How Many Hours Can You Work on Light Duty in Arizona?

The time you can put in on light duty after experiencing an on-the-job accident in Arizona will depend on the orders from your doctor. Any ability to work on light duty can influence your workers’ compensation benefits. 

Once you can return to light duty, Arizona expects you to make a “good faith” effort to find work. Once you return to work, even on light duty, you may stop receiving full workers’ comp payments. 

You can learn more about this situation and how many hours you can work on light duty in Arizona with a Phoenix workers’ compensation lawyer.

How Many Hours Can You Work on Light Duty Before Losing Benefits?

Arizona does not set a limit on the hours you can perform light-duty work before you start to lose worker’s comp benefits. Instead, the state uses the wages you earn while working light duty to establish this cut-off. 

The workers’ comp system in Arizona only provides 66 ⅔% of your average monthly income as compensation for your lost wages. The system does not give 100% coverage for your lost pay. 

Therefore, if you go on light duty, you’ll have to report all your earnings every month to the Industrial Commission of Arizona (ICA). The commission may reduce your income replacement benefits based on the money you’ve earned on light duty. 

What Is Light Duty?

Employers use the term “light duty” to refer to any work that has lower physical and mental demands than an employee’s previous position. Sometimes, going on light duty means working fewer hours. 

A doctor can provide more specific instructions about what light duty involves for your situation. 

For a free legal consultation, call 866-499-8989

Will Going on Light Duty Remove All Your Workers’ Compensation Benefits?

You may still receive workers’ comp benefits to cover your medical bills after going on light duty. The workers’ comp system should cover your healthcare expenses until you heal or reach a point of maximum recovery. 

Your Phoenix personal injury lawyer may help you request funds to pay for your:

• Emergency treatment and transportation to a healthcare facility
• Medical tests necessary to diagnose your injuries
• Medical procedures (including surgeries)
• Medications and rehabilitative care

Lawyers understand that you may require additional medical care even after you return to light duty. Your attorney can provide proper documentation to the ICA, demonstrating the extent of your injuries. 

So, how many hours can you work on light duty in Arizona while maintaining workers’ comp payments for your injuries? You can work as many hours as your doctor approves as long as you properly report your situation to the ICA.

Do You Have to Return to Light Duty?

Arizona legally requires you to put in a good-faith effort to find work if a doctor clears you for light duty. However, if you drew on family leave rights offered by the federal government after an accident, you have the right to refuse light-duty employment.

You can keep your family leave rights when you refuse light duty. However, these regulations do not protect your workers’ comp benefits in Arizona. If you refuse to work on light duty, Arizona may stop providing you with benefits. 

Does Your Employer Have to Provide a Light Duty Position?

Arizona does not require employers to accommodate an employee who is put on light-duty status by a physician. Therefore, you cannot expect your employer to make a new position for you or adapt your old position to fit your current medical requirements. 

If a physician says you can work light duty and your current employer refuses to find work for you, the law states that you have to make a good-faith effort to find other employment. 

You need to report all your efforts to the insurance company that handles your workers’ comp claim. Once you find work, your workers’ comp benefits may drop. You can learn more about this with a Phoenix workplace accident lawyer. 

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Does Your Employer Have to Keep Your Position Available?

Your employer may have to keep your old position available for your return if you took protected leave. However, if you did not take protected leave, your employer may fill your old position while you recover from a workplace injury.

You can speak with a lawyer about how to request protected leave and whether you qualify for this protection in the aftermath of an accident.

An attorney can also help if you believe that your employer failed to maintain a position for you after you took protected leave. In this case, your employer could face federal repercussions for their actions. 

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Talk to Us About Working Light Duty in Arizona

How many hours can you work on light duty in Arizona before losing your workers’ comp benefits? Any money you earn while on light duty may decrease the benefits you receive through workers’ comp.

You can learn more about this process with our team at Zanes Law. We have over two decades of experience handling claims in Arizona and can assist you. Learn more about us and then call or fill out our online contact form. 

Call or text 866-499-8989 or complete a
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