• Your Responsibilities in the Texas Workers' Compensation System

     

    1. You have the responsibility to tell your employer if you have been injured at work or in the scope of your employment. You must tell your employer within 30 days of the date you were injured or first knew your injury or illness might be work-related.

    2. You have the responsibility to know if you are in a Workers’ Compensation Health Care Network (network).

      If you do not know whether you are in a network, ask the employer you worked for at the time of your injury. If you are in a network, you have the responsibility to follow the network rules. Your employer must give you a copy of the TDI network rules. Read the rules carefully. If there is something you do not understand, ask your employer or call the Office of Injured Employee Counsel. If you would like to file a complaint about a network, call TDI’s Customer Help Line at 1-800-252-3439 or file a complaint online. 
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    3. If you worked for a political subdivision (e.g. city, county, school district) at the time of your injury, you have the responsibility to find out how to receive medical treatment. Your employer should be able to provide you with the information you will need in order to determine which health care provider can treat you for your workplace injury.

    4. You have the responsibility to tell your doctor how you were injured and whether the injury is work-related.

    5. You have the responsibility to send a completed claim form (DWC-41) to the Division of Workers’ Compensation. You have one year to send the form after you were injured or first knew that your illness might be work related.

      Send the completed DWC-41 form even if you already are receiving benefits. You may lose your right to benefits if you do not send the completed claim form to the Division of Workers’ Compensation. Call 1-800-252-7031 or 1-866-393-6432 for a copy of the DWC-41 form.

    6. You have the responsibility to provide your current address, telephone number, and employer information to the Division of Workers’ Compensation and the insurance carrier.

    7. You have the responsibility to tell the Division of Workers’ Compensation and the insurance carrier any time there is a change in your employment status or wages. Examples include:
      • You stop working because of your injury;
      • You start working; or
      • You are offered a job.