Idaho pairs two short deadlines. You need to tell your employer within 60 days of the accident and you need to make a claim within one year. That one-year limit works differently if the insurer paid benefits on its own or a hearing request is already on file.
On doctors, the starting rule leans your way. The Commission says you may choose your own doctor unless your employer designated one in advance.
Idaho weekly benefit amounts
Time-loss checks equal 67% of your average weekly wage. The Commission's rate table sets the ceiling at $1,021.50 a week for 2026 injuries and $1,070.10 for injuries in 2027.
The first 5 days are unpaid. Under Idaho Code 72-402, they get paid after all if you are off more than 2 weeks or stay overnight in a hospital. Most first checks show up within 28 days of the injury, unless the claim is denied or still under investigation. Plug in your wage with our pay calculator.
| Weekly check | 67% of your average weekly wage |
|---|---|
| Weekly cap, injuries in 2026 | $1,021.50 |
| Waiting period | first 5 days unpaid, unless you are off more than 2 weeks or hospitalized overnight |
Idaho dates you cannot miss
- Report to your employer: within 60 days of the accident and as soon as practicable.
- Make a claim for compensation: within one year of the accident, apart from the exceptions above.
- Ask the Commission to reconsider its decision: within 20 days of the date the decision is filed.
Past the Commission, the next court is the Idaho Supreme Court. So the evidence you put in front of the Commission carries a lot of weight and gaps are hard to fix later.
Denied or stuck under investigation in Idaho
If the adjuster calls the claim denied or under investigation, the usual 28-day timing for a first check no longer holds. Ask for the reason in writing and save it. A denial reflects the insurer's view; the Idaho Industrial Commission is the body that settles contested claims and it takes calls at 800-950-2110.
Filing a hearing request also matters for timing, since a request on file affects the one-year limit. For more on what to do after a no, read our guide to a denied workers comp claim.
What an Idaho workers comp lawyer may charge
The Commission approves every attorney fee. Its rule treats 25% of the money the attorney obtains as presumed reasonable. That rises to 30% when the case went to hearing and briefs were submitted. The percentage applies to money the attorney brings in for you, so nothing is owed upfront.
Our fee page walks through how these percentages play out.
People also ask
Does Idaho pay for my first week off?
Not the first 5 days, unless you end up off more than 2 weeks or are kept in the hospital overnight.
What if my employer already picked a doctor?
If the employer designated a doctor before your injury, that choice controls. If it did not, you can choose your own.
When should my first Idaho check arrive?
Usually within 28 days of the injury. A denial or an open investigation can push that back, so ask the adjuster which one applies to you.