Methods are provided for HARQ with channel repetitions. In one novel aspect, the user equipment (UE) receives the resource grant and determines the type of the grant as being the initial resource grant or the secondary resource grant. The initial resource grant carries full control information and the secondary resource grant carries partial control information. In some embodiments, the determination of the type of the grant is based on the RNTI or the payload size. In another embodiment, the UE performs data retransmission based on information from the secondary resource grant and the initial resource grant. In another novel aspect, the UE receives higher layer, such the RRC layer. The UE subsequently receives UL or DL secondary resource grant for both initial transmission and the re-transmission. The UE combines the parameters in the UE-specific configuration and the received secondary resource grants for its UL transmission or DL reception.