Legal Question in Workers Comp in California

Uninsured Employers and the Uninsured Employer's Fund (UEF)

All employers in California are required by law to have workers' compensation insurance. Unfortunately, there are many employers who do not comply with this requirement.

Just because you employer was uninsured does not mean that you cannot pursue a claim. There exists an agency of the state known as the Uninsured Employer's Fund (UEF), which acts as an "insurance company" when an employer is uninsured. You must file a claim with this agency in order to pursue your case. The agency pays benefits and acts just like an insurance company would. Any money paid out by UEF is later recovered from the uninsured employer by way of a civil lawsuit by UEF against the employer.

Claims against UEF are fairly complex in that you must go through various steps to prove that the employer is uninsured and you must then personally serve the employer with the claim. It is recommended that you contact the Information & Assistance Officer at you local Workers' Compensation Appeals Board or that you consult with an attorney.