When is the document considered filed with the WCAB?

• A. date it is postmarked
• B. date it is received
• C. date of express mail pickup
• D. date of cover letter filing it

Answer: (B)

The filing date is the date the WCAB actually receives the document. This ensures the board can process and clock deadlines from the moment it is in their hands, not from when it was mailed or when a carrier picked it up. A postmark can be before or after the deadline due to mailing delays, so it isn’t controlling. The date on a cover letter doesn’t establish filing until the WCAB has the document, and the shipment pickup date doesn’t guarantee receipt by the board. If you need timely filing, aim to have the document arrive and be stamped as received by the WCAB, and consider electronic filing for an exact receipt time.