North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance
North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance is the monopolistic state workers compensation fund in North Dakota. Private carriers do not write workers comp in North Dakota, every employer subject to coverage buys directly from the state fund. Verified 2026-05-09.
About North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance
North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance is the monopolistic state workers compensation fund in North Dakota. Private carriers do not write workers comp in North Dakota, every employer subject to coverage buys directly from the state fund.
State funds were originally created to ensure every employer can find workers comp coverage, even employers private carriers refuse to write. In North Dakota, the state fund is the only writer; there is no private market for workers comp here.
Pricing on a state fund policy in North Dakota
State funds use the same North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance class code rate filings as private carriers; the rate per $100 of payroll is the same. Differences come in at the schedule rating stage (where the underwriter applies discretionary credits or debits, capped at 25% in North Dakota) and the dividend programs (some state funds return a portion of premium to policyholders in good loss years).
Claims handling
Statutory benefits are set by North Dakota law and apply equally to state fund and private carrier policies. The state fund typically maintains its own in-house claims operation, while private carriers may use third-party administrators (TPAs). Some employers prefer the state fund for the consistency of a single in-state claims team; others prefer private carrier TPAs for specialization in their industry.
Related reading
FAQs
What is North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance?
North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance is the monopolistic state workers compensation fund in North Dakota. Private carriers do not write workers comp in North Dakota, every employer subject to coverage buys directly from the state fund.
Is North Dakota a monopolistic state for workers comp?
Yes. North Dakota is one of a small number of monopolistic states; private carriers do not write workers comp in North Dakota, every covered employer buys from North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance directly.
Who is eligible to buy from North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance?
Every North Dakota employer subject to the workers comp coverage requirement must buy from North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance. There is no opt-out except for industry-specific statutory exemptions.
Who has to carry workers comp in North Dakota?
All employers with employees
What is the penalty for skipping coverage in North Dakota?
Employers failing to provide coverage are subject to fines, penalties, and may be held personally liable for the full cost of any employee injuries or illnesses.
What is the max weekly benefit on a North Dakota Workforce Safety & Insurance policy?
Statutory benefits are set by North Dakota law and apply equally on private and state-fund policies. The max weekly indemnity benefit is $1,569 (effective 2025-07-01), calculated as 66.67% of the average weekly wage.