If you’re currently receiving workers’ compensation, how does this affect your ability to work and earn money? Are you allowed to get a job while receiving workers’ comp benefits? In this blog, we’ll address these important questions and offer insight that can help you avoid having your benefits terminated.
Working While Receiving Workers’ Compensation Benefits in Pennsylvania
The purpose of workers’ compensation is to provide for the medical treatment and financial support of injured workers. Workers can receive up to two-thirds of their normal wages while unable to work. There are some situations, however, where workers may be able to perform limited tasks or may want to hold part-time jobs.
In Pennsylvania, you may be able to work and receive workers’ comp benefits—in very limited circumstances.
If you are injured at work but are not completely disabled, you may be able to work part-time or perform certain tasks for your employer or for another employer. Even though you may be able to work, your wages would be lower than they once were. It would make sense for workers’ comp to still cover some of your lost earnings. Pennsylvania workers’ compensation laws may allow you to work in this limited earning capacity, but your workers’ comp benefits will likely be reduced. If you don’t handle the situation properly, they could be terminated altogether.
How to Protect Your Right to Benefits While Working a Second Job
With cases of this nature, you’ll need to make sure that you accurately report your income. Failing to report income constitutes workers’ compensation fraud, which would not only terminate your benefits but put you at risk of facing criminal charges as well.
Another important issue to consider is whether your employer and their workers’ compensation insurance provider will think you’ve fully recovered if you go back to work in any capacity. You need to be clear about your injuries and how they limit your ability to perform your normal job duties or work full-time. An example of this may be a construction worker who suffered a back injury on the job. This worker may get a part-time desk job, where he is not subject to the physical strain associated with his normal job duties. He may not be able to work full-time because of his back pain, but he can work 15 hours a week to earn some extra income. Depending on the amount of money he’s earning at his desk job, he could still be entitled to (reduced) workers’ compensation benefits.
Because these are tricky situations that will vary on a case-by-case basis, we recommend consulting an attorney before pursuing or accepting a second job while on workers’ compensation.
Talk to a PA Workers’ Compensation Lawyer
At Handler, Henning & Rosenberg LLC, we have extensive experience with Pennsylvania workers’ compensation claims, denials, and appeals. Our firm has been representing the hard-working people of Central PA since 1922, and we are committed to getting results for every client. What's more, our team includes an attorney who is certified as a specialist in the practice of workers’ compensation law by the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Workers’ Compensation Law Section as authorized by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. We can help you work on reinstating your benefits if they have been paused or terminated for any reason, and we can help you understand whether you might be able to work while still receiving benefits.
To get started, contact us online or call (888) 498-3023. We look forward to hearing from you.