If you’re receiving workers’ compensation benefits and feeling overwhelmed, frustrated, or pressured at work, you may be asking yourself: Can I quit my job while on workers’ compensation?
This is a very common and very important question. The short answer is yes, you can quit while on workers’ compensation, but doing so can have a serious impact on your benefits. Understanding how quitting affects workers’ compensation in Michigan can help you protect your income and your future.
How Workers’ Compensation Benefits Work
Workers’ compensation benefits are designed to provide wage loss and medical coverage when you’re injured on the job. In Michigan, wage loss benefits are generally paid when your work-related injury prevents you from earning your normal wages.
As long as your disability continues and you meet the legal requirements, benefits may continue—but they are closely tied to your employment status and work restrictions. This is why quitting your job while on workers’ compensation can raise red flags if it’s not done for the right reasons.
Can I Quit My Job While on Workers’ Compensation?
Yes, you are legally allowed to quit your job while receiving workers’ compensation benefits. However, whether your benefits continue afterward depends on why you quit and how it affects your ability to earn wages.
If you quit voluntarily for reasons unrelated to your injury, the insurance carrier may argue that your wage loss is no longer due to your work injury but because you chose to leave your job. That argument can lead to reduced or terminated benefits.
On the other hand, if you quit for reasons directly related to your injury or your employer’s failure to accommodate your medical restrictions, your benefits may continue.
When Quitting May Put Your Benefits at Risk
Quitting your job can jeopardize your workers’ compensation benefits in situations such as:
- You resign due to job dissatisfaction, stress, or personal reasons unrelated to your injury
- You quit while capable of performing work within your restrictions
- Your employer has offered reasonable, suitable employment that follows your doctor’s limitations
In these cases, the insurance company may claim that your loss of income is self-inflicted. Even if you are still injured, that argument can be enough to stop weekly wage loss payments.
When Quitting May Not Affect Your Benefits
There are situations where leaving your job may not harm your claim. For example, benefits may continue if:
- Your employer refuses to follow your medical restrictions
- You are being asked to perform work that worsens your injury
- The work environment creates a legitimate risk to your health
- Your doctor states that you cannot continue working in that position
Documentation is critical in these cases. Medical records, written restrictions, and communication with your employer can all play a role in protecting your benefits if you decide to resign.
What If You’re Forced to Quit?
Sometimes, injured workers feel pushed out rather than choosing to quit. This may happen when an employer cuts hours, creates a hostile environment, or pressures you to return to work before you’re medically ready.
If you feel forced to resign because of your injury or your employer’s actions, that situation may be treated differently under workers’ compensation law. However, these cases can be complex and often lead to disputes over benefits.
Speaking with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney before quitting can help you understand how your situation will likely be viewed and what steps you can take to protect yourself.
How Quitting Can Affect Long-Term Benefits
Even if your weekly checks continue for a short time after quitting, your long-term benefits could still be impacted. Insurance carriers may argue that you failed to make a good-faith effort to remain employed or find suitable work within your restrictions.
This is especially important if you may qualify for long-term or ongoing disability benefits. A poorly timed resignation can weaken your case and make it harder to prove ongoing disability.
Why Legal Guidance Matters
The decision to quit your job while on workers’ compensation should never be made lightly. Once benefits are cut off, it can be difficult to get them reinstated — even if you’re still injured.
At Aiello Law Group, we help injured workers across Detroit and throughout Michigan understand their rights and make informed decisions. Our attorneys have decades of experience handling workers’ compensation claims, disputes, and benefit terminations.
Before you resign, we can review your medical status, employment situation, and claim history to help you determine the safest path forward.
Get Advice Before You Make a Decision
If you’re asking, “Can I quit my job while on workers’ compensation?”, the most important step is to get reliable legal advice before taking action. The right guidance can protect your benefits and prevent costly mistakes.
The team at Aiello Law Group is here to help. Our Michigan workers’ compensation lawyers offer free consultations and handle workers’ compensation cases with no upfront fees.
Call (248) 281-4247 today to speak with a trusted workers’ compensation attorney and get clear answers about your options.
