Emergency guide
I was hurt at work
An injury at work starts a few reports, a few pay questions and a few time limits. This page lists what to do today, the deadlines that may have started, who to call and words you can use.
General information, not legal advice. Rules depend on where you live. If you have a letter, notice or form with a date on it, get advice before that date passes.
Checked 7 October 2026 · re-check due 9 February 2027 · To keep a copy, use your browser’s print or share menu.
First: are you safe?
If anyone is badly hurt or in danger now, call 911 in the US or 999 in the UK before anything else, and say where you are. If something is still dangerous, such as fumes, gas, a live wire or a load that could fall, get yourself and others away from it and tell the person in charge. In the US, OSHA (the federal workplace safety agency) says: if you are injured, call a supervisor for help; if the supervisor is not available, get medical help or call 911. If someone hurt you on purpose, that is a crime: call 911 or 999. If you hit your head, the head-injury signs below say when to call 911 or 999. If the injury has you thinking about ending your life, call or text 988 in the US, or call Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK, at any hour. If there is no food in the house tonight because you cannot work, call 211 in the US; in the UK, find your nearest food bank through Trussell, below.
Today
- Get care first. If you are badly hurt, or might be, call 911 or 999. Otherwise see a doctor today and say it happened at work, so it goes into your record. Pain, dizziness or numbness can start hours or days later, so if anyone asks how you are, say 'I don't know yet' rather than 'I'm fine'.
- US: when it is not an emergency, ask your employer or your state's workers' compensation office which doctors the claim will pay for, ideally before the visit. Do not put off care to find out. Keep every bill.
- Tell your employer today, even if the injury does not seem serious yet. Write it down: the date, the time, the place, what happened, which part of you is hurt and who saw it. Send it by email or text to your manager or whoever handles injuries, and keep a copy.
- Ask for the paperwork. UK: ask for it to go in the accident book; if there is none, your written account does the job. Ask for a copy of the accident report for your records. US: ask for the workers' compensation claim form; your state sets the deadlines, so do not wait to learn how long they are. A US federal employee files through the federal portal and does not need a supervisor's approval to start.
- Keep proof: photos of the injury and of what caused it, the names and numbers of anyone who saw it, every medical paper, and every message from your employer. Make notes while you still remember the details.
- Fill in, sign and send your own claim form and your own account of the accident on time, after checking it says what happened, and keep a copy. Slow down only on papers that close the matter: a release, a settlement, a payment offered 'in full', or a statement someone else wrote for you. Before you sign one of those, ask a workers' compensation or injury lawyer (US) or Citizens Advice, Acas or your union (UK).
- If you cannot work, find out today how your pay will be covered. US: through your state's workers' compensation program. UK: tell your employer you cannot work by their deadline for Statutory Sick Pay.
- If you are offered the choice of using your own paid leave, ask first whether the time off will be paid another way: workers' compensation (US) or sick pay (UK). If it will not be, your paid leave may be the only pay for those days. Tell one person what happened.
The clocks that have started
Deadlines that can start when this happens, soonest first. Your own letters give your dates; when two dates could apply, count from the earlier one. The details of each are on the page online; its address is at the bottom.
Deadlines that can start when this happens, soonest first. Tap one to see when it starts and what happens if you miss it. Your own letters give your dates; when two dates could apply, count from the earlier one.
Jump to: United States · United Kingdom
In the United States
Tell your employer about the injury and open a workers' compensation claim (your state decides the deadlines)Tell your employer today, in writing, and ask your state workers' compensation office for both dates.United States (set by each state)
- How long
- Tell your employer today, in writing, and ask your state workers' compensation office for both dates. Your state sets the deadlines, one to tell your employer and one to file the claim, and they differ from state to state, so do not wait to find out how long yours are. Unless your work is under one of the federal programs below, there is no federal deadline; the state's rules apply. Do not wait to see whether the injury settles
- Starts
- the day you were hurt, or the day you first found out that an illness or a worsening condition came from work, whichever is earlier. Tell your employer the same day if you can, and put it in writing
- If missed
- your state may refuse a late notice or a late claim. Do not assume it is too late: ask your state workers' compensation office or a workers' compensation lawyer at once, because some states excuse a late notice for a good reason
- It lets you
- have your medical care and part of your lost pay paid through your state's workers' compensation program. Most programs pay for medical expenses and for lost wages while you recover. Most programs also pay benefits to dependents if a worker dies from a work-related injury or illness
Where this differs: The state that applies is where you lived or worked. Federal employees use the federal clock below. Some kinds of work have a federal program instead (dock and harbor workers, coal miners with black lung, some nuclear-weapons workers); the Department of Labor's workers' compensation page names them. Ask the state office whether your kind of work is covered. Workers' compensation laws can limit what you can recover from your employer: before you accept a settlement or sign a release, talk to a workers' compensation lawyer. If someone other than your employer caused the injury, a separate claim may exist with its own deadline: ask a lawyer early
Checked 10 October 2026 at U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs
Federal employees: file the injury form (CA-1) for continued pay, and within three years to protect your claim30 days from the injury to file Form CA-1 if you want continuation of pay.United States (federal rule)
- How long
- 30 days from the injury to file Form CA-1 if you want continuation of pay. Continuation of pay means your employer keeps paying your regular pay, for up to 45 calendar days, while you cannot work after a traumatic injury. It also needs your time off work to start within 45 days of the injury. The claim itself must be filed within three years
- Starts
- the day you were hurt. For a condition that built up over more than one work shift, the form is the CA-2 and the three years count from when the condition began, or later if you could not have known work caused it. Count from the first symptoms to be safe
- If missed
- after 30 days you can still file the claim, but you will usually not get continuation of pay. After three years a claim may still be allowed if you gave notice, or your employer knew of the injury, within 30 days of it (written records, a spoken report or a note in your medical record can count). Do not treat three years as final: ask the Department of Labor
- It lets you
- have the injury reported to the Department of Labor's federal workers' compensation program (FECA), which pays medical care and lost wages for federal employees. You file through the online portal ECOMP, and the Department of Labor says you do not need your supervisor's approval to start a claim. Continuation of pay comes from your employer and is taxed like regular pay. If you cannot get Form CA-1, do not wait for it: the rule says using another form does not on its own stop continuation of pay.
Where this differs: Postal Service employees are not paid for the first 3 days of temporary disability under continuation of pay and may use leave for them, and may have it restored if the disability lasts longer. Some groups are excluded from continuation of pay, including volunteers. If you work for a private company or a state or local government, use the state clock above, not this one
Checked 10 October 2026 at U.S. Department of Labor, 20 CFR 10.100 and 10.205 (eCFR)
If your employer punished you for reporting the injury or a safety problem, file with OSHA30 days for a retaliation complaint under section 11(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.United States (federal rule)
- How long
- 30 days for a retaliation complaint under section 11(c) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act. Other laws OSHA enforces have time limits of 60, 90 or 180 days, so if you are not sure which law applies, use 30 days
- Starts
- the day you were told of the firing, demotion, discipline or other action. If you were told of an action that takes effect later, count from the day you were told, to be safe
- If missed
- OSHA ordinarily treats a complaint filed after 30 days as late and does not process it, unless there is a recognised reason, such as your employer hiding or misleading you about the real reason. A union grievance, or a complaint to another agency or your state, does not pause the 30 days, so file with OSHA as well, inside them. If it is already late, still ask OSHA, and ask an employment lawyer that week: another law or your state may give a different time
- It lets you
- OSHA's rules say an employer must not fire or in any way discriminate against a worker for reporting a work-related injury or illness, and section 11(c) protects that report as well as a safety complaint. Ask OSHA to look into a firing, demotion or other punishment for speaking up about an injury or a safety or health concern. You can file online, by phone on 1-800-321-6742, or by letter, in any language, and someone else can file for you. This is separate from a safety and health complaint, which asks OSHA to look at a hazard: file that as soon as possible, because OSHA cannot issue violations for incidents more than six months old
Where this differs: In states that run their own OSHA-approved plan you can file under section 11(c) with federal OSHA and with the state plan. Federal OSHA does not cover state and local government workers unless their state has a plan for them, and does not cover the self-employed or workers whose hazards another federal agency regulates, such as mines. Your employer must report a death within 8 hours and an in-patient hospitalization, amputation or loss of an eye within 24 hours. Federal employees, other than Postal Service workers, are not covered by section 11(c): the law's definition of an employer leaves out the United States. Ask your union or a lawyer at once.
Checked 10 October 2026 at OSHA (U.S. Department of Labor)
Get checked for injuries that show up later, such as a concussionSome symptoms appear right away; others may not appear for hours or days.United States (federal rule)
- How long
- some symptoms appear right away; others may not appear for hours or days. Most people with a mild concussion feel better within a couple of weeks
- Starts
- the injury. Count from the injury, not from the first time it hurts
- If missed
- the people with you should call 911 or take you to an emergency department right away if you have a headache that gets worse and does not go away, weakness, numbness, poor coordination, a seizure, repeated vomiting, slurred speech or unusual behavior, one pupil bigger than the other, or you are confused, restless or agitated, or cannot recognize people or places, or you pass out, look very drowsy or cannot be woken. For a child, the same, and also if they will not stop crying or will not nurse or eat
- It lets you
- get care early and have it recorded. Symptoms can be headaches, dizziness or balance problems, feeling foggy or slowed down, trouble sleeping, or feeling more emotional than usual. You may not notice some of them yourself. Tell the people around you about the crash: someone may notice a change in you before you do
This clock is written for a crash, but the CDC page it comes from covers any head injury, such as a blow to the head, a fall or a hit from a heavy object at work. Count from the day you were hurt.
Checked 9 October 2026 at CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
In the United Kingdom
Tell your employer you cannot work, by their deadline, to get Statutory Sick PayThe deadline your employer sets for telling them, or 7 days if they have not set one.England, Scotland and Wales
- How long
- the deadline your employer sets for telling them, or 7 days if they have not set one. Ask how and by when to tell them
- Starts
- the first day you are off work because of the injury
- If missed
- you could lose some of your Statutory Sick Pay if you do not tell your employer in time. Tell them now, in the way they ask; if they need it in writing you can use form SC2. If you think their decision not to pay is wrong, ask them for a reason, and if that does not settle it contact HMRC's Statutory Payment Disputes Team (GOV.UK's Statutory Sick Pay page links to it), or ask Acas or Citizens Advice first
- It lets you
- get Statutory Sick Pay from your employer for the full days off you would normally have worked: GOV.UK gives the current weekly rate, or 80% of your normal weekly earnings if that is lower, for up to 28 weeks. You must be classed as an employee, have done some work for your employer, and have been ill for at least one full working day. You need a fit note if you are off for more than 7 days in a row, counting non-working days. Check your contract: your employer may pay more than the statutory amount. If you do not qualify or your Statutory Sick Pay ends, your employer must send you form SSP1, which you can use to apply for Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance
Where this differs: This is the GOV.UK page for Great Britain. In Northern Ireland, nidirect says you get Statutory Sick Pay from the first day you are off sick, for up to 28 weeks, and that your employer may set how you tell them you are sick; ask your employer for their deadline. Agricultural workers have different sick pay rules, and agency workers may be entitled
Checked 10 October 2026 at GOV.UK (Statutory Sick Pay)
Get checked for injuries that show up later, such as whiplash or concussionNeck pain and stiffness can start several hours after the injury.Whole UK
- How long
- neck pain and stiffness can start several hours after the injury. After a head injury, symptoms can last up to 2 weeks. Whiplash usually gets better within 2 to 3 months, but some people have symptoms for longer
- Starts
- the injury. Count from the injury, not from the first time it hurts
- If missed
- call 999 if someone has hit their head and has been knocked out, cannot stay awake, has a fit, has problems with vision or hearing, has clear fluid coming from the ears or nose, is bleeding from the ears or has bruising behind them, has a black eye without hitting the eye, has new numbness or weakness, has problems walking, balancing, understanding, speaking or writing, or their behaviour has changed. The NHS also says call 999 if they hit their head at high speed, such as in a road accident. Head injury symptoms that last more than 2 weeks need a GP
- It lets you
- get care early and have the crash recorded with a doctor. See a GP if whiplash has not improved after 1 week, if painkillers have not worked or if you are worried. Get an urgent GP appointment, or call the urgent line for your nation (below), if after a neck injury you have severe pain despite painkillers, pins and needles, a sudden 'electric shock' feeling in your neck and back, weak hands, arms or legs, or problems walking or sitting upright; or if after a head injury you are being sick, feel dizzy, take a medicine that thins your blood, or had been drinking or taking drugs. After a head injury, an adult should stay with you for at least the first 24 hours. Do not drive until you have spoken to a GP or the urgent line about neck nerve symptoms, or until you feel fully recovered from a head injury, and do not drive yourself to A&E if you hit your head
This clock is written for a crash and starts with whiplash. The head injury signs and the numbers to call apply after a blow to the head, a fall or a hit from a heavy object at work. Count from the day you were hurt.
Where this differs: The advice is the NHS's and applies across the UK; where to call differs. England: NHS 111, by phone or 111 online. Scotland: NHS 24 on 111. Wales: NHS 111 Wales on 111. Northern Ireland has no 111: in the day call your GP; when the surgery is closed, call the GP out-of-hours service for your area (numbers on nidirect). 999 is the same everywhere
Checked 9 October 2026 at NHS (nhs.uk)
Claim Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit straight away if the accident has left you disabledClaim straight away.England, Scotland and Wales
- How long
- claim straight away. The benefit is not paid for the first 90 days after the accident (the law does not count Sundays), and if you delay you may lose some benefit
- Starts
- the day of the accident. You usually cannot be paid for the first 90 days after it, but you can claim straight away
- If missed
- you may lose some of the benefit. The law lets a late claim be paid for up to 3 months before the date you claim, and no further back, so claim as soon as you know the accident has left you disabled. If you are not sure you qualify, ask Citizens Advice or the IIDB Centre
- It lets you
- get a weekly payment if you were an employee (not self-employed) or on an approved training scheme when the accident happened, and it has left you disabled. A medical adviser assesses your disability on a scale of 1 to 100%, and normally you must be assessed at 14% or more. You fill in and post form BI100A (for an accident) or BI100PD (for a disease caused by work), with a copy of the accident report if there is one; you can phone the Barnsley IIDB Centre on 0800 121 8379 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm) and ask for a form. The benefit can affect other benefits: GOV.UK says it will affect income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Universal Credit if you or your partner claim them, and may affect Council Tax Reduction, so tell them about it
Where this differs: GOV.UK says the accident must have happened in England, Scotland or Wales. In Northern Ireland the benefit is run by the Department for Communities (nidirect): the accident must have happened in the UK, and the date your claim form is received in a Jobs and Benefits office is the date payment can be considered from, not the date you downloaded the form. You cannot claim if you were self-employed
Checked 10 October 2026 at GOV.UK (Department for Work and Pensions, form BI100A notes)
Tell Acas (the free workplace advice service) before the time limit if you may take your employer to a tribunalNot sure? Use 3 months minus 1 day.England, Scotland and Wales
- How long
- Not sure? Use 3 months minus 1 day. The limit is 6 months minus 1 day for most problems that happened from 1 October 2026, and 3 months minus 1 day for most problems before then.
- Starts
- the day the problem happened. For dismissal, count from your last day of work, even if you were paid for notice you did not work. For pay, the day you were not paid correctly; for discrimination, the latest date you include. A grievance or appeal does not pause the clock.
- If missed
- you can still make a claim, but it is up to the judge whether to accept it, and in most cases the limits are strictly enforced. Notifying Acas only pauses the limit if you notify within it
- It lets you
- notify Acas first, within your time limit. That pauses the limit while early conciliation runs, for up to 12 weeks. If there is no agreement Acas gives you a certificate with a number on it, which you need for the tribunal claim form (ET1), and you have at least 1 month from the day you receive it to make the claim
For being dismissed, or treated worse, after reporting a health and safety issue, such as the hazard that caused the accident. Acas says an employee dismissed for taking action over a health and safety issue is protected from unfair dismissal from the first day of the job, and a worker (not an employee) can claim detriment (being treated worse) but not unfair dismissal. If you were a health and safety representative, or were dismissed for a whistleblowing disclosure, you may also ask the tribunal for an urgent order called interim relief: Acas says you apply on form ET1 within 7 days of the dismissal, and if you are applying for interim relief alongside an unfair dismissal claim only, you do not need to notify Acas first. Get advice from the Acas helpline or your union that day.
Where this differs: England, Scotland and Wales. In Northern Ireland, notify the Labour Relations Agency instead; an unfair dismissal claim has three months. Breach of contract in Scotland has 3 months minus 1 day if it happened before 9 November 2026, and interim relief has only 7 days.
Checked 7 October 2026 at Acas
The time limit to start court action for an injury at work that was someone's fault3 years to start court proceedings.Whole UK
- How long
- 3 years to start court proceedings. This is a legal outer limit, not the date to start: get advice as soon as possible
- Starts
- the day of the accident. The law also lets you count from the date you knew about the injury if that is later, but count from the accident to be safe
- If missed
- a claim started after the limit is usually barred. If more than 3 years may have passed, still ask a solicitor: the clock can run from when you first knew of the injury, and a court can sometimes extend it
- It lets you
- claim compensation through the courts if your employer, or another party at fault, does not settle. A trade union you belong to may be able to give you legal help through its legal services. You cannot usually get legal aid for personal injury cases, and a no win, no fee agreement may still leave you with some costs: GOV.UK says a solicitor should advise you on costs before you agree to hire them
Where this differs: The same 3-year period applies in England and Wales (Limitation Act 1980 section 11), Scotland (Prescription and Limitation (Scotland) Act 1973 section 17) and Northern Ireland (Limitation (Northern Ireland) Order 1989 article 7); the quote below is the English and Welsh one. nidirect says that in Northern Ireland any claim for an accident at work must be made within three years of the accident and that you will normally need a lawyer. Different rules may apply for a child, or for someone who cannot manage their own affairs, and for an illness that developed over time: ask an adviser. Citizens Advice says to get legal advice as soon as possible if you want to claim
Checked 10 October 2026 at legislation.gov.uk (Limitation Act 1980, section 11)
If you were attacked at work: apply for criminal injuries compensationAs soon as reasonably practicable, and in most cases within 2 years of the crime.England, Scotland and Wales
- How long
- as soon as reasonably practicable, and in most cases within 2 years of the crime. You do not need to wait until the police investigation or a court case has finished
- Starts
- the day of the attack
- If missed
- you may still be able to claim if you could not claim earlier, for example because your mental or physical health stopped you. Ask Victim Support or Citizens Advice
- It lets you
- apply to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority for physical injuries or disabling mental injuries from a violent crime. The crime must have been reported to the police. You cannot get this compensation for an accident
Where this differs: The crime must have happened in England, Wales or Scotland. The process is different if the crime happened in Northern Ireland. A claim against your employer in court is separate and has its own 3-year limit
Checked 10 October 2026 at GOV.UK (Criminal Injuries Compensation)
Who to call
Jump to: United States · United Kingdom
In the United States
State workers' compensation offices (U.S. Department of Labor list)
find your state's workers' compensation office: ask it how and by when to tell your employer and to file the claim, and which doctors the claim pays for
dol.gov · Online
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- the state where you live and the state where you work
They can
- give you your state office's address, phone number and website
They cannot
- file a claim or give advice: your state office does that
follow-up care for the injury at a fee set by your income, with or without insurance. Tell them it is a work injury so it is recorded
findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov · Website, any time
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- your city, state or zip code, to search for centers near you
They can
- find local clinics that treat medical, dental, mental health and other health care needs
- show contact information and directions for each center
- lead you to centers that adjust their fees based on income and family size and serve everyone, even if they cannot pay
They cannot
- tell you what you will be charged: each center sets your fee from your income and family size
if you cannot work and rent, food or bills are due: say 'I was hurt at work and I cannot work'
Call 211 · 24/7 in most areas
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- a few facts about your current living situation
- any income you have
- the children or other dependents who live with you
They may ask
- about your current living situation
- about any income you have
- about any children or other dependents who live with you
They can
- connect you to local help with rent, mortgage, utilities, food and health care
- talk to you by phone; some local 211s also offer text and web chat, so check yours
- use 180 languages on request
- keep the call confidential, and it can be anonymous
- give you other ideas if you do not qualify for one program: you can call again
They cannot
- give you money themselves: 211 is the number for information and referrals to services
- help in a life-threatening emergency: call 911 first if you or someone you love is in one or may be a danger to someone else
OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration)
if you were punished for reporting the injury or a hazard, or something at work is still dangerous: file online or by phone. The retaliation complaint has a short time limit (see the clock)
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- your employer's name, address and contact details
- the dates and details of what you reported and of what your employer did
They can
- take a safety and health complaint about a hazard, which can be anonymous
- take a whistleblower complaint about being fired, demoted, disciplined or threatened for speaking up, online, by phone or by letter, in any language
- let someone else, such as a union, a lawyer or a family member, file for you
They cannot
- take a whistleblower complaint anonymously: if it investigates, OSHA tells your employer
- issue violations for safety and health incidents more than six months old
- handle your workers' compensation claim: your state's program does that
if a hospital bill from the injury reaches you: first tell the hospital it is a work injury and give them the claim details. If it is still yours to pay and you cannot, they help you apply for the hospital's financial assistance (the federal rules cover nonprofit hospitals). They do not take calls: use the form on their site
dollarfor.org · Online form any time; team follows up on weekdays
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- the hospital bill and the amount you owe after insurance and any other payer
- your income and who lives in your household (most hospitals count everyone on your tax return)
- proof of income such as pay stubs, tax forms or bank statements, which you upload with the patient form
They may ask
- about your bill, your income and your expenses, on their patient form
They can
- check whether your hospital bill may qualify for financial assistance, then prepare and send the application to the hospital for you, free
- help you in English and Spanish
- work with you without asking about your citizenship status
They cannot
- take or return phone calls: use the contact form on the site
- pay your bill, or promise a result: the hospital decides
- help with bills from a pharmacy, dentist, ambulance or other provider: it only helps with hospital bills
- give legal advice: ask legal aid in your state
- make sure your application is in on time: it is your job to send it before the deadline
for legal problems that follow from being off work, such as rent, debt or benefits. For the injury claim itself, legal aid usually refers you on to a private workers' compensation or injury lawyer, so for a denied claim or a settlement, ask one of those directly; your state's workers' compensation office can explain the claim steps
lawhelp.org · Online
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- the state or territory where you live: the site starts by asking you to choose it
They can
- send you to legal aid and other low-cost legal help near you
- give you legal help guides, including one on court fees and getting them paid
- help you create legal documents for free in areas such as housing, with LawHelp Interactive
if someone attacked you at work: support, and help finding victim compensation where you live
Call 1-855-484-2846 · Text Text 1-855-484-2846 · Call, text, or chat — hours vary; check the site
In the United Kingdom
if a symptom starts after the injury and it is not an emergency: where to get help (England)
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- direct you to the best place to get help: an emergency 999 or A&E, an urgent treatment centre, an out-of-hours GP, a nurse callback, a pharmacist, or care at home
- take your questions online, in the NHS App or by phone; call if the person is under 5
- take text relay calls on 18001 111 and BSL video through signvideo.co.uk/nhs111, and give an interpreter on a call
They cannot
- issue fit notes or make or cancel appointments for you in other parts of the NHS: contact your GP for those
- let you ask for a nurse callback: one is offered depending on your symptoms. If you miss all 3 tries, you cannot call the nurse back and must start again with 111 online or a new call
If you are offered a nurse callback, the wait depends on your symptoms, and the service is usually busier at weekends and on bank holidays. You do not need to call again while you wait unless your symptoms change or get worse.
the same help in Scotland. For a life or limb threatening emergency call 999
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- if you are phoning for someone else, be with them at the time of the call
They may ask
- who you are
- where you are phoning from
- why you are phoning
They can
- assess you and refer you to your local NHS services, which may be a phone or video consultation with a clinician, or an appointment at A&E or a Minor Injuries Unit
- offer a call back at weekends and public holidays, instead of waiting on hold
They cannot
- arrange appointments at your GP or manage appointments in your local area: your local health board contacts you
- deal with a life or limb threatening emergency: phone 999 or go to A&E
Busiest 6pm to 9pm on weekdays and 9am to midday on Saturdays and Sundays. If you miss a callback, a nurse tries up to 3 times; after that you phone 111 again.
the same help in Wales. In a medical emergency call 999
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- help you find services near you by postcode or town, including GPs, pharmacies, and hospitals with emergency departments and minor injuries units
- let you check your symptoms online
- give advice on what to do out of hours, and point you to a pharmacy for a common ailment or medication
GP out of hours service (Northern Ireland)
the same help in Northern Ireland, which has no 111: in the day call your GP; when the surgery is closed, phone the out-of-hours service for your area. In an emergency call 999
nidirect.gov.uk · 6.00pm on weekdays until your GP surgery opens the next morning; 24 hours on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- assess you by phone: the doctor or nurse will give you advice, decide if you need to see a doctor, or refer you to another service
- take textphone calls: the page gives 18001 followed by the area number
They cannot
- help with repeat prescriptions, dental problems or minor ailments a pharmacist can treat
- replace 999: if your condition is life-threatening, phone 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance
- answer in the daytime on weekdays: the service runs from 6.00 pm on weekdays until your GP surgery opens, and 24 hours on Saturday, Sunday and public holidays
free advice on sick pay, and on what to do if you are dismissed or treated badly for reporting the accident or a safety problem, including the tribunal time limit
Call 0300 123 1100 · Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- the questions you need help with, written out
- what is in your employment contract or relevant workplace policies
They can
- talk through most work-related problems or questions you have
- explain what the law says and how it relates to you
- discuss your options for what to do next, including the risks and benefits
- give you an interpreter straight away if you ask, take Relay UK calls (18001 0300 123 1100) and take British Sign Language calls through the InterpretersLive! video relay service
They cannot
- take sides, tell you what choice to make, give a legal opinion or act on your behalf
- give advice on P45s or P60s
- answer outside Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
- promise a free call: the advice is free but you may be charged for the call
Labour Relations Agency (Northern Ireland)
the same help in Northern Ireland, and where you start a tribunal claim (you notify the Labour Relations Agency, not Acas)
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- give you information about your employment rights and responsibilities, for your specific circumstances, on the Workplace Information Service 03300 555 300
- arrange an interpreter if needed
- take your details by phone for an Early Conciliation notification, if you cannot do it online
They cannot
- take a call about a conciliation, mediation, independent appeal or arbitration case on the Workplace Information line: for those their page says to call the switchboard on 03300 552 220
- let you go to tribunal without considering Early Conciliation: you must notify the agency first, though nidirect lists some exceptions
Citizens Advice (Adviceline, England)
free help with sick pay, benefits and a compensation claim (England)
Call 0800 144 8848 · Usually 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Not available on public holidays.
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- your postcode if you call from a mobile: if you do not have one, say one nearby such as a GP surgery, takeaway shop or taxi company
They may ask
- your postcode, from a mobile, to find your local Citizens Advice
They can
- connect you to your local Citizens Advice (Adviceline, England)
- talk to you by online chat: Universal Credit claims 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, debt 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9:30am to 1pm Saturday
- help with a new Universal Credit claim through Help to Claim, free and confidential, from the application to the first payment
- take Relay UK calls (18001 then 0800 144 8848)
They cannot
- answer on public holidays: Adviceline is not available then
- cover all of the UK on this number: it is for England, Wales has a separate Advicelink line, and there are a few parts of England not yet covered
- help everywhere: most local Citizens Advice can only help if you live or work in their area
Usually busiest at the start of the day. At busy times you might wait up to an hour, and a call not answered within an hour is disconnected, so try again later. Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.
Citizens Advice Cymru (Advicelink Wales)
the same help in Wales
Call 0800 702 2020 · Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm. Saturday 9am to 1pm.
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- connect you to an adviser through Advicelink (Wales) on 0800 702 2020, free from mobiles and landlines
- talk to you by online chat about any other kind of problem, usually 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
- take Relay UK calls: 18001 then 0800 702 2020
- point you to the Citizens Advice consumer service for problems with energy, water or post
They cannot
- answer on public holidays: Advicelink is not available then
- help you in person if you live outside your local office's area: most local Citizens Advice can only help if you live or work in their area
Usually busiest at the beginning and end of the day. At busy times you might wait up to an hour, and a call not answered within an hour is disconnected, so try again later.
Citizens Advice Scotland (Scottish Citizens Advice Helpline)
the same help in Scotland
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- your postcode: the page finds your local Citizens Advice Bureau by postcode
They can
- put you through to an adviser at your local bureau by phone on 0800 028 1456, the Scottish Citizens Advice Helpline
- give free, confidential and impartial advice, and help you work out next steps
- raise a complaint with an energy supplier for you through its Extra Help Unit, if you may be considered vulnerable or at risk of disconnection
- give advice online, on its advice pages
the same help in Northern Ireland
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- give advice on benefits, personal debt and managing bills, through the freephone helpline on 0800 915 4604
- answer by email at advice@adviceni.net
- point you to an Advice NI member near you if you need face-to-face advice
They cannot
- see you in person themselves: for face-to-face advice you contact a local advice centre run by an Advice NI member
Health and Safety Executive (HSE)
if something at work is still unsafe, or you are self-employed and need to report your own accident (England, Scotland, Wales)
Call 0300 003 1647 · Monday and Tuesday 8:30am to 5pm; Wednesday 10am to 5pm; Thursday and Friday 8:30am to 5pm
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- the address of the workplace, the business's name and the name of the person in charge, if you know them
- what the issue is, who is at risk and how long it has been going on
- any photos or other evidence
They may ask
- what you want them to do, such as investigate
- a phone number or email they can use to contact you
They can
- take your report online, or fill in the form for you by phone if you cannot do it online
They cannot
- deal with shops, restaurants, bars, nurseries, care homes and similar workplaces: your council's environmental health team does
- promise that the business will not work out who reported it
Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI)
the same in Northern Ireland, and to check a serious accident was reported
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- take a report of a health and safety incident, accident or disease by phone or email
- take a complaint about an unsafe or unhealthy work activity
if someone attacked you at work: free support, whether or not you reported it to the police (England and Wales)
Call 08 08 16 89 111 · 24/7, every day of the year
Before you call: what to have ready
They may ask
- on the online form: how you want help, what brought you to Victim Support (for example fraud, cyber crime or image based sexual abuse), and which country and county you live in
They can
- give free, confidential, independent advice by phone on 08 08 16 89 111, by live chat or through an online form, at any time
- call you back from your local area team within three working days if you use the online form
- take Relay UK calls or help in BSL
They cannot
- replace 999: in an emergency, always call 999
- help you if you live in Scotland: Victim Support Scotland is a separate service, and the form on this site is for England and Wales
- keep everything private in every case: it shares information without your consent only if it is worried about your safety or someone else's, or if the law requires it
Victim Support Scotland (helpline)
the same in Scotland
Call 0800 160 1985 · 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm Saturday and Sunday
the same in Northern Ireland
Call 028 9024 3133 · Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- give free, confidential emotional and practical support after any type of crime, whether or not you reported it to the police
- help with tasks such as filling in forms for a criminal injury compensation claim
- help arrange counselling if they think you need it: what they do is similar to counselling, but it is not the same
- help relatives and friends too
They cannot
- keep everything confidential in every case: they may pass information on if someone is at risk of harm, if a child may be at risk, or if a judge directs it
Lines can be busy. If you cannot get through, wait on the line until the answer service starts and leave your name and number: a member of staff will call you back as soon as they can. You can also email your nearest hub.
checks which benefits you may get while you cannot work, and searches for grants
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- about 10 minutes: the Grants Search says it takes that long
They can
- check which means-tested benefits you may be able to claim, free and confidential, with the Benefits Calculator
- search for charitable grants, which is money that does not have to be paid back, with the Grants Search
- help you find an adviser near you with the Find an adviser tool
- walk you through each stage of a Personal Independence Payment application with the PIP Helper
They cannot
- give personal one-to-one support: Turn2us no longer offers it
- take a grant application from you: the Grants Search points you to other organisations that give grants
- give you a phone number of their own: if you cannot use the online tools, their site points to Help through Hardship, which gives free confidential phone advice in England and Wales but does not offer direct payments, grants or loans
Universal Credit helpline (GOV.UK)
if Statutory Sick Pay is not paid or is not enough: claim by phone if you cannot claim online. Check first whether claiming would end a benefit you already get. In Northern Ireland, Universal Credit is claimed through nidirect
Call 0800 328 5644 · Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- your bank, building society or credit union account details
- identity documents, for example a driving licence, passport, debit or credit card, or payslip or P60
- information about your housing, such as how much rent you pay, and your earnings, such as payslips
- your National Insurance number, if you have one
- details of other benefits you get, any disability or health condition that affects your work, childcare costs if you want help with them, and your savings and investments
They can
- take a Universal Credit claim by phone if you cannot claim online
- give you help with your claim: the page says you can call the helpline or use the Help to Claim service
- take calls in Welsh on 0800 328 1744 and Relay UK calls on 18001 then 0800 328 5644
They cannot
- answer outside Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
- take a claim if you live in Northern Ireland: GOV.UK sends you to Universal Credit in Northern Ireland
- let one partner claim alone if you live together: you will both need to create accounts and link them
- keep a claim open without limit: you must complete your claim within 28 days of creating your account or you will have to start again
if there is no food in the house: find your nearest food bank. You need a food voucher first, from a local organisation; the page says how to get one
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- how many adults and children the parcel is for, and the ages of any children: volunteers check these from your voucher
- any dietary requirements: say so when you get your voucher so the food bank can prepare
They may ask
- the community organisation that gives you a voucher asks about your individual needs, so it can help you find the right support
They can
- help you find your nearest food bank
- give an emergency food parcel with at least three days of meals once you have a food voucher from a local community organisation
- sometimes provide pet food and essentials such as toiletries and period products, where they can
- sometimes offer extra support, such as debt advice or a trained Citizens Advice adviser
- sometimes deliver food parcels: ask when you get your voucher, or contact the food bank
They cannot
- give you a parcel without a food voucher: you need a referral first
- usually give you a voucher online: you will usually need to contact a community organisation by phone or in person, and in some cases the food bank directly
Say it this way
Change anything to your own words.
I was hurt at work on [date] at [time], at [place]. [What happened and which part of me is hurt.] [Name] saw it. I am getting medical care. Please tell me who handles injuries, send me the workers' compensation claim form (US) or put this in the accident book (UK), and confirm you have received this message.
I was hurt at work on [date]: [what happened]. Please record in my notes that this is a work injury. Could you tell me what to watch for over the next few days, and write what work I can and cannot do in a note I can give my employer?
I cannot work because of the injury I reported on [date]. Please tell me how I should tell you, and by when, so my pay is not delayed: sick pay in the UK, or workers' compensation in the US. Could you confirm in writing what I will be paid while I am off?
Thank you for sending this. I will read it and ask for advice before I sign. Could you tell me in writing what it is for, what happens if I do not sign, and by what date you need my answer?
Not for you if…
This guide is for someone hurt, or made ill, by their work: an accident, a strain, an attack at work, or a condition that built up. It does not say whose fault it was. If you were attacked at work, tell the police as well as your employer. If you were hurt in a road crash while driving for work, the car accident guide also applies, and its reports are separate from the ones here. If someone died, the guide for when someone has died fits better. If you are self-employed or a contractor, the workers' compensation, Statutory Sick Pay and Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit rules here may not cover you: ask your state office, Citizens Advice or Acas. If you work for the US federal government, use the federal clock. Some work has its own federal program instead of the state one: dock and harbor work, federal contractors hurt overseas, coal miners with black lung, and Department of Energy nuclear-weapons work; the Department of Labor's workers' compensation page names them. Railroad workers and ships' crews are covered by different federal laws that work through a claim against the employer, not workers' compensation: ask an injury lawyer early. If you are in Northern Ireland, some of the rules here are different; each clock says how. You need a lawyer or an adviser, not just this page, if a claim is denied, if you are offered a settlement or asked to sign a release, if your employer has no insurance or will not report the injury, if you are fired or punished after reporting it, or if someone other than your employer caused the injury: that can be a separate claim with its own deadline. In the UK a trade union you belong to is another door. If your visa or permission to stay depends on this job, speak to an immigration lawyer or adviser as well.
A different emergency? Account frozen or closed · Benefits stopped · A car accident · Suspended or excluded from school · Debt collector or court papers · Eviction notice · Flood, fire or storm · Unsafe home · Paid a scammer · Lost my job · Lost wallet or phone · A medical bill · Nowhere to sleep · Shutoff notice · Someone died · Someone is missing · A tax bill · Told to leave home
From the library
Do I have to go in when I’m sick, or do a task that isn’t safe?
I got a shutoff notice, court papers or a denial letter — what do I do before the date?