Light Duty Work in Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation: What You Need to Know

One of the most common—and often confusing—parts of a Pennsylvania workers’ compensation claim comes up when an injured worker is cleared to return to light duty work.

Clients often ask:

• “What if I can’t actually do the job they’re offering me?”
• “Do I have to go back to work if I’m still in pain?”
• “What happens to my workers’ comp checks if I say no?”

These are all valid concerns. Here’s what injured workers in Pennsylvania need to know about light duty, return-to-work restrictions, and protecting their rights.

What Is “Light Duty” Work Under Pennsylvania Workers’ Compensation?

After suffering a work injury, you’ll be referred to a doctor to determine whether you can return to work. The doctor may find that you are totally disabled, meaning you are unable to work in any capacity. In that case, you would remain out of work completely.

• However, the doctor may also decide that you can work in a light duty or modified capacity. That means you’re cleared to return to work with restrictions based on what your body can and cannot handle. Examples of common restrictions include:
• No lifting over 10 pounds
• No repetitive bending or twisting
• Limited walking or standing
• Sedentary or desk work only

When you’re released with restrictions like these, it usually means you’re not totally disabled but not yet ready to return to your full job either. That’s where light duty comes in.

Under Pennsylvania workers’ compensation law, “light duty” refers to any modified or alternative work your employer offers that meets your medical restrictions. In theory, this allows you to ease back into the workforce safely while you continue to heal. Light duty work might include tasks such as filing paperwork, data entry, supervising a work area, or greeting visitors at a front desk.

Will Accepting a Light Duty Position Affect My Benefits?

If you return to work in a light duty capacity, your workers’ compensation wage-loss benefits may change depending on your earnings in the new position.

Your employer may offer you light duty work at either your pre-injury wage or a reduced wage:

• If you return to work and earn the same wage as before your injury, your wage-loss benefits will typically stop since you are no longer losing income.
• If you return to light duty at a lower wage, you may be entitled to partial disability benefits. In Pennsylvania, this means you receive compensation equal to two-thirds of the difference between your pre-injury wage and your current light duty wage.

This system is designed to help bridge the gap in earnings while you recover.

Can I Turn Down a Light Duty Job?

In Pennsylvania, it’s your employer’s right to offer light duty work. However, as an injured worker, you are not required to accept a position that falls outside the return-to-work restrictions provided by your doctor.

If you believe you’re unable to perform the light duty job your employer is offering, contact the attorneys at Stern & Cohen. We will fight to ensure you continue receiving the benefits you deserve.

Even if the job offer is within your medical restrictions, you still can’t be forced to accept it. However, if your doctor has cleared you for light duty and you refuse, your benefits may be at risk. Your employer can file a Suspension or Modification Petition, and your case will go before a Workers’ Compensation Judge. The Judge will hold a hearing to determine whether the job offer fits within your physical and mental capabilities.

You’ll continue to receive your workers’ compensation benefits until the Judge makes a decision. At that point, your benefits can be suspended, modified, terminated, or continued.

Refusing a job without a valid medical or legal reason can be risky. But if the job is not appropriate or causes harm, you’re not out of options—you just need to take the right legal and medical steps to protect your claim.

Bottom Line: Light Duty Isn’t Black and White

Light duty work under Pennsylvania workers’ compensation law often exists in a gray area. You may feel pressured to return to work before you’re truly ready, or you may be offered a job that doesn’t match your abilities. The key is to act carefully and with support—from your doctor and your attorney.

If you’ve been offered light duty and don’t know what to do, don’t guess. The wrong move could cost you your benefits. At Stern & Cohen, we focus exclusively on helping injured workers across Pennsylvania. Our attorneys can guide you through every step of your claim and protect your rights. Give us a call today for your free consultation.