If you run a business in Mississippi with five or more employees, you’re legally required to carry Mississippi Workers’ Comp Insurance. This isn’t just good practice—it’s mandated under MWCC guidelines. From construction sites in Gulfport to clinics in Jackson, compliance protects your business and your employees from costly consequences.
This guide outlines who needs coverage, how much it costs, what it includes, and how the workers’ comp claim process in Mississippi works—so you avoid penalties and stay protected.
Who Needs Coverage in Mississippi?
Under the Mississippi Workers’ Compensation Commission (MWCC), coverage is required for any business with five or more regular employees. This includes:
- Full-time employees
- Part-time workers
- Seasonal laborers
- Temporary hires
These workers must be on your payroll regularly to count toward the five-employee threshold. Even if your team includes part-timers or only operates seasonally, you’re likely still required to carry coverage.
Mississippi Workers' Comp Exemptions
There are a few exceptions under state law:
- Agricultural employers: Exempt unless employing five or more regular, non-seasonal workers. Farm and domestic labor is not covered under the law
- Domestic workers: Private household help is not required to be covered.
- Independent contractors: Exempt if they meet clear classification standards (but misclassifying employees can lead to serious fines).
- Sole proprietors: Not required unless they hire others.
However, once you hire even one full-time employee for an extended period, you lose your exemption. For example, a small farm that brings on six seasonal workers during harvest may need to carry a policy—even if they’re only hired for a few months.
Employer Responsibilities: Workers' Compensation MS
As a Mississippi employer, your responsibilities include:
- Maintaining an active and compliant policy
- Posting workers’ comp notices in visible areas
- Reporting workplace injuries promptly
- Cooperating with the insurer during claims reviews
- Preventing retaliation against injured employees
Failing to meet these requirements can result in fines, lawsuits, and loss of legal protections. Mississippi employers that don’t carry coverage when required may be personally liable for injury costs.
What Mississippi Workers' Comp Insurance Covers
Your policy offers vital protections for both your employees and your business:
1. Medical Benefits
Covers hospital care, surgery, rehabilitation, medications, and other treatments related to workplace injuries or illnesses.
2. Wage Replacement
Disability benefits of up to two-thirds of the employee’s average weekly wage while they cannot work, after the five day waiting period.
- Temporary Total Disability (TTD): Two-thirds (66⅔%) of the injured worker’s average weekly wage.
- Permanent Partial Disability (PPD): Compensates for long-term injuries that limit function but allow some work.
- Permanent Total Disability (PTD): Lifetime wage support when an employee cannot work in any capacity.
3. Vocational Rehabilitation
Covers retraining and placement services when employees can’t return to their former roles.
4. Death Benefits
In cases of fatal injuries, surviving dependents receive wage replacement and funeral expenses.
Common Workplace Claims in Mississippi
Mississippi’s hot climate, labor-intensive economy, and storm-prone coastline contribute to higher injury risks. Here are common claim scenarios:
- Lifting Injuries: Warehouses, construction sites, and landscaping jobs often report overexertion claims.
- Slips and Falls: Slick floors in restaurants or healthcare settings result in broken bones or concussions.
- Machinery Accidents: Factories and farms report frequent lacerations, amputations, or crush injuries.
- Repetitive Motion: Office employees develop carpal tunnel or tendonitis from long hours at a desk.
- Heatstroke: Common among outdoor laborers during peak summer months.
Want a simple breakdown of how workers’ comp works? Read our guide: Workers’ Comp Insurance Basics – What You Should Know.
Workers' Compensation Premiums Mississippi Employers Should Expect
Rates vary by industry, payroll, and claims history.
Several factors affect what you pay:
- Payroll total: More employees = higher premiums
- Industry classification: High-risk jobs like roofing pay more
- Safety record: Claims-free businesses often receive discounts
- Experience modifier: Based on your past claims vs industry average
- Deductible choice: Higher deductibles may lower your premium
Mississippi offers an Assigned Risk Pool for employers who cannot obtain coverage through private insurers, or employers may pursue an approved self-insurance plan.
Workers' Comp Claim Process in Mississippi
Understanding the workers’ comp claim process Mississippi law requires is critical to avoiding delays and penalties.
Step-by-Step Process:
- Employee reports the injury
- Must notify employer within 30 days
- Written notice is preferred, though verbal is acceptable
- Employer notifies insurer
- The Workers’ Compensation law of Mississippi holds the employer responsible for reporting work related injuries and illnesses within 10 days to both the MWCC and insurance carrier
- Complete documentation and incident details
- Claim is processed
- The insurer evaluates the injury, work conditions, medical reports
- Benefits are approved or denied accordingly
- Disputes
- If issues arise, mediation or hearings are scheduled through the MWCC
Mississippi enforces strict compliance through the MWCC. If an employer fails to carry insurance or delays filing claims, the penalties can include:
- Employers that are found to be in violation of the state mandate may face penalties including a fine of up to $1,000, one year in jail, or both. In addition, the MS workers’ compensation commission can assess a fine up to $10,000 to employers who fail to secure coverage
- Loss of exclusive remedy protections (you can be sued directly)
- Forced business closure until coverage is secured
Mississippi Workers' Comp Compliance: Your Next Step
The cost of noncompliance is simply too high. Whether you manage a five-person office in Jackson or a 50-person roofing crew in Hattiesburg, Mississippi workers’ comp compliance isn’t optional—it’s essential.
To stay compliant:
- Make sure your business meets MWCC guidelines
- Confirm your policy covers all required workers
- Track injury reports and claims filing timelines
- Budget for premiums based on your risk class
Need Help or a Fast Quote?
Call us at 855-718-7552. Don’t wait until a workplace accident or audit hits—get protected today.
