What happens when your L&I license lapses and how to get it back
When your Washington State Department of Labor & Industries (L&I) license expires and you stop paying the premium, your coverage ends. If you were injured after that date, L&I will not cover the claim. To reinstate a lapsed license, you contact L&I directly, pay any back premiums owed, and request reinstatement — the process usually takes a few business days once L&I receives your payment.
The key difference between reinstatement and a new license is timing. Reinstatement restores your old account and coverage history. A new license starts fresh, which can affect your experience rating and premium calculation. Most employers and self-insured workers choose reinstatement when they have only been lapsed for a short time.
Key Takeaways
- Contact L&I's Account Management section by phone or through your online account to request reinstatement and learn what back premiums you owe.
- You must pay all back premiums from the date your coverage lapsed to the date you want coverage to restart.
- Reinstatement is not automatic — L&I processes your request after receiving payment, which typically takes three to five business days.
- If you were injured while lapsed, that injury is not covered by L&I, even if you reinstate afterward.
- Some employers may face a higher experience rating after a lapse, which can increase future premiums.
How to contact L&I and request reinstatement
Call L&I's Account Management section at 1-800-647-0644. Have your account number or business name ready. Tell them your coverage lapsed and you want to reinstate. They will tell you the exact amount of back premiums owed and the date your coverage will restart once payment clears.
You can also log into your L&I account online through the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries website and submit a reinstatement request through your account portal. Either method works, but calling is usually faster because you get an when ready answer about your balance and timeline.
What back premiums you will owe
Back premiums are the insurance payments you missed from the day your coverage lapsed until the day you want it to restart. L&I calculates this based on your account's rate class and the number of months or weeks you were not covered. The amount depends on your industry, payroll history, and how long the lapse lasted.
L&I will not tell you a specific dollar amount until you call or log in, because rates vary by business type and size. When you contact them, ask them to break down the total into the months you owe so you understand what you are paying for. Some employers negotiate a payment plan if the amount is large, though L&I's policy on this varies.
How long reinstatement takes
Once L&I receives your payment, reinstatement usually takes three to five business days. Your coverage does not restart on the day you pay — it restarts on the date L&I processes your request. If you pay on a Friday, do not expect coverage to be active until the following Tuesday or Wednesday at the earliest.
If you need coverage to start on a specific date (for example, because you are bringing an employee back to work), tell L&I that date when you request reinstatement. They will let you know if that date is possible given when your payment will clear.
What reinstatement does and does not cover
Reinstatement restores your L&I coverage from the date you specify going forward. Any injury that happens after that date is covered under your reinstated policy. However, any injury that occurred while your coverage was lapsed is not covered, even after you reinstate. If an employee was injured during the lapse period and you reinstate later, L&I will deny that claim.
This is why timing matters. If you know an employee was injured while you were lapsed, do not reinstate — contact L&I when ready to discuss your options, which may include filing a late report or exploring other coverage paths. Reinstating after an injury occurred will not retroactively cover it.
Experience rating and future premiums after reinstatement
Your experience rating is a number L&I uses to adjust your premium based on your claim history and safety record. A lapse in coverage can affect this rating, depending on how long you were lapsed and your account history. Some employers see a small increase in their next premium; others see no change.
L&I will not tell you in advance how much your rating will change. After you reinstate, ask L&I when your next rate notice will arrive and whether the lapse affected your experience rating. If you disagree with the rating, you can request a review, though you must do so within a set timeframe after receiving your rate notice.
Reinstatement versus starting a new license
If your coverage has been lapsed for a long time (typically more than a year), you may wonder whether to reinstate or start fresh with a new license. Reinstatement preserves your account history and experience rating. A new license starts your experience rating from zero, which can mean a lower premium initially but also means you lose any safety discount you had built up.
Most of the time, reinstatement is the better choice because it keeps your history intact. However, if your account had a very poor experience rating before it lapsed, a new license might lower your premium. Call L&I and ask them to compare the two options for your specific account before you decide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reinstate my license if I owe money from a previous claim?
Yes, but you must pay both the back premiums and any outstanding claim-related debt before L&I will process reinstatement. Call L&I to find out the total amount owed on your account, including any penalties or interest on overdue balances.
What if I do not know my account number?
Give L&I your business name and the owner's name or Social Security number. They can look up your account in their system. Have any old L&I documents or correspondence handy so you can provide details that match their records.
Do I have to reinstate on the exact date my coverage lapsed?
No. You can reinstate on any date you choose, as long as you pay the back premiums for the entire lapse period. If you want coverage to start on a future date, tell L&I that date when you request reinstatement, and they will calculate premiums accordingly.
What happens if an employee gets hurt before my reinstatement is processed?
That injury is not covered because your coverage was not yet active. This is why it is important to know when L&I will process your reinstatement and to avoid having employees work until your coverage is confirmed active. Call L&I to confirm your coverage restart date before bringing workers back.
Can I reinstate online, or do I have to call?
You can submit a reinstatement request through your online L&I account portal. However, calling is often faster because you get when ready confirmation of your balance and timeline. Either method works, so choose whichever is easier for you.