Which filing most directly initiates the WCAB's jurisdiction over a new injury claim?

• A. DWC-1 claim form
• B. Letter of Representation
• C. Declaration of Readiness to Proceed
• D. Application for Adjudication of Claim

Answer: (D)

The filing that directly starts the WCAB’s jurisdiction over a new injury claim is the Application for Adjudication of Claim. This document is filed with the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board to initiate formal proceedings, giving the Board authority to hear the case, set hearings, and issue a decision.

The DWC-1 claim form is an initial notice of injury to the employer/insurer and the Division of Workers’ Compensation; it starts the claim within the system but does not place the case before the WCAB. The Declaration of Readiness to Proceed is used to advance proceedings after jurisdiction has already attached, not to initiate it. A Letter of Representation simply informs the WCAB of who will represent the party and does not itself initiate jurisdiction.