Learn About Doing Light-Duty Work While Receiving Worker’s Compensation Benefits

It’s not a surprise to hear someone suffering from injuries occurring on the job. This can be down to a number of factors, from employee negligence to poor working conditions and inadequate safety gear.

If you’re an employee and are injured on the job, you may be eligible for workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits may include medical bills, wage replacement, and more.

However, many employees aren’t familiar with the process or what types of work they can do to limit their injuries so they don’t become permanently disabled.

If you’ve been injured at work, you need to know how to receive workers’ compensation benefits while working. This article covers everything you need to know about receiving worker’s compensation benefits and light-duty work.

What Is Worker’s Compensation?

Worker’s compensation is an insurance system for employees who are injured on the job. Businesses participate in the workers’ compensation system to cover employees who suffer injuries on the job.

There are two major types of workers’ compensation: employer-sponsored insurance and self-funded insurance. Employer-sponsored insurance is mandatory for all employers with a payroll of $500 or more per calendar year.

Self-funded insurance is voluntary on the employer’s part and is intended for smaller operations with payrolls under $500 per calendar year. With either type of workers’ compensation insurance, businesses are reimbursed for expenses related to the lost wages caused by an employee’s injury.

The Types of Work You Can Do Under Workers’ Comp Laws     

Even if you’ve been injured at work, the law allows you to work for up to 70 percent of your “normal” work hours.

This means you can work normal jobs like a teacher or a carpenter, but you can’t do “heavy” work like operating heavy machinery.

There are some kinds of work you can do under workers’ compensation laws:

• Normal Work: This includes any job that doesn’t put more exertion on your body.
• Light Work: This includes jobs that don’t require heavy physical work, like telemarketing or data entry. 
• Heavy Work: This includes jobs that require heavy physical work, like operating heavy machinery or manufacturing. However, this type of work can only be done if you suffer minor injuries and there is no risk of further damage. 

What Are The Benefits Of Receiving Worker’s Compensation?

In addition to paying a portion of lost wages due to an injury, the workers’ compensation system also provides medical benefits. This includes medical bills, medications, and health care.

You must have been injured on the job to qualify for workers’ compensation benefits. You don’t have to be hurt at work to be eligible for these benefits. Workers’ compensation benefits also include a portion of your wages while you recover.

This portion is referred to as temporary disability benefits. You may also qualify for permanent disability benefits if you are left with a disability that lasts a lifetime.

Steps To Take When Applying for a Workers’ Compensation Claim

The first thing you should do when applying for a workers’ compensation claim is make an appointment with your healthcare provider to diagnose your injuries. Many workers aren’t aware of the symptoms associated with their injuries, which can delay their ability to file a claim and receive benefits.

Next, you should speak with your employer to get a complete picture of the incident that caused your injuries. With your information, you can then decide whether to file a workers’ compensation claim on your own or hire a lawyer to handle your case.

If you decide to file a claim independently, you’ll need to fill out a workers’ compensation claim form and submit it to your insurance company.

Tips For Receiving Workers’ Compensation Benefits

When you file a workers’ compensation claim, make sure you have medical documentation and photos of your injuries. If you’re filing a workers’ compensation claim on your own, make sure you have a complete and accurate workers’ compensation claim form.

Don’t lie or exaggerate your injuries when you apply for workers’ compensation benefits. If your employer suspects you’re not being honest, they may not have to meet your terms. If your employer is uncooperative and untrustworthy, consider filing a formal complaint with your state agency.

This could allow you to receive benefits while you pursue a resolution with your employer. While some employers will give injured workers a hard time and make it challenging to receive workers’ compensation benefits, most employers want to do the right thing.

When filing a workers’ compensation claim, don’t hesitate to speak and say what you want. This could allow you to receive benefits while you pursue a resolution with your employer.

What Is Light-Duty Work?

Light-duty work is a type of work that people with specific injuries are allowed to do. Theoretically, this type of work is the same as regular, full-time work. However, people with specific injuries can’t do their work the same way as people without those injuries.

For example, people with upper extremity injuries can’t do heavy lifting. People with orthopedic injuries can’t do certain types of physical activity, and people with lower extremity injuries can’t do hard work.

If you have a work injury that impacts your ability to do heavy lifting, you could try to do light-duty work. This means you could be asked to lift and carry things that weigh less than you could before your injury. You can also sit at a desk all day instead of walking around and moving objects.

Consequences Of Accepting Or Turning Down A Light-Duty position.

Considering the consequences of accepting or turning down a light-duty position is essential.

• Consider your own physical limitations: You may be able to return to work sooner than you think, but it will take time and effort on your part. You should ensure you have enough energy and stamina before accepting any job requiring heavy lifting or long hours at the office.
• Consider the time frame for your recovery. It may take a long time to recover from an injury, even if it is just minor surgery done at home with no anesthesia involved (such as removing a splint). If there are restrictions on how much activity can be carried out during this recovery period due to pain levels, then working full-time could lead to further complications in terms of physical health issues later down the road when they become evident because they weren’t appropriately addressed early enough after being injured initially.

Recommendations of Your Treating Physician

You may be assigned a light-duty job based on the recommendations of your treating physician. Your treating physician will need to certify that you can perform light-duty work and that this type of work will not aggravate your condition.

If they do so, then you may be required to take a job in which you do not have to use your physical strength, such as office work or computer operations.

Suppose you have been injured while working as part of a team and cannot return immediately to whole duty due to physical limitations related to the accident or serious psychological trauma from witnessing an accident or death. In that case, you are eligible for workers’ compensation and light jobs.

Light-Duty Work And Worker’s Compensation

Some states expand the definition of light-duty work to include receiving workers’ compensation benefits. This means some injured employees may be allowed to work part-time while receiving workers’ compensation benefits.

The workers’ compensation system also allows employees to take part-time jobs while receiving benefits. This may provide a means of returning to work after an injury. Before accepting a light-duty job, employees must contact their workers’ compensation insurance provider to see if it is allowed.

Some light-duty work may be allowed for up to 30 days. You may qualify for workers’ compensation benefits if the injury does not allow you to perform routine daily activities. In some cases, you may also be allowed to work part-time.

The workers’ compensation system will determine what type of work you can perform. Workers’ compensation benefits include a portion of your wages while you recover.

Find Out If You Qualify For Light-Duty Work

Before you receive worker’s compensation benefits, you must be approved for light-duty work. The workers’ compensation provider will assess your injury and see if you can perform specific tasks.

If you are approved, you will be placed on a light-duty roster. You must use your employee benefits, such as sick time while working on the light-duty roster. However, if your injury is severe enough, you may have to take time off from work.

Work-related injuries not only cause physical pain but cause a lot of emotional stress, which might result in PTSD in severe cases. However, if you get the proper treatment, you can be eligible for light-duty work to bring some normalcy to your life.

Before you receive worker’s compensation benefits, you must be approved for light-duty work. However, if there are complications with your claim, you must hire an expert attorney. They can help you gather evidence and make the case stronger. As a result, you will win the case and a fair compensation to reduce the financial impact of the incident.

Read Also:

• The Consequences of Not Following OSHA Safety Regulations On A Construction Site
• What Are Compensation Claims? What Are The Types Of Injuries Covered?
• 3 Reasons Healthcare Organizations Automate their Booking Services