Workers' compensation: who runs it
Workers' compensation: who runs it
Summary
Most private and state or local government workers are covered by their state's workers' compensation program, not a federal one. The Labor Department's OWCP covers federal employees and a few specific groups.
General information, not legal advice. Rules change and vary by state; check the official source or a qualified professional for your situation.
Draft. License: public domain (US government work). Sources: [S1] USAGov, "Workers' compensation"; [S2] US Department of Labor, "Workers' Compensation".
Facts
- id: F1 claim: Workers' compensation pays benefits to workers who are injured or become ill because of their job. confidence: high date: 2026-11-02 sources: [S1, S2] license: public domain (US government work) checked_on: 2026-11-02
- id: F2 claim: Each state runs its own program for private employers and state and local government workers; claims go through that state program. confidence: high date: 2026-11-02 sources: [S1, S2] license: public domain (US government work) checked_on: 2026-11-02
- id: F3 claim: DOL's Office of Workers' Compensation Programs covers federal civilian employees, longshore and harbor workers, coal miners with black lung, and certain Energy Department nuclear workers. confidence: medium date: 2026-11-02 sources: [S2] license: public domain (US government work) checked_on: 2026-11-02
- id: F4 claim: OWCP does not run or oversee state programs. confidence: medium date: 2026-11-02 sources: [S2] license: public domain (US government work) checked_on: 2026-11-02
Pointers
- id: P1 answers: Find your state workers' comp office where: https://www.usa.gov/workers-compensation access: free, public web page
Source: https://www.usa.gov/workers-compensation · License: public-domain · Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Courtesy of USAGov. Public domain (US government work); use does not imply endorsement by USAGov.
Cite this
iinventedlight Library. 2026. "Workers' compensation: who runs it." iinventedlight Library, iil:note:5a0jbt0k, version of 2026-11-02. https://iinventedlight.com/library/reference/us-gov/workers-compensation-basics/. License: public-domain. Summary of https://www.usa.gov/workers-compensation.
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author = {{iinventedlight Library}},
title = {{Workers' compensation: who runs it}},
howpublished = {iinventedlight Library},
year = {2026},
date = {2026-11-02},
url = {https://iinventedlight.com/library/reference/us-gov/workers-compensation-basics/},
note = {Permanent ID iil:note:5a0jbt0k. License: public-domain. Summary of https://www.usa.gov/workers-compensation.},
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For language models and agents: start at /llms.txt. This page in Markdown: /library/reference/us-gov/workers-compensation-basics.md.