An employee is injured March 2, 2011, but doesn't tell the employer until March 4, 2011. The employee goes to the doctor that day and is taken off work. The claim form is returned March 7, 2011. When does disability begin?

• A. March 2, 2011
• B. March 4, 2011
• C. March 7, 2011
• D. March 18, 2011

Answer: (B)

Disability begins on the first day the employee is unable to work because of the injury, as determined by a physician. In this case, that date is March 4, 2011, when the doctor ordered rest and off-work status. The injury date (March 2) doesn’t by itself establish disability, and the fact that the claim form is returned later (March 7) doesn’t change the start of disability. The three‑day waiting period for temporary disability payments is a separate timing issue that affects when payments start after disability begins, not when disability begins.