THE SHORT ANSWER
Use the DWC’s public information case search. It covers cases in the Appeals Board’s Adjudication Unit — the ones with an ADJ number — and shows the date of injury, the employer, the next hearing if one is scheduled, and case events from the last six months. It shows no documents, and it runs a day behind. If no Application for Adjudication has been filed, there is no ADJ case for it to find.
On this page
The state runs a public search for workers’ compensation court cases. Here is what it shows, what it leaves out, and what to do when there is nothing to find.
What EAMS is
EAMSEAMS Electronic Adjudication Management System. The Board’s case file system. is the court’s case system. The Division of Workers’ Compensation describes the Electronic Adjudication Management System as “a computer-based case management system that simplified and improved the Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWCDWC Division of Workers’ Compensation, part of the Department of Industrial Relations. Administers the system. Information Services Center: 1-800-736-7401.) case management process.” It is where the Appeals Board’s case files live, in electronic form.
A case exists because someone filed it. DWC’s EAMS FAQ: “Cases are created by filing eForms, JET filing (electronic methods) or using scanner-ready optical character recognition (OCR) paper forms.”
What an ADJ number is
It is your case number at the Appeals Board. In DWC’s own guide, filing an Application for AdjudicationApplication for Adjudication Opens your case at the Appeals Board. One year. of Claim “opens a case with the WCABWCAB Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. The court system that decides these cases. 23 district offices statewide..” The DWC office where the application was filed then sends a notice confirming it. “The notice will include your assigned case number, which will begin with the letters ‘ADJ’ followed by a sequence of numbers.” DWC’s own example of the format is ADJ1234567.
Keep that notice. DWC says to use the assigned case number on all documents and correspondence relating to your case.
It is not your claim number. Your ADJ case number and your workers’ compensation claim number are different numbers; the job displacement voucher application asks for each. How the voucher works
An older case may carry an older number. A legacy case number is seven digits preceded by the old venue code, such as OAK, SDO, or BAK. DWC says every legacy case number has a corresponding EAMS case number, and its EAMS and legacy case number lookup finds one from the other. Enter the full number, with no space between the letters and the digits.
How to look up your case
Use DWC’s public information case search. It is linked from DWC’s EAMS page, and DWC explains it on its page about the search. DWC’s court calendar page is direct about it: “If you are an injured worker looking for information specifically pertaining to your case, please use the public information case search tool.”
Expect to identify yourself. DWC’s page says the law requires anyone requesting this information to identify themselves, state the reason for the request, and not disclose the information to anyone who is not entitled to it.
It runs a day behind. “This is not a ‘real time’ search. The data is refreshed nightly and is, therefore, one day behind.” Something filed today will not show today.
It times out. After 15 minutes of inactivity, with a warning first that lets you extend the search or exit.
DWC’s pages describe what a result contains, not the search screen, and neither does this one.
What a result shows
| PART OF THE RESULT | WHAT DWC SAYS IT INCLUDES |
|---|---|
| Case information | Case number, date of injury, assigned judge, archived indicator, DEU indicator (informational only), the injured worker’s first and last name, employer(s), and case location (venue) |
| Hearing information | Next hearing date and time — only if a hearing is scheduled in the future — plus hearing type, hearing location, and hearing judge |
| Body parts | Each body part, with a description |
| Active case participants | Each participant’s name, role, and address. No address is given for the injured worker |
| Case events | A general description, a detailed description, and the event date |
What it does not show
- Documents — “No documents are available through this search function.” DWC’s FAQ for injured workers adds that it does not include medical records.
- Your home address or Social Security number — Both are confidential.
- Older events — Only case events from the last six months are displayed, except the filing of the application for adjudication and the filing of a closing document.
- Today’s filings — The data is a day behind.
- Rating and return-to-work files — It does not cover Disability Evaluation UnitDEU Disability Evaluation Unit. Produces formal ratings from medical reports. cases or Retraining and Return to Work Unit cases.
- A case that was never opened — It covers Adjudication Unit (ADJ) cases only.
If there is no ADJ number yet
It generally means no Application for Adjudication has been filed. Giving your employer the DWC 1 claim form starts the claim. The Application is what opens a case at the Appeals Board. Until it is filed there is no judge, no case number, and nothing for the search to find. The claim, start to finish
What the Application is for. DWC’s guide says to complete it when you have a disagreement with your employer or its insurance company that you want the WCAB to resolve — or when you think you may need the WCAB in the future and the time allowed to file could run out.
That time is limited. The Application is generally due within one year of the date of injuryDate of injury For a cumulative or occupational disease claim, the law sets it as when you first suffered disability and knew or should have known it was work-related — not when the wear began. Almost every deadline runs off this., extended by benefits actually provided. Every deadline in one place · Every form, and what it starts
If you think one was filed — by you or by a lawyer — look for the DWC notice confirming the filing, because it carries the ADJ numberADJ number Your case number at the Appeals Board.. You can also ask the adjusterClaims administrator / adjuster The person handling your claim for the insurer or self-insured employer. for the number in writing, or ask the I&AI&A Information & Assistance officer. Free help with questions and forms at every district office. Underused. officer described below. Getting your own file · Nothing is happening on my claim
Seeing an upcoming hearing, and where it is
If a hearing is set, the result lists it — date and time, hearing type, hearing location, and the judge. The date appears only when a hearing is scheduled in the future.
No hearing listed? Hearings are not set on their own. DWC: “You must file a Declaration of Readiness to ProceedDOR Declaration of Readiness to Proceed. Forces the calendar. You have 10 calendar days to object, or objections to proceeding on its issues are waived. to request a hearing. Your case will be scheduled for a hearing called a mandatory settlement conferenceMSC Mandatory Settlement Conference. Where most cases end — and where discovery closes. (MSC).” If you are served with a Declaration of Readiness, you have 10 calendar days to object. What happens at hearings and trial
Where it is. The result names the hearing location and the case’s venue. Addresses, parking, and security for each Southern California district office are on our WCAB offices page. Most conferences run by video; trials, lien trials, expedited hearings, and walk-throughs are in person. Your Notice of Hearing carries the join link for a remote proceeding. Keep it.
Free help: Information & Assistance
The state’s I&A officers answer these questions at no cost. DWC describes its Information and Assistance Unit as providing “information and assistance to employees … concerning rights, benefits and obligations under California’s workers’ compensation laws,” and says it “is often the first DWC contact for injured workers.”
They can give you a status report. From DWC’s FAQ for injured workers: “If you have an attorney, he or she should be keeping you up to date. If you don’t have an attorney, contact the I&A officer at your local DWC district office for a status report.” DWC adds that its call center staff “is also fully equipped to give you status updates on your case.”
They do not represent you. In DWC’s words, “They are not there to act on your behalf as an attorney would, but they’ll help you understand how to act on your own behalf.” Their services are free.
Where to reach them. DWC’s Information & Assistance page lists the local I&A offices; DWC’s office locations page lists the district offices. DWC’s EAMS FAQ also lists an EAMS Help Desk for general information or a case status update. When you probably don’t need a lawyer
Who else can see it
The search is public. DWC: “The information on workers’ compensation adjudication cases provided through this search function is public information.”
Some of it is not. Injured workers’ residence addresses and Social Security numbers are confidential. If the reason for a request is pre-employment screening, DWC says the requestor must follow its guidelines for access to public records.
Once an Application is filed. DWC’s FAQ for injured workers: “once an Application for Adjudication of Claim is filed, case file information, including case documents, may be disclosed under the California Public Records Act.”
Your own case is open to you. DWC’s EAMS FAQ: “Applicants have access to all information about their case.” Getting a copy of your own file
Frequently asked questions
What is an ADJ number?
Your case number at the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board. It is assigned when an Application for Adjudication of Claim is filed, and it begins with the letters ADJ followed by a sequence of numbers.
Can I look up my case by my name?
DWC’s pages list what a result shows, including the injured worker’s name, but they do not say which details a case search accepts. If you cannot find your case, ask the I&A officer at your local district office for a status report.
Why can’t I find my case?
The search covers only Adjudication Unit (ADJ) cases, so if no Application for Adjudication has been filed there is nothing to find. It also runs a day behind, and it does not cover Disability Evaluation Unit or Retraining and Return to Work Unit cases.
My paperwork has an old number starting with letters like OAK or SDO.
That is a legacy case number. Every legacy case number has a corresponding EAMS case number, and DWC’s EAMS and legacy case number lookup finds it.
Sources
DWC Electronic Adjudication Management System (EAMS)DWC, information about the public information case search functionDWC EAMS FAQsDWC EAMS and legacy case number lookupDWC FAQs for injured workersDWC, If my claim was deniedDWC I&A Guide 4, How to file an application for adjudication of claim (PDF)DWC court calendarDWC Information & AssistanceDWC office locationsLabor Code § 138.7§ 54058 CCR § 10744.
(213) 380-9310
General information about California law, not legal advice about your case.
Reviewed by Jamey Teitell, Partner & Trial Attorney · Last reviewed
Law Offices of Solov & Teitell, APC · (213) 380-9310
Printed from https://www.solovteitell.com/resources/look-up-your-case/ · Last reviewed