Within how many working days must the employer provide the employee with a DWC-1 claim form?

• A. 1 calendar day
• B. 1 working day
• C. 3 calendar days
• D. 3 working days

Answer: (B)

Promptness in giving the DWC-1 is about getting the claim started quickly. In California workers’ compensation, the employer must provide the DWC-1 claim form to the employee within one working day of learning about a work-related injury or illness. Using working days means weekends and holidays aren’t counted, so the form should be handed over by the next business day after the employer learns of the incident. This ensures the employee has the necessary documentation to file a claim promptly and begin the process. If an injury happens on a Friday after hours, the form should be provided by Monday, not the following calendar day. The other timeframes don’t fit this rule, so one working day is the correct standard.