Workers comp light duty is lighter work your employer offers inside the limits your doctor wrote. Saying no to work that fits those limits can cut your checks. Call us before you answer the offer, so a free review comes first.
What workers comp light duty means
The job has to fit your written limits. Those limits cover how much you can lift, how long you can stand, and whether you can drive.
It can be a different job than the one you had. It can be a desk job, a front desk job, or your old job with shorter hours.
Your employer picks the job, but your doctor sets the limits. An offer only counts as light duty if the real work matches the note.
Can I refuse light duty work
You can turn down work that goes past your doctor's limits. Put your reason in writing and attach a copy of the restrictions.
Refusing work that fits the limits is where checks get cut. Virginia's law on refusing suitable employment limits pay for a worker who says no.
Saying no can hurt in other ways too. New York warns that if you stop looking for work, your benefits may stop.
When an offer lands, take these steps in order.
- Call us for a free case review before you answer.
- Ask for the offer in writing, with the duties listed.
- Hold the duties up against your doctor's note.
- Give your answer in writing and keep a copy.
The doctor's note decides most fights
Your note carries the most weight in a light duty dispute. Ask your doctor to list exact limits, not just the words light duty.
Get a fresh note after each visit. Limits change as you heal, and your employer will go by the newest one.
When the job description and the note do not match, take both to your doctor. Ask for a written statement that the job is outside your limits.
The insurer may send you to its own doctor. Learn about the independent medical exam before you go.
Do you still get paid on light duty
If light duty pays less than your old job, your state may pay part of the gap as partial benefits. If it pays the same as before, weekly wage checks usually stop.
Check the math against what workers comp should pay you each week. Save every pay stub from the light duty job, so the gap is clear.
Light duty does not always last. If the job ends and your checks were suspended, Pennsylvania allows a petition to reinstate them within 500 weeks of the suspension.
Checks that stopped and never came back need fast work. Read about workers comp payments that stopped.
If they fire you on light duty
Losing the job does not by itself end a valid claim. An employer may fire you for reasons that have nothing to do with your injury.
Firing you because you filed a claim can be illegal. Read more about being fired while on workers comp.
Federal law may also protect your job while you heal. The FMLA gives eligible workers up to 12 workweeks of job-protected leave in a 12-month period.
Your employer and your job both have to qualify for that leave. An attorney can check that for you during the free review.
Questions injured workers ask
Do you get workers comp on light duty?
If light duty pays less than your old job, your state may pay part of the difference. If it pays the same, wage checks usually stop. Call us for a free review of your numbers.
Can I be fired while on light duty?
An employer can fire you for reasons unrelated to your claim. Firing you because you filed can be illegal. Call us first so an attorney can look at why you were let go.
What happens if I refuse light duty work?
If the job fits your doctor's limits, your wage checks can be cut or stopped. If it does not fit, call us for a free review and put your reason in writing.
How long can you be on light duty?
As long as your doctor keeps the limits and your employer offers the work. Your state's limits on partial benefits still apply.
What should I do when my employer offers light duty?
Your first move is a call to us for a free case review. Then get the offer in writing and compare it to your doctor's note before you answer.
Rates updated Aug 27, 2026