§ 10400. Filing and Service of Applications.

(a) Except as provided by sections 10865 and 10953, proceedings for the adjudication of rights and liabilities before the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board shall be initiated by the filing of an Application for Adjudication, a case opening Compromise and Release Agreement, a case opening Stipulations with Request for Award, or a Request for Findings of Fact under section 10405.

(b) A case opening Compromise and Release Agreement, a case opening Stipulations with Request for Award, and a Request for Findings of Fact under section 10405 are each an “application” for purposes of invoking the jurisdiction of the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board, but none of these documents shall be deemed an application for purposes of Labor Code section 4064(c).

(c) Upon the filing of an initial application, the application shall be assigned an adjudication case number and a venue.

(d) When filing an amended application, the applicant shall indicate on the box set forth on the application form that it is an “amended” application.

(e) Upon filing an Application for Adjudication, the filing party or lien claimant shall concurrently serve a copy of the application and any accompanying documents on all other parties and lien claimants.

(f) If the party filing the application is an unrepresented injured employee, an unrepresented dependent of a deceased employee, or a lien claimant or non-attorney representative of a lien claimant who falls within one of the exceptions of section 10228, subdivisions (c)(5)(A) through (c)(5)(C), the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board:

(1) shall serve a conformed copy of the application on all parties and lien claimants, including the filing applicant, who are listed on either on the application, on the proof of service to the application, or on the address record (if an address record was previously created for an earlier application); and

(2) if it is an initial application, shall concurrently give notification of the assigned adjudication case number and venue.

Such service shall be deemed service of a conformed copy of the application for purposes of Labor Code section 5501.

(g) For all other parties and lien claimants, the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board:

(1) shall serve a conformed copy of the application on the filing party or lien claimant (or, if represented, on the filing party or lien claimant's attorney or other representative); and

(2) if it is an initial application, shall concurrently give notification of the assigned adjudication case number and venue.

Upon receipt of the conformed copy of the application, the filing party or lien claimant (or, if represented, the filing party or lien claimant's attorney or other representative) shall forthwith serve a copy of the conformed application on all other parties and lien claimants who are listed on the application or on the proof of service to the application, and, if it is an initial application, shall concurrently notify all other parties and lien claimants of the assigned adjudication case number and venue.

Such service shall be deemed service of a conformed copy of the application for purposes of Labor Code section 5501.

(h) Disclosure of the applicant's Social Security number is voluntary, not mandatory. A failure to provide a Social Security number will not have any adverse consequences. Nevertheless, although an applicant is not required by law to provide a Social Security number, he or she is encouraged to do so. Social Security numbers are used solely for identification and verification purposes in order to administer the workers' compensation system. A Social Security number will not be disclosed, made available, or otherwise used for purposes other than those specified, except with the consent of the applicant, or as permitted or required by statute, regulation, or judicial order.

HISTORY

1. Repealer and new section exempt from OAL review pursuant to Government Code section 11351 filed 12-19-90; operative 1-1-91 (Register 91, No. 7).

2. Amendment of section filed 6-11-92 with Secretary of State by Workers' Compensation Appeals Board; operative 6-11-92. Submitted to OAL for printing only pursuant to Government Code section 11351 (Register 92, No. 24).

3. Amendment filed 12-23-93; operative 1-1-94. Submitted to OAL for printing only pursuant to Government Code section 11351 (Register 93, No. 52).

4. Editorial correction of article heading (Register 93, No. 53).

5. Amendment of section and Note filed 12-19-2002; operative 1-1-2003. Submitted to OAL for printing only pursuant to Government Code section 11351 (Register 2002, No. 51).

6. Amendment of section heading, section and Note filed 11-17-2008; operative 11-17-2008. Submitted to OAL for printing only (Register 2008, No. 47).

7. Amendment of article 5 heading filed 9-23-2013; operative 10-23-2013. Submitted as a file and print by the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board pursuant to Government Code section 11351 (Register 2013, No. 39).

Note

Note: Authority cited: Sections 133, 5307, 5309 and 5708, Labor Code. Reference: Sections 126, 5316, 5500 and 5501, Labor Code.