Critical Deadlines:
Every Time Limit You Need to Know
Missing a single deadline in the Ohio workers' compensation system can permanently eliminate your rights — with no exceptions and no second chances.
No excuse — however legitimate — will revive a missed deadline. Courts and the Industrial Commission do not make exceptions for illness, confusion, or bad advice. Know your deadlines and act on them.
Appeal deadlines — act fast or lose everything
Every order from the BWC or IC comes with a clock. Missing any of these windows makes the order permanent and final.
Triggered by: Receipt of any BWC Order
Appeal BWC Order to the IC (DHO)
Any BWC order — allowing, denying, or terminating — must be appealed to the Industrial Commission within 14 days from the date you receive it.
Miss this and the BWC order becomes final. A denial is permanent. TTD termination stands.
Triggered by: Receipt of DHO Order
Appeal DHO Order to the SHO
After the District Hearing Officer issues a written order, you have 14 days from receipt to appeal to the Staff Hearing Officer. Save every envelope — the postmark proves when the clock started.
Miss this and the DHO order is final. You cannot proceed to the SHO level.
Triggered by: Receipt of SHO Order
Appeal SHO Order to the Full IC Commission
After the Staff Hearing Officer decides, you have 14 days from receipt to request review by the three-member IC Commission.
Miss this and the SHO order is permanently final.
Triggered by: Final IC Commission Order
Appeal to Court of Common Pleas
After exhausting all IC levels, certain issues may be appealed to the Ohio Court of Common Pleas within 60 days of the final IC order.
Miss this and your right to court review is permanently lost.
When you must file — or forfeit your rights
Triggered by: Date of Work Injury
File Initial Workers’ Compensation Claim
One year from the date of injury to file a FROI. Do not rely on this limit as a reason to delay — file as soon as possible.
Miss this and all workers’ comp benefits are permanently forfeited.
Triggered by: Date of Each Medical Service
File Medical Bills for BWC Payment
One year from each date of service to submit medical bills to the BWC. Late bills are refused — you pay out of pocket even if the treatment was for an allowed condition.
Late bills are refused. You personally bear the cost.
Triggered by: Date Compensation Was Due
Request Past Compensation (TTD, Wage Loss, PPD, PTD)
Two years from the date compensation was due to seek back-payments. An attorney should review your full claim history for missed payments you may not be aware of.
Compensation due more than two years ago cannot be recovered.
Triggered by: The Retaliatory Act
Employer Retaliation Written Notice (O.R.C. § 4123.90)
You must give your employer written notice within 90 days of the retaliatory act, then file suit within 180 days. Both deadlines are absolute.
Both deadlines are absolute. Miss either and your right to sue is permanently gone.
Triggered by: Date of Worker’s Death
Death Benefit Claim
Surviving spouses and dependents must file within one year of the worker’s death. Contact an attorney immediately after a workplace fatality.
A claim filed after one year is permanently barred.
Occupational disease — the tricky statute of limitations
For occupational diseases (date of disability on or after September 28, 2021), you have one year from the most recent of these three dates:
A 6-month safety net may apply if a doctor diagnoses the condition as work-related after the one-year date — but never rely on this safety net. File as early as possible.
How long does a claim stay alive?
An Ohio workers’ comp claim can remain open for years — but it can die silently if compensation payments stop for too long.
Before August 25, 2006
Each compensation payment extends the claim by 10 additional years. No payment for 10 years = claim expires permanently.
On/After August 25, 2006
Each compensation payment extends the claim by 5 additional years. No payment for 5 years = claim expires permanently.
All deadlines at a glance
| Deadline / Action | Time Limit | Miss It And… |
|---|---|---|
| Appeal BWC order to IC | 14 days | Order is final — denial permanent |
| Appeal DHO order to SHO | 14 days | DHO order final and binding |
| Appeal SHO order to Commission | 14 days | SHO order final and binding |
| Appeal IC order to Common Pleas | 60 days | Court review permanently lost |
| File initial work injury claim | 1 year | All benefits permanently forfeited |
| File occupational disease claim | 1 year from most recent: diagnosis, treatment, or disability | Claim barred (safety net may apply) |
| File medical bills for payment | 1 year from service | You pay out of pocket |
| Request past compensation | 2 years from date due | Past payments unrecoverable |
| Retaliation written notice | 90 days from act | Right to sue permanently gone |
| Retaliation lawsuit | 180 days from act | Right to sue permanently gone |
| Death benefit claim | 1 year from death | Claim permanently barred |
| Keep claim alive (post-2006) | Compensation every 5 years | Claim expires by law |
| Keep claim alive (pre-2006) | Compensation every 10 years | Claim expires by law |
Exceptions exist for every deadline. Always confirm your specific deadline with an Ohio workers’ compensation attorney.