Returning to Work After Long-Term Disability

Long-term disability benefits allow you time to address a significant work injury or work-related medical condition. However, you may be considering going back into the workforce. Knowing your options and the outcomes of returning to work after receiving long-term disability can help you make beneficial choices. After the hard work that goes into securing long-term disability benefits in Arizona and California, avoiding jeopardizing your long-term disability is critical.

Seek Professional Advice

Receiving medical care is essential to recovery and documenting a long-term disability. Speaking openly with your doctor about returning to work can provide valuable insight about returning to work safely after an injury or work-related illness. A physician will also provide the documentation that an employer will require for your return to work. Like the essential documentation for a long-term disability claim, your employer will need proof of your ability to perform your job safely. Consulting with an Arizona or California disability lawyer allows for an experienced legal perspective on work policies impacting your long-term disability. Understanding the long-term disability occupational clauses in a company’s policy is imperative to protect against threatening long-term disability benefits. State and federal disability laws are often complex. Consulting a disability lawyer allows you to seek the most favorable benefits under the law and protect your right to disability should your return to work negatively impact your health.

Keep Your Disability Benefits While Returning to Work

Injured workers in Arizona or California who want to return to work may be able to keep their full long-term disability during a trial work period, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA). An extended eligibility period may also allow you to continue working while receiving disability when your earnings remain under a particular amount. An evaluation of any expenses you incur from going back to work or subsidies available to you may also increase your earning ability. Keeping Medicare coverage for a specified amount of time also provides added stability to ensure your healthcare remains a priority.

Inventory Your Readiness to Return to Work After a Disability

Taking on realistic expectations about what returning to work will be like after disability is vital to your emotional, mental, and physical health. Understanding you are returning to a familiar job you once performed effortlessly with potential challenges or the need to adjust to performance demands provides an awareness of what returning to work after an illness or injury may be like. Updating your resume can also help you prepare to re-enter the workforce in a different role or occupation when you can no longer perform your previous job. Communicating with your employer throughout the long-term disability process by providing health updates lets your employer know what to expect in your readiness to return to work. Communication may open the doors to utilize available accommodations to support your transition back on the job as well. Seeking support through resources provided by your work can benefit you and allow your employer to support you in your successful return. Prepare Successfully for a Return to Work After Long-Term Disability Feeling confident that you are ready to return to work is essential to your success in the workplace and to preserving vital benefits should returning to work ultimately not be the best option. Your financial future success is possible following a work-related injury or illness. Establish a return-to-work plan today to begin integrating back into the Arizona or California workforce.