General preparation · Source checked 2026-11-09 · AI-assisted editorial

Organize a Claim When You Have No Printer or Scanner

You can begin organizing a claim without a printer or scanner by keeping the records you already have readable, findable and complete. A small handwritten index and carefully made digital copies can be enough for personal preparation. Filing or submitting records is a separate task with its own instructions.

In this article

Use the format you can maintain

If your records are on paper, keep each notice with its attachments and envelope. Use a simple folder or labeled grouping rather than separating pages by how important they first appear. A handwritten index can identify the title, date, sender and location of each item.

If records are already digital, retain the original file or message in addition to any screenshot. Rename a working copy descriptively if helpful, but preserve the content as received. A screenshot of a message may omit attachments, sender details or the rest of the conversation.

You do not need a new account or paid document service to start this private organization. Use a method you understand and can access again.

Make readable reference copies

When using a camera for a personal copy, include the whole page and check the result immediately. Look at the edges, small print, signatures and page numbers. Take each page in order, including a printed reverse side and any enclosure.

Keep the paper original. If a page is blurred or cut off, retake that page and verify the order. Do not assume that an image readable on a small screen will answer every question about the original document.

These are reference-copy suggestions, not a representation that a photograph satisfies an agency’s filing, signature or evidence requirements. Ask the intended recipient what format is acceptable before relying on a copy for a formal purpose.

Keep a short access list

Write down practical obstacles separately: a file you cannot open, a notice you cannot read fully, an attachment that appears missing or a submission instruction you cannot use. That list allows a helper or official resource to address the access problem without requiring you to explain the entire claim first.

Pennsylvania’s BWC information page identifies assistance for questions about the system and difficulties registering for WCAIS. DLI’s publications page also describes a route for asking about an alternative version when none is listed. Availability and the right format still need to be confirmed for your situation.

Separate personal organization from submission

WCOA’s current FAQ describes petition routes through WCAIS or mail. That does not mean every document, photograph or email can be submitted in any way. Read the instructions for the actual record and proceeding, including any judge’s instructions.

Your immediate organizing goal is modest: locate the complete notice, know where its original is, and identify the question blocking the next step. If access problems affect an approaching event or required action, obtain specific help with that issue. This page does not change a filing requirement or extend a date.

Sources and scope

Checked 2026-11-09. These sources explain the Pennsylvania background identified below. The organizing methods and suggested questions on this page are editorial guidance, not filing requirements.

PA DLI: Bureau of Workers’ Compensation — Contact us; helpline description.
PA DLI: Workers’ Compensation Publications — Paragraph before publications list.
PA DLI: Workers’ Compensation Office of Adjudication — How does my case get to a WCJ?.