Workers’ Compensation New Hampshire

• Is New Hampshire Workers’ Compensation insurance required?
• How does Workers’ Comp work in NH?
• How much is Workers’ Compensation in New Hampshire?
• Who is exempt from NH Workers’ Comp insurance?
• How NEXT helps New Hampshire small business owners

Is New Hampshire Workers’ Compensation insurance required?

According to the New Hampshire state Employer’s Guide to Workers’ Compensation, businesses with one or more employee are required to carry workers’ compensation insurance. This coverage must extend to all employees, including part-time, temporary and immigrant workers as well as family members working as employees.

Employers must have a workers’ comp policy in good standing before any employees can be hired.

And if you’re an out-of-state employer who has employees “stopping and working in the state,” you’re also required to cover them with worker’s comp in New Hampshire.

All employers who are subject to this insurance requirement must post a notice in a conspicuous workplace location that informs employees of their coverage for workers’ comp.

Another important responsibility for New Hampshire employers is filing a claim for an injured employee within five days of learning of the injury. If an employer fails to file a First Report of Injury, they may be subject to a fine of up to $2,500.

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How does Workers’ Comp work in NH?

New Hampshire employers get help with medical and disability expenses through their insurance company in the event of an employee’s work-related injury or illness. New Hampshire workers’ compensation laws make sure that employees receive benefits if they get hurt or become ill as a result of their work.

Workers’ comp insurance helps employers cover expenses such as:

• Emergency treatment
• Medical bills
• Lost wages
• Death benefits

Workers’ Comp benefits in New Hampshire

Once a filed claim has been approved, employees can receive benefits like:

• A percentage of their weekly wage, called weekly indemnity benefits, depending on the nature of their illness or injury.
• Temporary partial disability, which is paid to injured employees who can return to work but, due to their injury, are temporarily unable to earn their prior earnings.
• Death benefits paid to the surviving dependents of the deceased worker. If an employee dies due to a work-related injury, weekly compensation is paid to their spouse and/or children. Additionally, burial expenses up to $10,000 can be covered.
• Payment of related medical bills, including mileage to doctors’ visits and prescription reimbursement.
• A permanent impairment award, which is paid to employees who suffer the permanent loss of use of a compensable body part.
• Vocational rehabilitation, which means that if an injured worker can no longer return to their job after an illness or injury, they will be retrained for another job at their company or in their field.

New Hampshire Workers’ Compensation insurance reciprocity

In some cases, New Hampshire workers’ comp policies provide coverage when an employee injury happens doing work out of state. NH employers with employees who travel for work should contact their insurance carrier for more details.

If a company in another state has employees who travel for work in New Hampshire, they may have to purchase additional coverage. New Hampshire requires that all employees in the state be covered, even if they are working there on a temporary basis.

Penalties for not carrying Workers’ Comp insurance in NH

Businesses who violate New Hampshire workers’ compensation laws may suffer a financial penalty.

• If you fail to obtain workers’ comp coverage: Your company can be penalized up to $2,500, plus up to $100 per employee per day for each day of non-compliance.
• If you fail to file a notice of coverage: You could pay $50 per day for each day of non-compliance.
• If your business fails to file a First Report of Injury: Fines could total up to $2,500.

The state may prohibit an employer from doing business in the state until they comply with the law. If the employer purposely fails to secure the necessary coverage, they may be charged with a class B felony.

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How much is Workers’ Compensation in New Hampshire?

Workers’ compensation costs vary across industries. Factors that influence price include:

• The number of employees and the type of work they do.
• Your total payroll.
• Your insurance claims history.
• The locations where you do business.

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Who is exempt from NH Workers’ Comp insurance?

The State of New Hampshire Employer’s Guide to Workers’ Compensation and the NH Insurance Department state that the only workers exempt from the requirement to purchase workers’ compensation coverage are:

• Volunteer workers.
• Sole proprietorships (meaning self-employed persons). While workers’ comp is not mandated by the state, a general contractor might require a sole proprietor to carry this insurance before they can bid on or win work.
• Limited liability companies (LLCs) and corporations that have only three owners/members/corporate officers and no other employees.

Note that your exclusion must be requested and approved. If you meet the above requirements, you must ask your insurance company to submit paperwork with the Department of Labor to request the exclusion.

Self-insurance for New Hampshire Workers’ Compensation

In New Hampshire, private employers (or a homogeneous group of employers) may choose to self-insure instead of obtaining workers’ compensation insurance.

Self-insurance means that the employer or group of employers takes on the full financial responsibility that would otherwise be covered by workers’ comp.

Each self-insurance application must demonstrate financial stability and propose a guarantee (usually a surety bond) to cover this risk.

How NEXT helps New Hampshire small business owners

NEXT offers an easy way to get a free workers’ compensation insurance quote, purchase coverage and instantly share a certificate of insurance in about 10 minutes.

NEXT strives to resolve every claim quickly. Learn more about our claims process and how our claims advocates will work with you after an employee injury.

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