Oregon Form 801, the “Report of Job Injury or Illness,” starts your workers’ comp claim through your employer. Your employer must provide it, and you can also get it through the links below. Fill out the worker section, sign it and keep a copy. Your employer must report the claim to its insurer within five days of learning about it.
At Schoenfeld & Schoenfeld, we help injured workers across Hood River, The Dalles and Eastern Oregon file claims and challenge denials.
Also Read
- How Oregon Workers’ Compensation Helped an Injured Worker
- Understanding Oregon’s Workers’ Compensation System
- Compensation for Missed Work and Job Injuries
TL;DR
Complete the worker section of Form 801, give it to your employer and keep a copy. Report a sudden work injury immediately. The usual notice deadline is 90 days after the accident.
Key Points
- Form 801 reports your work injury and requests workers’ compensation benefits.
- The form is free, and your employer must provide it.
- You complete the worker section. Your employer completes its section and reports the claim to its insurer.
- Deadlines differ for sudden injuries and occupational diseases.
- Keep your completed form and a record of when you delivered it.
- Form 827 is completed with your medical provider. It can also start the claim process, but you should still complete Form 801.
Where to Get Oregon Form 801
Form 801 is free. You can get it through these sources:
- Your employer. Oregon’s employer responsibilities rule requires employers to keep Form 801 available and provide it when requested.
- The Oregon Workers’ Compensation Division’s official forms page.
- SAIF’s fillable PDF of Form 801, which you can complete on your computer.
- Our Oregon workers’ compensation forms page, which lists Form 801 and its Spanish version, Form 801s.
If your employer won’t provide the form, call the Ombuds Office for Oregon Workers at 800-927-1271. The call is free. If your employer won’t report the injury, you can also contact the Workers’ Compensation Division at 800-452-0288.
If you need help completing your form, schedule a complimentary consultation. We can review your paperwork and explain your next steps.
What Form 801 Is and Why It Matters
Form 801 records your work injury and your request for workers’ compensation benefits. The Workers’ Compensation Division publishes the state’s version. Your employer may use its insurer’s version instead.
By signing the worker section, you’re reporting an injury and asking the insurer to consider your claim. SAIF’s guide to reporting a workplace injury explains the employer’s role.
Your completed form also creates a record of what you reported. Keep a copy, along with an email, delivery receipt or other record showing when your employer received it.
How to File Form 801 in Oregon, Step by Step
The Workers’ Compensation Division explains the filing process. These steps cover what you need to do.
Step 1: Report the injury and ask for the form
Tell a supervisor or manager that you were hurt at work. Ask for Form 801. Get medical care promptly if you need it, and tell your provider the injury happened at work.
Step 2: Complete the worker section accurately
Fill out your portion completely and honestly. Describe what happened without guessing or downplaying your symptoms. Your first written account can matter if the insurer later questions your claim.
Make sure your section covers these five things:
- The date, time and place you got hurt
- Exactly what you were doing when it happened
- Every body part affected, including areas that hurt less
- The names of anyone who saw it happen
- The clinic or doctor where you received care, if you’ve already been treated
Use plain words. Don’t guess at a diagnosis, and don’t say you’re fine if you’re hurting. Read your answers before you sign.
Step 3: Give the form to your employer and keep a copy
Return the completed worker section to your employer. Keep a copy and record the delivery date. Your employer must report the claim to its insurer within five days of notice or knowledge of the claim or accident that may involve a covered injury.
Step 4: Watch for the insurer’s response
The insurer must accept or deny your claim in writing within 60 days of your employer’s knowledge of the claim. The clock doesn’t wait until the insurer receives your paperwork. ORS 656.262 sets out the claim-processing requirements.
Contact the insurer if you haven’t received a written decision within that period. Keep copies of its letters and your responses.
First Workers’ Comp Claim in Oregon?
If you’ve never filed a claim before, start by reporting the injury and completing Form 801. You don’t need a lawyer to fill it out. Our guide to how Oregon workers’ comp works explains what happens after you file.
Form 801 Deadlines You Can’t Miss
Report your injury and complete the paperwork right away. Different deadlines apply to your notice, your employer’s report and the insurer’s response.
| What has to happen | Deadline |
|---|---|
| You notify your employer of a sudden work injury | Immediately, usually no later than 90 days after the accident. Exceptions can apply. |
| You file an occupational disease claim | A one-year filing period applies. Its starting date follows the later-event rules in ORS 656.807, explained below. |
| Your employer reports the claim to its insurer | Within five days of notice or knowledge of a claim or accident that may involve a covered injury. |
| The insurer accepts or denies your claim | Within 60 days of your employer’s knowledge of the claim. |
| The insurer issues your first time-loss payment, if eligible | By the 14th day after your employer knows of both your claim and disability, with doctor-authorized disability. An early denial can affect payment. |
The 90-day rule concerns notice of a sudden injury. Form 801 is the standard way to document that notice, but failing to use that particular form doesn’t automatically defeat a claim.
An occupational disease develops over time, such as some cases of repetitive strain or an exposure-related condition. Under ORS 656.807, the filing period runs from the latest applicable event: discovering the disease, reasonably being expected to discover it, becoming disabled or being told by a physician that you have an occupational disease.
The notice and occupational disease rules appear in Chapter 656 of the Oregon Revised Statutes. The state also explains the conditions for the first payment on its getting paid for time off page. That deadline concerns when payment is issued, rather than when a mailed check arrives.
If a deadline is close or has passed, get advice promptly. Exceptions can apply. Talk to our Oregon workers’ comp team about your dates and circumstances.
Form 801 vs Form 827: How They Work Together
You complete Form 801 with your employer. You complete Form 827, the “Worker’s and Health Care Provider’s Report for Workers’ Compensation Claims,” at your medical provider’s office.
Form 827 records medical information and can also start the claim process when signed by the worker. It doesn’t remove your responsibility or your employer’s responsibility to complete Form 801.
Tell your provider how the injury happened and which body parts are affected. Check that your account is accurate on both forms. The Oregon State Bar’s guide to what workers should know provides more information about the system.
Common Form 801 Mistakes That Cost Workers Benefits
Incomplete information can lead to disputes about what happened or which conditions belong in your claim. Check for these mistakes before returning the form:
- Waiting to report the injury or request the form
- Leaving out affected body parts or symptoms
- Writing a vague description that doesn’t explain what you were doing
- Guessing at dates or details instead of explaining what you remember
- Giving away your only copy
- Assuming your employer sent the paperwork without checking
If you notice an error after filing, contact the insurer promptly to explain it. Keep a written record of the correction.
Oregon Form 801 FAQ
What is an 801 form in Oregon?
Form 801 is Oregon’s “Report of Job Injury or Illness.” You use it to report a work injury to your employer and request workers’ compensation benefits.
Who fills out Form 801?
You complete and sign the worker section. Your employer completes its section and reports the claim to its insurer within five days of notice or knowledge of a potentially covered injury.
What if my employer won’t give me Form 801?
Get it from the state, your employer’s insurer or our forms page. For help, call the Ombuds Office for Oregon Workers at 800-927-1271.
Is there a Spanish version of Form 801?
Yes. Form 801s is the Spanish version, titled “Reporte de Lesión o Enfermedad en el Trabajo.” Our bilingual staff can help you with the form.
How long do I have to file Form 801 in Oregon?
For a sudden injury, notify your employer immediately. The usual notice deadline is 90 days after the accident. Occupational disease claims have a separate one-year filing period with later-event rules. Complete Form 801 promptly, and get advice if a deadline is close or has passed.
What happens after I file Form 801?
Your employer reports the claim to its insurer, which investigates and sends a written acceptance or denial. If you lose wages because of doctor-authorized disability, you may qualify for a time-loss check while the claim is being reviewed.
Get Help With Your Oregon Workers’ Comp Claim
A completed Form 801 gives you a written record of your injury report. Keep your copy, follow up on the insurer’s response and discuss work restrictions with your doctor. These steps help document your need for medical care and wage benefits.
Schoenfeld & Schoenfeld has represented Oregon’s injured workers since 1991. Attorney Steve Schoenfeld has personally handled thousands of workers’ compensation hearings. Our firm handles denied and complex claims, with bilingual staff serving the Columbia River Gorge and Eastern Oregon.
If you need help filing Form 801 or responding to a denial, contact Schoenfeld & Schoenfeld for a complimentary consultation.