Resolve Your Case

If you believe that you have not received all benefits due to you and you have contacted your employer or the insurance company and the problem still has not been resolved, you may wish to:

File a claim for compensation by mail: P.O. Box 58, Jefferson City, MO 65102 or email: dwc.care.unit@labor.mo.gov. The eligible person filing a claim or application is called a claimant.

  • *IMPORTANT* Keep in mind that you have the right to consult with a lawyer, or have a lawyer represent you, at any step in the process. For more information on consulting with a lawyer please read, Obtaining a Lawyer

Dispute Management Services

The Division’s Dispute Management Unit offers a voluntary alternative dispute resolution process to assist parties in attempting to resolve disputes without resorting to formal litigation. The process offered by the unit’s mediator begins with telephone consultations with the interested parties and usually occurs prior to the filing of a Claim for Compensation with the Division.

Mediation is a process in which a neutral person facilitates communication between the parties.  The mediator does not decide issues or impose a solution upon the parties, but rather helps the parties understand and work toward an agreed upon resolution of their dispute.

Conference

A conference is a proceeding before an administrative law judge held in cases where no claim for compensation has been filed. A conference is an opportunity for the injured worker to meet with the attorney for the employer/insurer, discuss the case, and attempt to resolve the case by settlement, if appropriate. A conference may be set by written request of a party by completing the Request for Conference, or it may be set at the discretion of the Division. A “Notice of Conference” is sent to the parties, notifying the parties of the date, time and place of the conference.

Conferences will be set within 120 days after the local adjudication office receives the request. If the request is received too late to be set on a docket scheduled within 120 days or if no dockets are schedules in that docket location for 120 days, the case shall be set on the next available docket.

For more information on settlements, please read Settling a Case.

When an Employee Files a Claim for Compensation

  • A pre-hearing is a proceeding before an administrative law judge to discuss issues in a case where the Claim for Compensation has been filed. A pre-hearing may be requested by completing the Request for Pre-Hearing. A “Notice of Pre-hearing” is sent to all parties.

    A party may request a pre-hearing when:

    1. The parties want to present a settlement agreement for approval; or
    2. Disputes or other issues arise that must be resolved in order for the case to proceed; or
    3. The parties have a good faith belief that a brief meeting with an administrative law judge will help in moving the case more expeditiously to settlement or final hearing. Pre-hearings will be set within 120 days after the local adjudication office receives the request for pre-hearing. If the request is received too late to be set on a docket scheduled within 120 days or if no dockets are schedules in that docket location for 120 days, the case shall be set on the next available docket.
  • A mediation is a setting in which the parties and their attorneys, if represented meet with an administrative law judge to discuss issues in a confidential manner, identify areas of agreement and facilitate a compromise settlement of a claim to avoid proceeding to a hearing. A mediation may be set upon the written request of a party by completing the Request for Mediation, provided that an administrative law judge finds that the issues have been sufficiently developed to make the mediation meaningful.

If a request for mediation is approved, it will be set within 120 days after the local adjudication office receives the request for mediation. If the request is received too late to be set on a docket scheduled within 120 days or if no dockets are schedules in that docket location for 120 days, the case shall be set on the next available docket.

A party may request a mediation when:

  1. There are issues that need to be resolved to move the case forward.
  2. One party has a final rating report and the opposing party has not, within a reasonable time frame, obtained a final rating report;
  3. Both parties have exchanged final reports, but the parties have been unable to reach a settlement agreement;
  4. Initial or additional medical treatment has been:
    1. Requested by the employee;
    2. Refused by the employer; and
    3. The employee has written medical evidence establishing the need for treatment and the relation between the alleged job-related injury and treatment prescribed. This type of request is automatically considered a hardship request; or
  5. Parties have been unable to resolve a Second Injury Fund claim and the employee possesses written medical reports or other records or reports relating to the claim.
  • A hardship hearing is an evidentiary hearing held before an administrative law judge when the employee alleges that he or she is not at maximum medical improvement, is in need of medical treatment or entitled to temporary total disability benefits, and the employer is not providing such treatment or benefits. The hearing may be based on the termination of benefits under Section 287.203, RSMo. A hardship hearing is a hearing in which the employee is requesting the issuance of a temporary or partial award. A temporary or partial award addresses issues of medical treatment and payment of temporary disability benefits. If a party requests the issuance of a final award and makes it an issue at the hearing, and the evidence presented so merits, a final award may be issued. An employee may file a Request for Hardship Hearing to request the hearing.
  • A final hearing may be requested when the employee has reached maximum medical improvement or the case is otherwise ready for final resolution. This is an evidentiary hearing on the record, and a verbatim record will be made for the reviewing tribunal. To request a final hearing, any party may file a Request for Hearing-Final Award and simultaneously send a copy thereof to all other parties.

Awards

  • There are three types of awards that can be made in a workers’ compensation case.
    1. Award (final). This is the final determination by an administrative law judge after a hearing
    2. Temporary or Partial Award. This is made by an administrative law judge after a hearing in cases where the claimant has not received medical treatment or lost wage benefits. In these situations, the award is made before issues such as the extent of disability are addressed by the judge. The case is kept open until a final award can be made.
    3. Award on Agreed Statement of Facts. Such an award may be issued without an evidentiary hearing in cases where the parties are in complete agreement on the facts of the case. The record requires an agreement of statement of facts which may be submitted at hearing. The only issues to be decided by the administrative law judge are issues of law.

More Information

For more information on the legal process and how our administrative law judges handle cases, please visit Docketing and Adjudication on this website.

DISCLAIMER - More Information

The Injured Workers section of the Workers' Compensation portion of this web site is targeted specifically to injured workers and is intended to be a resource throughout the workers' compensation claim process. It is NOT intended to be a substitute for legal representation.

Employers seeking information about the workers' compensation process and their responsibilities regarding workers' compensation should use the Employers section of the Workers' Compensation portion of this web site to find information targeted specifically to them.

Additional information about Missouri Workers' Compensation laws, the Division of Workers Compensation, the Second Injury Fund and more may be found via the Workers' Compensation home page.

Please keep in mind the information specialist cannot act as your legal counsel and cannot give you legal advice. The information specialist can provide you with general information but cannot advise you whether the settlement offer is appropriate for your injury.