Workers' Comp Waiting Period by State

Waiting period by state

State	Waiting period	Paid back after
Illinois	3 working days	14 days
Michigan	7 days	14 days
New York	7 days	14 days
Ohio	7 days	14 days
Pennsylvania	7 days	14 days
Florida	7 days	21 days
Georgia	7 days	21 days
North Carolina	7 days	21 days

How the payback works

Take a worker in New York earning $1,000 a week, with a weekly benefit of $666.67. The first 7 days are unpaid. If the worker is back at work on day 10, those 7 days are never paid. If the disability lasts past 14 days, the first 7 days are paid too, worth one extra week of $666.67.

The payback threshold is the reason a short absence can pay nothing at all, while one a few days longer pays the full period. Your state page shows the exact rule.

Frequently asked questions

Do you get paid for the first week of workers comp?

Not right away. Every state we cover holds back the first 3 to 7 days of wage benefits. Most pay them back once you have been disabled long enough, for example 14 days in New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Ohio and Michigan, or 21 days in Florida, North Carolina and Georgia.

Does the waiting period apply to medical bills?

No. The waiting period applies only to wage replacement. Medical treatment for the injury is covered from the first day.

Do the waiting days have to be in a row?

Rules vary by state. Illinois counts working days, and Georgia's payback requires 21 consecutive days of disability. Check your state page for the exact wording.

Sources

Checked November 3, 2026.