What is the waiting period for retroactive coverage under Worker’s Compensation?

The correct answer regarding the waiting period for retroactive coverage under Worker’s Compensation is 21 days. This means that if a worker is injured, benefits can only be retroactively applied back to the date of injury after the employee has been unable to work for a continuous period of 21 days.

This waiting period is significant as it establishes a period during which the employee must be off work due to their injury before they can begin receiving compensation benefits. The rationale behind this waiting period is to encourage timely reporting of injuries and to ensure that the claims process can be accurately assessed after a brief evaluation period.

In practice, this means that if an employee is unable to work for less than 21 days due to a work-related injury, they would not receive retroactive compensation; rather, their benefits would start from the day they reach the 21-day mark of being out of work.