Workers’ compensation is paid out to workers who are injured on the job. Workers get a quick and guaranteed source of benefit funds and in exchange, they agree not to sue their employer. Everyone’s costs are reduced, and everyone wins. But what happens when you return to work? Are you benefits automatically ended or is there some sort of grace period? This post will go over those questions.
If your benefits are meant as replacements for your wage, then it will end once you return to work. If you are fully recovered from your injuries and are able to return to your same job and same wage, then your benefits end. But if you are still recovering and must accept a lower wage because you can’t do the same job, then you may still get benefits. They will likely be reduced, but your benefit should still continue.
Conversely, if a portion of your benefits is reserved just for your medical expenses, it is unlikely that a return to work will end those benefits. Many injuries can last for months or years and require regular medical visits and therapies. Workers’ compensation that goes to these benefits do not end just because you return to work.
Your employer bears the responsibility of keeping your job environment safe. In exchange, you are entitled to workers’ compensation if you are injured on the job, regardless of the fault. You may want to speak to an attorney to ensure that your benefits are approved and continue unabated. Workers’ compensation claims can get complicated and the slightest error in your paperwork could result in your claim being denied. Don’t risk your benefits by enlisting the help of an attorney.
