How long do you have to maintain the claims file as a self-insured administrator?

• A. 5 years from the DOI or the date on which the last provision of compensation benefits occurred, whichever is later.
• B. 5 years from the DOI and 1 year from date of last payment of benefits.
• C. 2 years from the date of the last payment of compensation.
• D. 5 years from the DOI and 1 year thereafter.

Answer: (A)

The key idea is how long a self-insured administrator must keep the claims file: you retain it for five years after the later of two dates—the date of injury or the date of the last provision of compensation benefits. This ensures the file covers any claims activity that could occur after the injury, including late payments or audits, by starting the retention period from the more recent date and then adding five years. For example, if the injury happened in 2010 and the last payment was in 2016, you keep the file through 2021. If the injury was in 2010 and no benefits were paid, the later date defaults to the injury date, so you’d keep it for five years from 2010. The other options don’t match this rule: they either use only one date, or use a shorter period, which wouldn’t protect against late claim activity.