All claims files shall be kept and maintained for how long?

• A. Three years from the date of injury
• B. Indefinitely
• C. Seven years after final settlement
• D. Five years from the date of injury or the date of last provision of compensation, whichever is later

Answer: (D)

Retention of claims files in California workers’ compensation is five years after the later of the injury date or the date of last provision of compensation. This means you look at two dates—the date the injury occurred and the date you last paid benefits or otherwise provided compensation—and start the five-year clock from whichever date happened later. The purpose is to keep essential records long enough to cover possible reopenings, audits, appeals, or future medical or indemnity needs that can arise long after the initial claim.

For example, if the injury happened in 2010 but the last payment was in 2015, you would retain the file through 2020. If the injury occurred in 2016 and there were medical or indemnity payments continuing into 2018, you’d keep the file through 2023. This approach avoids keeping records too short (which could hamper future issues) and avoids indefinite retention, aligning with regulatory requirements.