Can I Leave My Job And Continue To Receive Workers’ Compensation Benefits?

Getting hurt on the job can be devastating, especially when the injury results in a debilitating physical injury that requires extensive medical care and causes pain and suffering. The Florida workers’ compensation system is designed to ensure that workers who sustain injuries can be eligible for benefits regardless of fault, providing medical care coverage and lost wages. Yet the process of seeking workers’ compensation benefits is not always easy, and sometimes employers are not as helpful as they should be. Further, sometimes employers can cause additional anxiety for injured workers, trying to encourage them to return to work before they are ready or, worse, threatening to retaliate if the injured worker does not get back to his or her job. In these kinds of scenarios, as well as many others, an injured worker who is receiving workers’ compensation benefits might be wondering if those benefits can continue if she or he quits the job.

Can you leave your job in West Palm Beach and continue to receive workers’ compensation benefits? The answer to the question depends upon the circumstances, as well as the type of benefits you want to continue receiving. Our South Florida workers’ compensation lawyers can say more.

Your Job Status Can Affect Wage Replacement and Disability Benefits 

If you are considering quitting your job while you are receiving workers’ compensation benefits, you should know that you could lose your wage replacement and temporary partial disability benefits provided through the workers’ compensation system. We do not want to worry you, but we do want to make sure you have the information you need to make an informed decision. Since workers’ compensation benefits are paid through insurance coverage connected to your employer, wage replacement and temporary partial disability benefits can go away if you voluntarily decide to leave your job.

When an employee voluntarily leaves the job—and the word “voluntarily is the key, meaning that your employer cannot coerce you or threaten you in any capacity—then wage replacement benefits associated with workers’ compensation typically do stop, as do temporary partial disability benefits that are paid when an employee is injured but is able to return to work in a limited or separate capacity (for example, “light-duty” work).

Medical Benefits Will Continue 

Even if you decide to leave your job after you have been awarded workers’ compensation benefits, you should know that your medical benefits coverage will continue. Just because you leave your job does not mean that you will stop receiving coverage for your medical care through the Florida workers’ compensation system. This remains true even if you take another job and return to work in a partial capacity or if you remain unemployed. You can continue to receive medical care for your work-related injury through workers’ compensation.

Retaliation and Coercion 

You should know that any retaliatory actions taken by your employer against you for claiming workers’ compensation benefits, or for any other reason, are unlawful. If you leave your job for such reasons, you may still be able to claim more than medical benefits.

Seek Advice from a West Palm Beach Workers’ Compensation Attorney 

If you are thinking about leaving your job and have questions or concerns about the status of your workers’ compensation benefits, our West Palm Beach workers’ compensation attorneys can speak with you today. Contact the Law Offices of David M. Benenfeld, P.A. to learn more.