Many employees injured on the job do not have a strong desire to return to that same job, for obvious reasons. In other cases, they simply cannot return to work due to the injury they received.
In such cases, a worker may want to strike out and find new employment. But what happens if a worker becomes employed again while receiving worker’s compensation benefits?
What can you do about work?
The Illinois Workers’ Compensation Commission looks into the benefits associated with workers’ comp. The details and laws surrounding these benefits sometimes get complex and confusing, especially when adding additional components like a worker finding new employment elsewhere.
Legally, a person may change their job even if they currently receive worker’s compensation benefits from their employer. However, taking a full-time or even a secondary part-time job can impact these benefits.
When seeking employment, know that worker’s compensation benefits cannot get cancelled due to switching employers. They also cannot be cancelled if the person takes on a lower paying job or if they accept light duty work at a reduced pay rate.
Potential changes or reduction in pay
The amount of payment received could differ depending on the job they take on, however. Partial payments may come through, rather than the full payment a worker received while unemployed or unable to work. A pay reduction may occur for a secondary job, as well.
Additionally, if the new work pays the same as the old employment, or pays even more, then the worker’s compensation benefit payments will also stop.
This is important to keep in mind during the in-between period in which it is difficult to work and financial loss may still occur due to medical expenses.
