How the Delaware system works
Nearly all Delaware employers must carry coverage, administered by the state's Office of Workers' Compensation with disputes decided by the Industrial Accident Board (IAB) — a panel system with hearing officers for smaller issues. Delaware's certified-provider design cuts the paperwork war most states fight: certified doctors treat first and bill later, with utilization review as the backstop instead of preauthorization as the gate.
Every deadline that matters
| What | Deadline | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Notice to your employer | As soon as possible | No comfortable grace period — written, same-day notice is the standard. |
| File a petition with the IAB | 2 years from the injury (or from the last payment, when benefits were paid) | Voluntary payments create agreements that carry their own protections — but disputed or unpaid claims live on the two-year clock. |
| Occupational disease | Discovery-based | From when you knew or should have known of the work-connection. |
Your doctor — certified means covered
Delaware lets you treat with any provider — but choosing one certified under the workers' comp health care system changes the mechanics: certified-provider treatment within the state's practice guidelines is presumed compensable, no preauthorization required. Treat with a non-certified provider and the insurer's leverage grows. The move: ask any prospective doctor one question — "are you certified for Delaware workers' comp?" — and prefer yes.
The benefits
| Benefit | What it pays |
|---|---|
| Medical care | All reasonable treatment — streamlined through certified providers. |
| Temporary Total (TTD) | Two-thirds of your average weekly wage within state caps. |
| Partial disability | A share of the earnings gap on light duty — up to 300 weeks. |
| Permanent impairment & disfigurement | Scheduled awards by body part and rating, plus separate disfigurement awards the IAB assesses — frequently forgotten money. |
| Death benefits | Survivor percentages plus burial expenses. |
How Delaware disputes get resolved
- 1
Petition to the IAB
Simple forms protect the deadline and set the issues.
- 2
Hearing
The Board (or a hearing officer) takes evidence and issues a written decision — Delaware's small size keeps dockets comparatively fast.
- 3
Appeals
To Superior Court on the record. Settlements (commutations) need Board approval.
Free official help
- Delaware Office of Workers' Compensation — forms, certified-provider information, and claim questions: labor.delaware.gov (302-761-8200).
Denied claims, partial-disability duration fights, impairment and disfigurement valuations, and all commutations. Fees are Board-approved; consultations typically free.