DC uses two forms and they do different jobs. Form 7 reports the injury. It goes to your employer and the Office of Workers' Compensation (OWC) within 30 days of the injury or of the day you learn it is job-related. Form 7a is the written claim itself, due within one year after the injury or the last payment of benefits.
Work for the DC government? Then your claim does not go to OWC at all. The DC Office of Risk Management handles it.
Weekly pay under DC workers comp
The check is two-thirds of your average weekly wage. From January 1, 2026, the District sets a maximum of $1,852.07 a week and a minimum of $463.02.
The first 3 days are unpaid unless the disability lasts more than 14 days. Temporary or permanent partial disability checks (paid when you can work, but earn less) are limited to 500 weeks for any one injury. That differs from total disability, where you cannot work at all.
For a quick estimate, use our weekly check calculator.
| Weekly check | two-thirds (66 2/3%) of your average weekly wage |
|---|---|
| Weekly cap, from January 1, 2026 | $1,852.07 |
| Weekly minimum, from January 1, 2026 | $463.02 |
| Waiting period | first 3 days unpaid unless the disability lasts more than 14 days |
| Limit on temporary or permanent partial disability checks | up to 500 weeks for any one injury |
Dates that control a DC claim
- Form 7 notice to your employer and OWC: within 30 days of the injury or of learning it is job-related.
- Form 7a written claim: within one year after the injury or after the last payment of benefits.
- Review of a compensation order by the Compensation Review Board: within 30 days of the order.
Because the one-year clock can run from the last payment, keep every check stub and payment letter in one folder.
Options when the insurer denies or cuts you off in the District
You have two routes. You can request an informal conference at OWC, which issues a recommendation within 30 days. Or you can skip that step and go straight to a formal hearing. A compensation order can then be taken to the Compensation Review Board.
Your medical care stays in your hands: you may choose your own doctor. Changing doctors later needs approval from the insurer or OWC, so pick carefully the first time.
If a letter from the insurer is hard to follow, paste it into our letter explainer. The Department of Employment Services, which runs OWC, can be reached at 202-671-1000.
What a DC workers comp lawyer may charge
DC law caps the fee at 20% of the benefit the attorney secures for you. Since the cap is measured against that benefit, ask early how the amount will be figured in your case. Our guide to attorney fees lists questions worth raising on the first call.
People also ask
Do I file Form 7 or Form 7a?
Usually both. Form 7 reports the injury within 30 days. Form 7a is your written claim, due within one year after the injury or the last payment.
Can I pick my own doctor in the District?
Yes. You may choose your own doctor. To switch later, you need approval from the insurer or the Office of Workers' Compensation.
I work for the DC government. Where does my claim go?
To the DC Office of Risk Management, not the Office of Workers' Compensation.