral body for resolving workers' comp disputes. It states plainly that it cannot give legal advice, represent a party, or refer you to an attorney — but it does ensure both sides get a fair hearing, and its website has forms, rate information, and general guidance.
Iowa does not use a general “you must have at least X employees” threshold. Instead, Iowa Code §85.1 lists specific employments the workers' compensation chapter does not apply to:
Service in or about a private dwelling — unless the worker earned $1,500 or more from that employer in the 12 consecutive months before the injury, and is not a regular member of the household.
Purely casual employment not for the purpose of the employer's trade or business — again, unless the worker earned $1,500 or more from that employer in the prior 12 consecutive months.
Persons engaged in agriculture — unless, at the time of injury, the employer's total cash payroll to non-exempt workers was $2,500 or more in the preceding calendar year. Certain family members (and officers of a family farm corporation or members of an LLC whose primary purpose is farming, plus their listed relatives) stay exempt regardless of payroll.
The president, vice president, secretary, and treasurer of a corporation other than a family farm corporation — no more than four officers per corporation — if the officer knowingly and voluntarily rejects coverage under Iowa Code §87.22.
Persons entitled to benefits under Iowa Code chapters 410 and 411 (certain municipal fire and police pension systems).
The Division also lists independent contractors, LLC members, proprietors, and partners as not being “employees.” Note that an employer may voluntarily pick up coverage for otherwise-exempt workers by buying a policy that covers them (§85.1(6)) — so don't assume you're uncovered without asking.
Iowa is not a monopolistic-fund state. The Division says covered employers must either carry workers' compensation liability insurance (from a private carrier) or register as a self-insured employer, applying to the Iowa Insurance Commissioner for that approval. There is no state-run fund you buy from.
The deadline to file a claim
Separate from the 90-day notice rule, Iowa Code §85.26 sets the filing deadline for taking a disputed claim to the state:
If no weekly compensation benefits have been paid, an original proceeding must be commenced within two years from the date of the occurrence of the injury — again defined as the date you knew or should have known the injury was work-related.
If weekly benefits have been paid, you generally have three years from the date of the last payment of weekly compensation benefits.
Under §85.26, filing the original notice or petition with the workers' compensation commissioner is the only act that counts as “commencing” the case. These limits have exceptions and edge cases — if you are anywhere near either deadline, don't guess. Contact the Division about procedure, or talk to a licensed Iowa attorney.
Who picks your doctor
Iowa's rule is clear, and it surprises a lot of workers: the employer has the right to choose the care.Iowa Code §85.27(4) says the employer must furnish reasonable services and supplies to treat the injury “and has the right to choose the care.” The treatment must be offered promptly and be reasonably suited to treat the injury without undue inconvenience to you.
You are not without recourse:
Speak up. If you have reason to be dissatisfied with the care offered, §85.27(4) says you should communicate the basis of that dissatisfaction to the employer, in writing if requested. The employer and employee may then agree to alternate care.
Alternate care application. If you can't agree, you can apply to the Workers' Compensation Commissioner, who may order other care. This is handled on an expedited basis: the statute requires a decision within 10 working days of receipt of an application heard by telephone, or 14 working days for an in-person hearing. Your employer is required to notify you of your ability to contest its choice of care.
Emergencies. In an emergency, you may choose your own care at the employer's expense if the employer or its agent cannot be reached immediately.
The Division notes that an alternate-care decision is not appealed internally to the Commissioner the way an arbitration decision is — the route from there is judicial review in court.
Wage-replacement benefits
Iowa pays most wage-loss benefits at 80% of your weekly spendable earnings. That figure is set by statute:
Temporary total disability (TTD) and the healing period — 80% of weekly spendable earnings (Iowa Code §85.37).
Permanent partial and permanent total disability — 80% per week of average spendable weekly earnings (Iowa Code §85.34).
Temporary partial disability (TPD) — paid when you return to work in a lower-paying job because of the injury — is different: the Division describes it as 66 2/3% of the difference between your average gross weekly earnings at the time of injury and your current earnings.
“Spendable earnings” is a defined term, not your gross pay — the Division calculates the weekly rate from your gross weekly earnings, marital status, and exemptions. Ask the Division or your carrier how your rate was computed if it looks wrong.
Waiting period: Under Iowa Code §85.32, compensation begins on the fourth day of disability after the injury (except for injuries resulting in permanent partial disability). If the period of incapacity extends beyond the fourteenth day following the date of injury, the compensation due during the third week is increased by an amount equal to three days of compensation — in effect, you get the first three days back. The Division notes TPD also has a three-day waiting period, while the healing period has no waiting period and begins on the first day of disability after the injury (§85.34(1)).
Maximums and minimums: Iowa sets a maximum and a minimum weekly benefit rate, both tied to the statewide average weekly wage. The Division determines that wage each year, effective July 1 through June 30. Because those figures change annually and depend on your date of injury, get the current numbers from the Division's rate information page rather than relying on a number you saw anywhere else, including here.
Permanent disability
If a work injury leaves lasting impairment, Iowa Code §85.34(2) uses two approaches:
Scheduled member injuries — loss of a listed body part (thumb, finger, toe, hand, arm, shoulder, foot, leg, eye, hearing, and facial disfigurement) — are compensated for a fixed number of weeks assigned by statute to that body part.
Unscheduled (“body as a whole”) injuries — everything not on that list, such as many back injuries — are paid for a number of weeks measured in relation to 500 weeks, based on the reduction in your earning capacity. Note an important 2017-era wrinkle in the statute: if you return to (or are offered) work at the same or greater pay, compensation is based only on functional impairment rather than lost earning capacity.
Permanent total disability benefits are payable until the employee is no longer permanently and totally disabled (§85.34(3)).
If your claim is denied
If your employer or its insurer denies the claim, disputes the extent of your injury, or cuts off benefits, you can bring it to the Workers' Compensation Division:
File a petition to start a contested case, and serve it on the employer and its carrier. Contested cases are filed electronically through the Workers' Compensation Electronic System (WCES). The parties schedule an arbitration hearing, presided over by a deputy workers' compensation commissioner, within 120 days.
Appeal to the Commissioner — 20 days. A party may appeal a deputy's arbitration decision (or a ruling on rehearing) within 20 days. The Division notes that if the 20th day falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day. This is a short window — calendar it the day the decision arrives.
Judicial review — 30 days. Within 30 days of the Commissioner's appeal decision, a party may seek judicial review in an Iowa district court under the Iowa Administrative Procedure Act (Iowa Code chapter 17A).
Where to get help in Iowa
The Workers' Compensation Division (515-725-4120 / 800-645-4583) can answer general procedural questions and ensures both sides get a fair hearing. By its own policy it cannot give legal advice, represent you, or refer you to a specific attorney; it maintains a legal resources page.
Iowa Legal Aid, a nonprofit, provides free civil legal help to income-eligible Iowans.
One more thing worth knowing: while a contested case about liability is pending, Iowa Code §85.27(6) prohibits debt collection against you for the disputed treatment charges. If a collector contacts you about a bill tied to a pending claim, say so in writing.
This article provides general legal information about Iowa law, not legal advice for your specific situation. Deadlines and rules can turn on facts unique to your case. If you have questions about your own claim or a deadline that may be approaching, contact the Iowa Workers' Compensation Division or a licensed Iowa attorney.
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to tell my employer about a work injury in Iowa?
Iowa Code §85.23 requires the employer, or its representative, to have actual knowledge of the injury — or to be given notice — within 90 days of the "date of the occurrence of the injury," which the statute defines as the date you knew or should have known the injury was work-related. If that window is missed, no compensation is allowed, so report the injury as soon as possible and in writing if you can.
Do I get to choose my own doctor for a work injury in Iowa?
Generally no. Iowa Code §85.27(4) says the employer must furnish reasonable treatment and "has the right to choose the care." If you have reason to be dissatisfied, tell the employer the basis of that dissatisfaction and try to agree on alternate care; if you can't agree, you may apply to the Workers' Compensation Commissioner, who decides on an expedited basis (10 working days for a telephone hearing, 14 for an in-person hearing). In an emergency, you may choose your own care at the employer's expense if the employer cannot be reached immediately.
How long do I have to file a workers' compensation claim in Iowa if it's disputed?
Under Iowa Code §85.26, if no weekly compensation benefits have been paid, the proceeding must be commenced within two years from the date of the occurrence of the injury (the date you knew or should have known it was work-related). If weekly benefits were paid, you generally have three years from the date of the last weekly payment.
How much of my wages does Iowa workers' compensation replace?
Temporary total disability and the healing period are paid at 80% of your weekly spendable earnings (Iowa Code §85.37), and permanent partial and permanent total disability at 80% of average spendable weekly earnings (§85.34). Temporary partial disability is different — the Division describes it as 66 2/3% of the difference between your pre-injury average gross weekly earnings and your current earnings. A state maximum and minimum weekly rate also apply; both are tied to the statewide average weekly wage and reset every July 1, so ask the Division for the figure that applies to your date of injury.
Is there a waiting period before Iowa workers' comp benefits start?
Yes. Under Iowa Code §85.32, compensation generally begins on the fourth day of disability after the injury. If your incapacity extends beyond the fourteenth day after the injury, the compensation due in the third week is increased by an amount equal to three days of compensation — so those first three days are effectively paid back. The healing period has no waiting period and begins on the first day of disability after the injury.
Does every Iowa employer have to carry workers' compensation insurance?
Most do. Iowa does not use a general employee-count threshold; instead Iowa Code §85.1 excludes specific employments — certain private-household and purely casual work below a $1,500 earnings threshold, most agricultural work below a $2,500 employer payroll threshold, up to four rejecting corporate officers, and people covered by chapter 410/411 pension systems. The Division says covered employers must either carry workers' compensation liability insurance or register as self-insured (applying to the Iowa Insurance Commissioner). Iowa has no monopolistic state fund.
What happens if my Iowa workers' comp claim is denied?
You can file a petition to start a contested case, which leads to an arbitration hearing before a deputy workers' compensation commissioner (scheduled within 120 days). If you disagree with the deputy's decision, you have 20 days to appeal to the Workers' Compensation Commissioner, and then 30 days from the Commissioner's appeal decision to seek judicial review in an Iowa district court under Iowa Code chapter 17A.
This article is general legal information, not legal advice, and may not reflect the most current law or the law in your jurisdiction. Laws vary by state and change over time. For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney.
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