Are you thinking about starting a new job while receiving Kentucky workers’ compensation benefits? You’re not alone. Many injured workers need extra income or want a fresh start after a workplace accident or occupational illness. Some people feel ready to work again in a different role that’s less physical. Others need a new job because their old one no longer fits their medical limitations.
You should wait and talk to us if you’re asking, “Can I get another job while on workers’ comp?” Before you make any decisions, you should speak with a workplace injury lawyer who understands Kentucky workers’ compensation laws. An experienced attorney from Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer can answer your questions and explain how a new job could affect your benefits.
Contact us today for a free consultation to learn more about how seeking a new job could affect your workers’ compensation claim.
Issues Related to Applying for New Jobs While on Workers’ Comp in Kentucky
If you’re thinking about applying for new jobs while getting workers’ compensation benefits in Kentucky, you need to know how a job search could affect your claim. You could lose your benefits if you make mistakes while looking for work. Always be honest on applications and talk to your doctor and our workers’ compensation lawyer before taking steps that could affect your recovery or your case.
How Could a New Job Affect My Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
If you take a new job, your workers’ comp benefits might change. Some people find light-duty work that does not put strain on their injuries. For example, you might switch from a warehouse job to a desk job. That could help you earn income while healing.
However, the insurance company will still look at what you now make and could reduce your wage-replacement benefits. If your new job pays close to what you earned before, you might stop getting lost income benefits altogether. Even if the job feels easy, it could still signal to the insurer that you no longer need as much support.
Do I Need to Inform My Current Employer About Starting a Second Job?
Yes, you should always tell your current employer if you start a second job while on workers’ compensation. Your employer is responsible for tracking your recovery and working with the insurance company to manage your benefits. If they find out later that you took another job without telling them, they could stop your payments or even report you for fraud.
Even if the work you do at your second job seems safe and unrelated to your injury, your employer still needs to know. Complete honesty can prevent problems with your claim and protect you if questions arise about your physical limitations or work history.
Let our attorneys handle communications with your employers and insurers if you are considering taking another position while on workers’ compensation.
Do I Need to Inform the Workers’ Compensation Insurance Carrier About Starting a New Job?
Yes, you must tell the workers’ compensation insurance carrier if you accept a new job. They will use that information to review your case. If you do not report your new income, the insurance company could accuse you of trying to collect benefits you no longer need. That could lead to denied payments or even legal trouble.
The insurer will also check whether your new duties match your current medical restrictions. If the new work you do goes beyond what your doctor allowed, the insurer could argue that you no longer need benefits or that you are making your injury worse.
An Outline of What Happens If You Accept a New Job
If you are receiving workers’ compensation benefits in Kentucky and want to take a new job, you need to think carefully before making a move. Kentucky law does not automatically stop you from working while on workers’ comp, but changing jobs or starting new work could affect your claim. If you take another job, whether part-time or full-time, it could raise questions about your physical limitations, your need for benefits, and whether your injury still keeps you from working in your old job.
Below are some common outcomes that could arise if you accept new work while receiving workers’ compensation in Kentucky:
- Your benefits may be reduced. If you start earning money from a new job, the workers’ compensation insurance company could decide to reduce your lost wage benefits. They will use your new income to recalculate what you are owed through workers’ comp. For example, if your new job pays less than your old one, you might still receive partial benefits, but the amount could go down. The system aims to make up the difference in earnings, not give you full wages on top of new pay.
- Your benefits may be terminated. Some workers lose all wage benefits after taking a new job. That usually happens if the new job pays the same or more than what the claimant earned before the injury, or if the job shows the claimant can now do the same kind of work. Insurance carriers might see a job change as proof that you recovered and stop your checks entirely.
- Your claims may need to be reassessed. Taking a new job could lead your workers’ comp carrier to request new medical exams or updated reports. They might ask your doctor whether your current work demonstrates that you no longer need benefits or that your injury no longer limits you in the same way. That could change the status of your claim or affect how long your benefits last.
- Your medical benefits may be impacted. If your new job causes more stress or strain to your injured body part, the insurance company might argue that you are worsening the injury. They could attempt to deny future medical benefits or say that any new problems relate to your new job, not the original injury. That argument could create delays or disputes in getting the care you still need.
How Our Lawyers Can Guide You Through Seeking New Employment While on Workers’ Comp
The team of workers’ compensation attorneys at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer can guide you through the steps you should take if you want to start a new job while getting workers’ comp benefits. We’re ready to analyze your specific situation and explain how to protect your benefits, follow medical advice, and stay in line with Kentucky law. We can also handle communications with your employer and the insurance company to help you avoid problems later.
If you’re thinking about changing jobs or getting a new one after a workplace injury, talk to us first. Contact us now to get started with your free consultation with a lawyer who knows how the Kentucky workers’ compensation system really works.
