Understanding Georgia’s WC-14 Form

What Is a WC-14 Form?

The WC-14 form is the official Georgia workers’ compensation form for “filing” a claim. Its full title is the “Notice of Claim/Request for Hearing/Request for Mediation”. In other words, this one-page form serves multiple purposes: it notifies the Georgia State Board of Workers’ Compensation (SBWC) that you are filing a claim for a work injury, and it also allows you to request a hearing or mediation if you need one. Filing a WC-14 is how an injured worker formally files a workers’ compensation claim in Georgia.

A common misconception is that your employer (or its insurance company) will “file the workers’ comp claim” for you. In Georgia, the employer is not required to file a WC-14 form for you – and they will not do so. Filing the WC-14 is your responsibility as the injured worker.

When you are initially injured, your employer is supposed to file a WC-1 form (the “First Report of Injury”) with the State Board. However, that report is not a claim for benefits – it’s just a notice to the Board that an injury occurred. When the Board recieves a WC-1, they will create a claim number, but it will not stop the statute of limitations from running in the case.

The statute of limitations in Georgia generally requires claims to be filed within one year of the injury unless certain exceptions apply, such as ongoing remedial treatment or payment of benefits. Filing a WC-14 is often critical to preserving the right to future benefits, especially in cases involving serious and long term injuries.

In plain terms, the WC-14 tells the State Board: “I was hurt at work on this date, at this job, and I am claiming my workers’ comp benefits.” It includes basic information like your name and address, your employer’s name, the date and description of the accident, and the benefits you are seeking. You can also check a box on the form to indicate if you are just giving notice of your injury/claim or if you are requesting further action such as a hearing or mediation.

Role of the WC-14 in the Workers’ Compensation Process

In Georgia’s workers’ comp process, the WC-14 is a critical form in the process. Here’s some of what it does:

• Initiating Your Claim: If you are injured on the job, you should always report the injury to your employer right away (Georgia law says within 30 days). Reporting to your employer starts the insurance process. However, reporting the injury to your employer is not the same as filing a claim with the State. To officially file a claim with the State Board and protect your rights, you (the injured worker) need to file the WC-14 form. Think of the WC-14 as “offically” opening a case with the State Board of Workers’ Compensation.

• If no benefits are owed at the time of the accident, filing a WC-14 Notice of Claim ensures the employee’s right to claim benefits later if their condition worsens. For example, if you are injured at work and your employer does not provide any medical treatment or benefits, you can still file a WC-14 to protect your rights. This is important because if you wait too long to file a claim, you may lose your right to benefits even if you later need them.

• Preserves the right to medical treatment: Filing the WC-14 also preserves your right to medical treatment. If no WC-14 is filed, and it has been more than a year since you last recieve any medical treatment, the insurance company may argue that you are no longer entitled to any benefits due to the statute of limitations on medical treatment (1 year)

• Preserves the right to income benefits: If you are unable to work due to your injury, you may be entitled to temporary total disability (TTD) or temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits. If you stop receiving income benefits for more than two years, you will not be able to restart the benefits if your conditions worsen, unless you filed a WC-14 in time (within 2 years of the last payment of benefits).

• Requesting a Hearing or Mediation: The WC-14 form isn’t just a passive notification; it also lets you request a hearing or mediation. A hearing is like a small trial in front of an Administrative Law Judge who will decide any contested issues (for example, if the insurance company is refusing benefits, a judge can order what benefits you should receive). A mediation is a meeting where you and the insurance company (and usually a neutral mediator from the Board) try to resolve the dispute informally. On the WC-14, you can check a box to request a hearing or mediation (or both) if you need one. If you don’t check those boxes, filing the form still protects your claim, and you can request a hearing later if it becomes necessary.

• What Happens After Filing a WC-14 “hearing request”: Once the SBWC receives your WC-14, they will process it and, if you requested a hearing, assign your case to a judge. Hearings are typically scheduled within about 60 days from when the judge gets the WC-14. The hearing will usually be held in or near the county where you were injured. If you requested mediation, the Board can set that up as well. Meanwhile, a copy of your WC-14 will also go to your employer and their insurance company (because you are required to send them copies – more on that later). This notifies the insurance company that you have filed an official claim. In many cases, after a WC-14 is filed, the employer’s insurance company will reach out to you with a response. You should receive notification from the insurance company about whether your benefits are approved or denied and what benefits they will provide. If they go ahead and approve your claim, you might start receiving benefits without needing a hearing. If they deny or dispute your claim (or if you disagree with what they’re willing to pay), then a hearing before the Board will be how the issue gets resolved.

In summary, the WC-14’s role is to get your claim on record with the state and trigger the dispute-resolution process if needed. It transforms your workplace injury from just an internal matter with the employer’s insurance into an official workers’ compensation case that the state board can oversee. Without a WC-14, the State Board generally cannot intervene or force the insurance company to do anything, because officially no “claim” pending. That’s why filing the WC-14 is often described as “protecting your rights” – it ensures your claim is formally recognized and can be adjudicated if necessary.

Conclusion: Protect Your Rights by Filing the WC-14

Injured workers in Georgia should feel empowered to use the WC-14 form as a tool to get the benefits and support they need. By promptly filing this form, you prevent legal deadlines from cutting off your benefits, and you activate the protections of the workers’ compensation system on your behalf. In short: if you’ve been hurt at work, don’t wait – file a Form WC-14 and protect your rights. If you have questions about the WC-14 or need help with your workers’ compensation claim, Bourne Law Firm is here to help. We offer free consultations to injured workers and can guide you through the process of filing a WC-14 and pursuing your claim. Call us today at 770-886-3030 to get started.