Pennsylvania workers’ compensation is a state-mandated insurance program that helps individuals hurt on the job cover their medical expenses and gives them a portion of their lost wages while they recover. It is a no-fault safety net for people who suffer work-related injuries and illnesses. However, keeping up with bills can still be challenging, leading many people to ask whether they can get another job while receiving workers’ compensation benefits.
At Calhoon & Kaminsky, P.C., we can advise you about Pennsylvania workers’ compensation claims and whether you can work while receiving workers’ compensation benefits.
Can I Work Another Job While on Workers’ Comp?
No. Working another job while receiving workers’ compensation benefits is not a good idea. An individual recovers workers’ compensation benefits because a workplace injury prevents them from performing their usual job duties. By looking for a second job or working a second job, you risk jeopardizing your current workers’ compensation benefits. An insurer who sees that you are capable of working another job may question the validity and severity of your injury, and you can potentially lose your benefits or have your claim denied.
How Will a Second Job Affect My Workers’ Compensation Benefits?
Working two jobs at the same time is called having concurrent employment. Pennsylvania workers’ compensation law stipulates that those receiving workers’ comp benefits must report any income they generate to their employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier. Insurance companies can consider all sources of income to help them calculate the value of an individual’s workers’ compensation benefits, including income from a second job you had before your injury.
If you currently have two jobs and your work-related injury prevents you from working both jobs, workers’ compensation may help cover the total income you would usually receive from them. However, an injured worker may not receive the total allowable percentage of their lost wages if that amount exceeds the maximum allowed benefit.
Do I Need to Report My Other Job to My Employer?
You must report the income you receive from your second job to your employer’s insurance company to calculate your workers’ compensation benefits correctly. Your benefits are a percentage of your average monthly income from all positions, so you must report your other job to your employer’s insurance carrier. Suppose you do not know your company’s insurance carrier. In that case, you may need to report your other job to your employer to ensure the correct information gets passed to the insurer.
What Happens If I Don’t Report My Extra Income?
Withholding your extra income information from your employer’s workers’ compensation insurance carrier is risky. The insurer needs this information to calculate your wage benefits accurately. Not reporting your extra income can mean you are shortchanging yourself and not getting the benefits you deserve.
Contact Our Experienced Workers’ Comp Attorneys Today
If you’re worried about making ends meet and receiving medical benefits after a work-related injury and want more information on how working your second job may impact your workers’ compensation claim, call us now. Our skilled Pennsylvania workers’ compensation lawyers from Calhoon & Kaminsky, P.C., can help injured workers handle the complicated workers’ compensation system.
Contact our office today and talk to a workers’ compensation lawyer for free.
This post was originally published in October 2021 and has been updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness in May 2024.
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For more than 20 years, our attorneys have been helping injured workers navigate the complex Pennsylvania workers’ compensation system. We empower workers with the information and the representation they need to make the best decisions for themselves and their families’ future.
