A work injury may leave you unsure about earning money while you recover. You might wonder whether to return to your current job or work for a new employer. In California, the answer depends on your doctor’s limits, the job duties and the pay you receive. Light-duty work with your current employer differs from outside work, but both may affect temporary disability benefits.
Returning to light-duty work
Your doctor decides whether you are ready to work and lists limits on your duties, hours or physical activity. Your employer could offer light-duty or modified work that follows those limits. Before you accept, compare the job duties with your doctor’s report.
Temporary disability benefits replace part of the wages you lose while you recover. If the light-duty job pays your full wage, those benefits usually stop because you no longer have wage loss.
If the modified or light-duty job pays less than your prior wage, you may qualify for temporary partial disability benefits. California calculates the payment at two-thirds of your weekly wage loss, which is the difference between your pre-injury average weekly earnings and your current earnings. The benefit remains subject to the state’s weekly limit.
Refusing suitable work could affect your benefits. Do not perform tasks that go beyond your doctor’s limits. Tell your doctor and employer if the work causes new pain or does not match your written limits.
Working for another employer
You are not always barred from taking a job with another employer while your claim remains open. Still, the new job must fit your medical limits. Work that conflicts with those limits might raise concerns about your injury or your need for wage-loss benefits.
Report all job income to the claims administrator. This includes wages, tips, bonuses and other pay. New income may reduce your temporary disability benefits because those payments replace lost wages. Failing to report earnings could lead to an overpayment dispute.
Keep your pay records, work schedule, job description and medical reports. These records may help show what work you did and how much you earned.
Understanding work and benefit rules
Before you accept a job, compare its duties with your doctor’s limits and report all income. Clear records help you follow California workers’ compensation rules while you meet your financial needs and protect your recovery.