Receiving workers' compensation benefits, including wage-loss benefits, can be a great relief when you've been injured on the job and are unable to work for a period of time. Having the financial breathing room and access to medical care you need without having to file a personal-injury lawsuit against your employer are some of the very reasons that workers' compensation benefits even exist. But that much-needed respite and recovery can be interrupted if your employer offers you another job while you are receiving benefits.
If your employer offers you a new job in your local area that you could perform with your current medical restrictions, the opportunity may be welcome or not. You would be free to accept or decline the position, but your decision could come with consequences for your ability to continue to receive benefits.
If you decide to turn down the new position, your employer could make the case that your workers' compensation benefits should be decreased or stopped altogether. Your employer would have to initiate a hearing before a workers' compensation judge, during which time your benefits would continue to be paid.
If you believed that you were not yet physically ready to return to work, you would have to provide evidence that your medical condition would still prevent you from being able to perform the duties of the new job. In this situation, you would benefit greatly from having an experienced workers' compensation attorney on your side to argue on your behalf and secure compelling medical testimony to support your case.