Connecticut’s workers’ compensation laws are designed to help people who are injured or get sick because of their jobs. The Workers’ Compensation Commission (WCC) uses these laws to help decide if a worker is entitled to medical treatment or weekly payments. Find the following here:

Workers’ compensation statutes:

  • Include laws that define work injuries, explain benefits available, and explain insurance requirements
  • Explain the process to obtain benefits and the rights of the parties

Regulations and related statutes:

  • Include administrative rules
  • Include other laws that are related to workers’ compensation claims

Case Law

  • Made when judges issue decisions in workers' comp appeals
  • Provides guidance that helps decide cases
  • Appellate decisions tell judges how to interpret and apply the law

Workers' compensation statutes

The Connecticut Workers’ Compensation Act is a set of laws that help people who get hurt or sick because of their job. Its statutes explain what the system does and how injured workers get help. They also outline administrative work to help the system run smoothly. These laws explain:

  • Who can get help and what benefits they may receive
  • The obligations of employers to have insurance
  • How benefits are paid to injured workers
  • How disputes are handled
  • The rights and responsibilities of the parties
View the Workers’ Compensation Act  

About Connecticut's Workers' Compensation Act

Chapter 568 of the Connecticut General Statutes

The Act addresses workplace injuries and illnesses, benefits, insurance requirements, the process, and the rights of the parties. The Connecticut General Assembly (CGA) oversees these statutes' preparation and maintenance. To understand how a law affects a workers’ compensation case, refer to the statute that was in place on the date the injury or illness happened. We print it every two years, with electronic versions available online as far back as 2001.

Workers' compensation regulations

Regulations give additional details about how the statutes are applied. While regulations aren’t statutes, they must go through a public process before they are enacted and are, therefore, backed by the law. Regulations are specific rules created by administrative agencies to implement and enforce statutes.

Although the statutes are the primary thing judges look at, they also look to these regulations to assist them in deciding cases. The Secretary of State’s office shares all of the Connecticut regulations online in the eRegulations System. Find those and the following below.

  • Regulations that explain the Connecticut workers’ compensation system
  • Sections that cover safety at work, how to choose doctors, self-insurance, and how to handle claims and appeals

Learn about regulations 

Find regulations and sections that explain how Connecticut’s workers’ compensation system works.

Access Connecticut’s eRegulations System 

Search Connecticut regulations with the Office of the Secretary of the State’s eRegulations System.

Case law

Case law is made when judges decide appeals in workers’ compensation cases. Those decisions are used by trial judges to decide future cases. If someone doesn’t agree with a trial decision, they can appeal to the CRB. If they’re still unhappy after the CRB makes a decision, they can appeal to the Connecticut Appellate Court and, eventually, to the Connecticut Supreme Court.

  • The CRB uses the laws and existing appellate decisions to decide cases that they hear. Their decisions may create new rules (case law).
  • If a party appeals to either the Connecticut Appellate or Supreme Courts, those decisions become the case law.
  • Supreme Court decisions are the final word on an issue. The Appellate Court decisions are next in line, and the CRB decisions are last in line.
  • Trial decisions do not make case law.
  • Find CRB, CT Appellate, and CT Supreme Court decisions.

Find opinions and annotations 

Find updated opinions and annotations. They give the CRB’s decisions on workers’ comp cases.

Connecticut Appellate Court 

Rarely, some workers’ comp cases are appealed to the State Appellate Court. These decisions are more powerful than CRB decisions.

Connecticut Supreme Court 

Even more rarely, some workers’ comp cases are appealed to the Connecticut Supreme Court. Its decisions take priority over WCC or the State Judicial Branch.

Related statutes

 There are other laws that deal with injured or sick workers that are not part of the Workers’ Compensation Act. They may, however, be processed through the system. They may also be used by the judges to make decisions.

  • Cover special workers or specific injury situations injury situations
  • Help make sure injured workers get the right benefits
  • Are important for managing the whole workers’ compensation system
View related statutes