Does Returning to Work Affect Workers’ Compensation?

You may be proud of yourself for being able to physically recover enough after your workplace accident that your doctor clears you to return to work. But of course, this excitement may be mixed with anxieties. Specifically, you may worry that you may be unable to perform your job duties at the same capacity as before. Therefore, you may be hesitant to trade off your workers’ compensation benefits just yet. With that said, please read on to discover how returning to work might affect the payments you receive, and how a seasoned lawyer in workers’ compensation benefits in Florida, at The Law Firm of Kevin A. Moore, can help confirm you are ready to take this step forward.

How does returning to work affect my workers’ compensation benefits?

You may be relieved to learn that returning to work may not entirely end your workers’ compensation benefits. That is, if you can receive full pay again without restrictions, your wage replacement benefits may stop (i.e., temporary total disability compensation). However, your medical benefits may continue. This is because your necessary medical treatments and prescription medications related to your work-related injury may still be ongoing. 

Then, under the circumstances that you are earning less than before, you may receive partial wage benefits from your employer’s workers’ compensation program. This may require you to establish proof that your treating physician has placed restrictions on your work activities because you have not yet reached a full physical recovery. Understandably, this can all be very confusing, so it is best to consult with a lawyer to understand what benefits you still qualify for.

What happens if I return to work but cannot perform my previous job duties?

Once you return to work, you must be honest with yourself if you cannot meet the same job demands as before. At the end of the day, your physical health comes first, and you do not want to perform any job duties that exacerbate your already fragile condition. Under these circumstances, please do not hesitate to report your concerns to your employer and your treating physician.

From here, your physician may conduct a physical examination and determine whether you are indeed unable to continue working the same way. Rest assured that this medical decision is not the end of the road for you, as it may open up the opportunity to collect temporary total disability compensation again. Or, your employer may offer you light duty, which consists of modified job tasks that comply with your medical restrictions.

Importantly, if your physician signs off on this offered light duty, you should not refuse it. Doing so may jeopardize your benefits eligibility, to put it plainly. Last but not least, if your previous job cannot easily translate into light duty, you may consider vocational rehabilitation. This program may offer you job training, education, and placement services so that you may transition into a new type of work more seamlessly. 

Ever since your workplace accident, you may have been dealing with a lot of physical, emotional, and financial challenges. So please let us help you the best way we know how, which is getting you the financial compensation you deserve. Schedule an initial consultation with The Law Firm of Kevin A. Moore and speak with a competent lawyer in workers’ compensation benefits in Florida today.