Even the safest workers are at risk of being injured on the job. And when they are, it can be hard to secure needed medical treatment and offset wages that have been lost. As a result, an injured worker’s savings can be eaten away, leaving them in a difficult financial position. Fortunately, though, those who are injured on the job have the ability to seek workers’ compensation benefits. If these benefits are successfully secured, then medical care can be more easily paid for, and a significant portion of lost wages can be recouped.
Yet, the workers’ compensation process is more nuanced than many people realize. And if you make a mistake during the claims process or during your recovery, you could end up being denied the benefits you need, or the amount of financial support that you receive can be drastically reduced. One question that often comes up among workers’ compensation claimants is whether quitting your job will affect your workers’ compensation case.
How quitting your job may affect your workers’ compensation case
There’s nothing that prevents you from quitting your job while you’re receiving workers’ compensation benefits. However, if you do resign from your position, there may be a significant impact on the support that you receive. While you’ll likely be able to continue receiving medical benefits, your wage replacement benefits will likely be reduced. Also, quitting your job will make you ineligible for unemployment benefits, which your employer’s insurance company may view as your attempt to simply use the workers’ compensation system as a replacement for unemployment benefits. This, in turn, can lead to claim denial.
So, while quitting your job can have an impact on your workers’ compensation claim, it won’t disallow you from seeking benefits so long as you can prove that your injuries were suffered on the job before you quit. So, do your best to gather evidence showing when your injury or illness onset so that you can head off any arguments that it was suffered after you quit your job.
When should you consider quitting your current job?
This is a question that ultimately only you can answer. However, you may want to consider quitting your job if you’ve been reassigned to a task that you find unrewarding and if you think you can earn a higher wage and find more satisfaction with a different employer. Remember, you should be able to retain your medical benefits that you secure from your workers’ compensation claim, even if you leave your current employment.
It might also be a good idea to seek new employment if you’re unsafe at your current job. If you can reduce the risk of injury or illness or if you simply want to reduce your on-the-job stress, then it might be a good idea to seek out new employment. Before you act, though, you may want to consult with your workers’ compensation attorney so that you have a full understanding of how your actions may impact your workers’ compensation benefits.
Competently navigate the workers’ compensation process
There’s a lot to consider as you head into the workers’ compensation process. If you don’t have a handle on all of it, then you could inadvertently make a mistake that’s catastrophic to your claim. Fortunately, you can find support in building your claim and navigating the intricacies of the process, thereby increasing your chances of securing the outcome that you want. Hopefully then you can rest easy knowing that you’ve done everything possible to protect your recovery and your financial interests.
