When you suffer a work injury in Iowa, workers’ compensation benefits are designed to help you stay financially stable while you heal. But many injured workers wonder: can you lose your benefits for refusing light duty work? In some cases, yes. Understanding how Iowa workers’ compensation rules apply can help you avoid costly mistakes—and protect your rights.
How Light Duty Works Under Iowa Workers’ Compensation Law
After a workplace injury, your doctor may assign medical restrictions limiting what you can safely do. If your employer offers a temporary light duty position that follows these restrictions, Iowa law generally expects you to accept it. Employers often use light duty work to keep injured workers on the job without worsening their injuries.
Because these decisions affect your financial security, it’s wise to consult with a Waterloo workers’ compensation lawyer
or Iowa workers’ compensation attorney
if you’re unsure whether the offered role is appropriate.
Can You Lose Benefits for Refusing Light Duty?
In many situations, yes. If your employer offers medically appropriate light duty work and you refuse it without a valid reason, you may lose your temporary total disability (TTD) or temporary partial disability (TPD) benefits. These benefits replace lost wages—and declining suitable work may give the insurance company grounds to stop paying them.
This is why injured workers often seek guidance from a Waterloo workers’ comp lawyer
or Jesup workers’ compensation attorney
before deciding how to respond.
What Makes Light Duty “Suitable”?
A light duty assignment must:
- Comply with your doctor’s restrictions
- Be reasonably safe
- Not aggravate your injury
If the work violates your restrictions, causes pain, or feels unsafe, you may have legitimate grounds for refusal. A Northeast Iowa workers’ compensation attorney
can help you evaluate whether the job is appropriate.
When Offered Work Feels Unfair
Sometimes employers offer light duty positions that seem unrelated to your original job or feel punitive. Even then, the main question remains: does the job meet your medical restrictions? If it does, refusing it could still put your benefits at risk. If it doesn’t, you may have strong legal justification for declining it.
When to Seek Legal Help
Questions about light duty work can quickly become complicated. If your benefits have been reduced or threatened, or if you’re unsure whether an offered job is truly suitable, it’s important to speak with an experienced Waterloo work injury lawyer
or Iowa workers’ compensation attorney.
Our team at Pieters & Pieters Law Offices helps injured workers across Waterloo, Jesup, Independence, and Northeast Iowa understand their rights and protect their benefits. Visit www.pieterslawoffices.com or call us at (319) 234-3542 for guidance.
