A Massachusetts workers comp lawyer will tell you this first: your weekly check is 60% of your gross average weekly wage. From October 1, 2025, the weekly cap is $1,922.48. Call for a free case review, and an attorney gets on it right away.
What Massachusetts workers comp pays each week
Your check is set at 60% of your gross average weekly wage. Gross means your pay before taxes come out. Bring your pay stubs, because the whole rate is built on that number.
The state sets a weekly cap of $1,922.48 from October 1, 2025. No check goes above that, even on a high wage.
Pay starts on the 6th day you are out of work. The first 5 days are unpaid unless you cannot work for 21 calendar days.
Temporary total checks stop after 156 weeks. If your check looks low or late, call us and an attorney checks the math for free. Read more on what workers comp should pay you each week.
| Rule | Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Weekly check | 60% of your gross average weekly wage |
| Weekly cap from Oct 1, 2025 | $1,922.48 |
| Waiting period | first 5 days unpaid unless you are out 21 days |
| Temporary total checks stop | after 156 weeks |
Deadlines to report your injury and file your claim
Tell your employer about the injury as soon as you can, and put it in writing. Note the date you got hurt and the date you told your boss.
Under Massachusetts workers comp laws, your claim must be filed with the insurer within 4 years. The clock runs from the date you learn the injury is tied to your work.
A report from your employer does not count as your claim. Call us, and the attorney makes sure the claim is filed right.
Four years sounds like plenty, but witnesses move and records get lost. The table and counter below turn your dates into deadlines.
| Deadline | Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| File your claim with the insurer | within 4 years |
Claim denied or checks stopped in Massachusetts
Your first move is a call to us for a free case review. An attorney reads the denial and plans the next move with you.
Disputes here go to the Department of Industrial Accidents. The first step is an informal meeting with a conciliator, and your attorney speaks for you there.
Keep the denial letter and write down its date. Sign nothing the insurer sends until an attorney has looked at it. More help: your workers comp claim was denied and your workers comp payments stopped.
How an appeal moves through the system
If the conciliator cannot settle it, the case goes to a conference before a judge. After that comes a full hearing, then the Reviewing Board.
Each appeal window is short, and the decision letter sets it. Your attorney files each appeal on time, so you keep your right to be heard.
Missing one step can end the fight. That is why the call comes before anything else.
How a workers comp lawyer in Massachusetts gets paid
You pay nothing up front. The attorney is paid only out of money recovered, so there is no fee unless you win.
State law also caps that fee. On a settlement, it is limited to 15% to 20% of the settlement, depending on the stage of the case.
Learn more on what a workers comp lawyer costs. Then call, and the review is free.
Questions injured workers ask
How much does workers comp pay in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts workers compensation pays a set share of your gross average weekly wage, up to a weekly cap. Call us, and an attorney checks your rate for free.
Do I get paid for the first days I miss work?
Usually not for the first few days, unless you are out long enough. An attorney can tell you if those days should be paid.
What should I do if my Massachusetts claim is denied?
Your first move is a call to us for a free case review. An attorney reads the denial, files what is needed, and stands with you at each step.
Can my boss fire me for filing a claim?
Firing you for a work injury claim can be illegal retaliation. Call us, and an attorney reviews what happened.
How much does a Massachusetts workers comp lawyer cost?
Nothing up front. The fee comes only out of money recovered, and state law caps it. If you do not win, you owe no fee.
Do I need a lawyer if my claim was accepted?
An attorney can check that your rate is right and that checks keep coming. The review is free, so call and ask.
Reviewed 9/1/2026