What to Do If Your Work Injury or Illness Returns

A common concern workers have is whether or not they are still eligible for workers’ compensation benefits if a work impairment returns. If you are injured on the job or suffer a work-related illness, workers’ compensation should provide financial and medical support. But what if you recover and return to work, only for your impairment to resurface—or even worsen?

Are You Covered If Your Work Injury or Illness Returns?

Workers’ compensation can cover illnesses that resurface and injuries that worsen so long as they’re tied to your work. The specifics will often matter in these cases, however, such as the timing of the recurrence. Is your condition directly related to the original impairment? And has it worsened as a matter of course, or is it due to some unrelated incident or habit? Workers’ compensation will typically recognize that certain injuries will flare up again in the future. These can include chronic conditions such as repetitive stress injuries or back injuries. Medical documents will play a key role in showing a connection between your condition and the original work-related incident.

What Do You Do If Your Ailment Worsens After Returning to Work?

You will want to file a claim with workers’ compensation if your work injury or illness returns. Here are the steps you will need to take:

1. Notify your employer right away. Reporting your situation promptly is critical for avoiding future disputes. You will want it to be clear when precisely you started experiencing symptoms of your original injury or illness again.
2. Seek medical attention right away too. Return to the physician who treated you before, or to a medical provider approved by workers’ compensation. A doctor will be able to determine if your symptoms stem from the original work-related impairment.
3. File a recurrence claim. This claim should be linked to your original workers’ comp case, so you won’t need to open a completely new claim.
4. Determine if you qualify for further benefits. If you need to take time off work again, you may qualify for temporary disability benefits. If your injury or illness becomes a more lasting impairment, you may qualify for permanent disability benefits.

What Factors Affect Workers’ Comp Coverage?

There is typically a time limit for reporting and filing a claim for work-related injuries and illnesses that resurface. It may be difficult to secure benefits if too much time has passed since your initial claim or original recovery. The insurance carrier may also argue the recurrence of your ailment is unrelated to your original claim, should your work have changed significantly. This could include either a transfer to light-duty work, or a change of jobs entirely. And as mentioned before, consistent and relevant medical documents will help show just how connected your condition is to the original impairment.

Do You Need to Seek Legal Help?

Though an attorney is not required for making a claim, consulting one who specializes in workers’ compensation can make all the difference. An experienced attorney is especially helpful for situations where your employer or insurer feels your impairment has not truly resurfaced, or has resurfaced for some specific reason unrelated to work. An attorney like one from Rose Legal can navigate the intricacies of your recurrence claim, and help you avoid delays or denials in receiving the benefits you need to recover. Let us advocate on your behalf.