Getting injured at work is stressful enough without having to navigate confusing paperwork and unfamiliar forms. If you’ve been hurt on the job in Hawaii, you’ve probably heard someone mention a “WC-1 form” and wondered what it is, who’s responsible for it, and why it matters to your recovery and benefits. Understanding this critical document can make the difference between a smooth claims process and weeks of delays, confusion, and potential denial of benefits you’re entitled to receive.
The WC-1 form is the foundation of your entire workers’ compensation claim in Hawaii. While you won’t fill it out yourself, knowing what it is, how it works, and what happens after it’s filed will help you protect your rights and ensure you receive proper medical care. At Vally Medical Group, we help injured workers across the Big Island, Maui, and Kauai navigate the workers’ compensation system every day, and we’ve seen how proper understanding of forms like the WC-1 can prevent problems before they start.
The WC-1 is officially called the “State of Hawaii Employer’s Report of Industrial Injury.” This standardized form is the document your employer uses to formally report your workplace injury to the Hawaii Disability Compensation Division and to their workers’ compensation insurance carrier. Think of it as the official record that says “this employee was injured at work on this date, in this manner, and these are the circumstances.”
The form itself captures essential information about your injury including the date, time, and location where the injury occurred, a description of how the accident happened, the nature and extent of your injuries, witness information if anyone saw the accident, and your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance information. This documentation serves multiple critical purposes in the workers’ compensation system. It creates an official record with the state of Hawaii, notifies the insurance carrier that a claim has been filed, establishes the timeline of your injury, and initiates the process for authorizing your medical treatment and benefits.
Without a properly filed WC-1 form, your workers’ compensation claim doesn’t officially exist. The insurance carrier won’t know about your injury, medical providers can’t bill for your treatment, and you won’t be able to access temporary disability benefits if you can’t work. This is why understanding the WC-1 form and ensuring it’s filed promptly is so important to protecting your rights as an injured worker in Hawaii.
Here’s something many injured workers don’t realize: you don’t fill out the WC-1 form yourself. This is your employer’s responsibility, not yours. Your only job is to report your workplace injury to your supervisor, manager, or human resources department as soon as possible after it happens. Once you’ve notified your employer about your injury, Hawaii law requires them to complete and file the WC-1 form within seven working days of learning about your injury.
This seven-day deadline is not a suggestion—it’s a legal requirement. Employers who fail to file the WC-1 form within this timeframe can face penalties from the state. However, the real-world consequences of late filing often fall on you, the injured worker. Delays in filing the WC-1 can postpone the start of your medical treatment, delay your first temporary disability check if you can’t work, create confusion about coverage and claim numbers, and potentially give the insurance carrier grounds to question whether your injury is truly work-related.
When you report your injury to your employer, be sure to do so in writing if possible, even if you also report it verbally. A simple email to your supervisor saying “I injured my back lifting a box in the warehouse this morning and need to see a doctor” creates a paper trail proving you reported the injury promptly. Keep a copy of this notification for your records. If your employer seems hesitant to file the WC-1 or suggests you wait to see if the injury gets better on its own, stand firm. You have the legal right to have your injury reported, and delaying this process only hurts your claim.
Once your employer files the WC-1 form with the state and their insurance carrier, several important things happen that directly affect your medical care and financial benefits. First, the insurance carrier receives notification of your injury and assigns a claim number to your case. This claim number is critical—it’s what medical providers like Vally Medical Group use to bill your treatment directly to the workers’ compensation insurance. You’ll need to provide this number when you schedule medical appointments.
The filed WC-1 form also triggers the insurance carrier’s obligation to authorize and pay for your reasonable and necessary medical treatment. This means you can seek care from qualified medical providers without worrying about upfront costs or medical bills. At Vally Medical Group, we work directly with workers’ compensation insurance carriers every day. Once we have your claim number and insurance information, we handle all the billing, authorization requests, and paperwork. You never receive a bill for covered treatments related to your work injury.
Beyond medical care, the WC-1 form is also what allows you to access temporary disability benefits if your injury prevents you from working. Once the form is filed and the insurance carrier has processed your claim, you become eligible for wage replacement benefits if your doctor determines you cannot perform your regular job duties. These benefits typically equal two-thirds of your average weekly wage and continue until you can return to work or reach maximum medical improvement.
The bottom line is this: the WC-1 form is your gateway to all workers’ compensation benefits in Hawaii. Without it being properly filed, you’re stuck in limbo—unable to get authorized medical care, unable to access disability benefits, and unable to move forward with your recovery. This is why it’s so important to ensure your employer files this form promptly after your injury.
Your employer should provide you with a copy of ‘Highlights of the Hawaii Workers’ Compensation Law‘ within three working days of receiving notice of your injury.
Once your employer has filed the WC-1 form, there are several important steps you should take to protect your interests and ensure your claim proceeds smoothly. First, ask your employer for a copy of the completed WC-1 form for your own records. You have the right to see this document, and having a copy ensures you know exactly what information was reported about your injury. Review it carefully to make sure the details about how your injury occurred are accurate. If you notice errors or important information that was left out, bring this to your employer’s attention immediately.
Next, obtain your claim number from either your employer or the insurance carrier. This number is assigned once the WC-1 is processed, usually within a few days to a week after filing. You’ll need this claim number to schedule medical appointments and ensure your treatment is properly authorized and billed. Don’t wait for someone to give you this information—be proactive about getting it.
Remember that under Hawaii law, you have the right to choose your own doctor for workers’ compensation treatment. You’re not required to see a doctor selected by your employer or their insurance carrier. This choice is important because your treating physician will determine what treatment you need, when you can return to work, and whether you have any permanent impairment from your injury. Choose a doctor with experience in workers’ compensation cases who will advocate for your health and recovery.
This is where Vally Medical Group can help. We specialize in treating workplace injuries and navigating Hawaii’s workers’ compensation system. Our clinics in Kona, Hilo, Lihue, and Kihei serve injured workers across the Big Island, Kauai, and Maui with expert care that gets you back to health and back to work. We understand the documentation requirements, we communicate effectively with insurance carriers, and we handle all the billing and authorization complexities so you can focus on healing. Contact Vally Medical Group today to schedule your evaluation, and bring your claim number and employer’s insurance information with you to your appointment.
The WC-1 form might seem like just another piece of bureaucratic paperwork, but it’s actually the foundation of your entire workers’ compensation claim. Understanding what it is, ensuring your employer files it promptly, and taking the right steps after it’s filed can make your recovery process much smoother. If you have questions about the WC-1 form, your workers’ compensation rights, or how to access medical treatment for your workplace injury, the team at Vally Medical Group is here to help. We’ve guided thousands of injured Hawaii workers through this process, and we’re ready to help you get the care and benefits you deserve.
