Late checks are a common complaint of workers receiving workers' compensation benefits. There are many ways to address late checks. The Workers' Compensation Institute provides services to correct this problem, without charge, as part of our regular case management.

Pennsylvania law requires workers' compensation insurance companies to issue wage loss benefit checks in the same pay period that the injured worker would have received his/her regular paycheck. For example, if you were paid weekly before the injury, you should receive your workers' compensation check weekly. Enforcing this legal requirement often entails taking the workers' compensation insurance company to court.

If you are experiencing a problem with late checks, you should contact us immediately and take the following steps:

1. Make a copy of the check when it is received.

2. Attach the copy of the check and any check stub that accompanied the check to the envelope in which the check came.

3. Write the date that you received the check on the envelope.

Our office can then use this documentary evidence to prove that the workers' compensation insurance company is not sending the checks in a timely or consistent manner. Regardless of whether your checks are late, we recommend that all injured workers keep a log of when they receive their checks and what period they covered. They should also keep postmarked envelopes.