Q: My girlfriend got hurt at work and receives workers compensation settlement and they won't work with her restrictions
She found a new job that will work with her restrictions and pays less than the job she was previously at how does she move forward from there she was told she would get into trouble for working a full time job but she can't afford to live off the very little she gets from the workers comp case please help she is very stressed out and does not know what to do
A: There is no easy answer to your question but your girlfriend is entitled to medical care and wage loss disability benefits until, and possibly after, she has recovered as much as she can from her injuries. She is only required, and sometimes only allowed, to go back to work when a doctor says it's okay. You mentioned that the company where she was working at the time of injury is not able to let her work within her restrictions, so that suggests to me that she is still being treated and not fully recovered. There is no reason she can't work if her doctors have allowed it, and she still will get 66 and 2/3% of the difference between her wage base from where she got hurt and what she is making now at the easier job. She should look for a certified or experienced workers compensation lawyer and go over the specifics of her case, so she can get specific answers. What I am telling you here is only generally applicable and she may be entitled to more or less, depending on her injuries and the overall situation. Most WC lawyers will provide a free consultation, so you should not expect to pay for the first visit or conversation on the phone
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