Denied light duty refusal

A denied light duty refusal is one of the fastest ways an injured worker loses a weekly check. Here is what that phrase means in plain English. Your doctor gives you work restrictions. Your employer offers you a lighter job inside those restrictions. You turn it down.

The insurance company then says your refusal was not justified, stops your wage checks, and calls it a denied light duty refusal. It happens every day, often to people who had a very good reason to say no. However, you are not powerless here. Most states give you a way to challenge the cutoff, and some give you a protected trial period to try the job first. This guide explains the rules, the real dollar figures, the deadlines, and what to do this week.

Why a light duty offer can shut off your check

Workers’ comp pays wage benefits because your injury keeps you from earning. Once a job exists that you can physically do, that logic changes. So state law generally says: if suitable work is offered and you refuse without good cause, your wage benefits can stop. Suitable means the job fits the restrictions your treating doctor wrote down. Typically, the burden is on the employer to prove the job is real and truly within those limits.

The benefit at stake is usually TTD — temporary total disability. That is the weekly check you get while you are fully off work. In most states it equals two-thirds of your average weekly wage, or AWW. Your AWW is your gross pay averaged over roughly the 13 or 52 weeks before the injury. If you go back on light duty at lower pay, TTD often converts to TPD (temporary partial disability), which pays a share of the wage difference instead.

For example, Florida pays TTD at 66 2/3% of AWW. Georgia also pays two-thirds. Pennsylvania pays about two-thirds for most wage levels. As a result, a denied light duty refusal does not just pause a small payment. It can erase most of your household income while you are still hurt.

Exact figures behind a denied light duty refusal

The dollars you lose depend on your state’s weekly cap. These maximums change every single year, so confirm the current number with your state board before you rely on it.

Georgia’s rule is worth knowing even if you live elsewhere, because it is the clearest protection in the country. Under Board Rule 240, the employer must send a Form WC-240 with a job description approved by your treating doctor, and give you at least 10 days’ notice before the job starts. You then get 15 working days to attempt the job. If you try it and cannot physically do it, benefits must resume. But if the paperwork is skipped, a denied light duty refusal in Georgia is often reversible.

Deadlines matter too. In most states you must report a work injury to your employer within about 30 days, and file a formal claim within one to two years. Georgia and Florida both use a general one-year filing window from the injury date; New York uses two years. Confirm your state’s exact deadline with your state board.

What to do after a denied light duty refusal

First, get the offer in writing. A verbal “come in tomorrow and answer phones” is very hard to fight later. Ask for the job title, hours, pay rate, and a written physical description of the duties.

Second, take that written description to your treating doctor. Ask the doctor to compare it line by line to your restrictions. If the job requires 20-pound lifting and your restriction is 10 pounds, ask for that in the chart notes. In most cases, a doctor’s written opinion that the job exceeds your limits is the single strongest defense against a denied light duty refusal.

Third, consider trying the job if it is at all possible. Many states, and Georgia by rule, protect a short attempt. Going in and physically failing creates a record. Simply not showing up creates a record too — the wrong kind. However, never attempt work your doctor has said is unsafe.

Fourth, file a dispute with your state board quickly. Every state has a form for this, such as Georgia’s WC-14 or Florida’s Petition for Benefits. You do not need permission from the insurer to file. Keep a folder with the offer letter, your restrictions, mileage, and every message you send.

Finally, watch how this connects to MMI — maximum medical improvement, the point where your condition stabilizes. After MMI you may be entitled to PPD (permanent partial disability), which is paid using an impairment rating, a percentage a doctor assigns for permanent loss. Many states pay PPD in set weeks by body part. For example, Georgia pays 225 weeks for total loss of use of an arm and 300 weeks for a leg. A gap in TTD from a refusal fight does not erase your PPD rights.

Some claims later settle through a compromise and release, a one-time lump sum that closes the case. Any settlement number you see online is illustrative only, and every case is genuinely different. Confirm your figures with your state board and a licensed attorney before signing anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can my employer force me to take a light duty job that pays less?

Generally yes, if the job is within your restrictions. However, you may be entitled to temporary partial benefits covering part of the wage gap. Confirm how your state calculates that difference with your state board.

What counts as a “good reason” to refuse light duty?

Typically, good cause includes work that exceeds your written restrictions, a job that does not actually exist, or an unreasonable commute. For example, some states excuse refusal when the offer was never approved by your treating doctor.

Can I get my benefits restarted after a denied light duty refusal?

Often yes. In most cases you request a hearing with your state board and present the doctor’s restrictions against the job description. Many claimants also regain benefits by attempting the job and documenting that they could not perform it.

Sources & How to Verify

This guide is built from official government and industry sources. Workers’ comp figures, deadlines, and state rules change every year, so always confirm the exact figure with your state board or a licensed attorney:

• Your state workers’ compensation board / division: the first and most authoritative source for your state’s caps, deadlines, and rules.
• U.S. Department of Labor: dol.gov — the directory of state workers’ comp officials.
• NCCI: ncci.com — workers’ comp rating and benefit data.
• Social Security Administration: ssa.gov — SSDI offset and benefit-cap data.
• Insurance Information Institute: iii.org — neutral coverage and claims data.

Verified August 2026. State maximum weekly benefits change every year — if you spot anything outdated, please contact us.

Related Guides

• The Complete Guide to Workers’ Comp Settlements
• Workers’ Comp Settlements by State
• Workers’ Comp Benefits Explained (TTD, PPD, MMI)
• Your Rights at Work — Common Scenarios
• Plain-English Workers’ Comp Glossary

Disclaimer. This page is for general information only and is not legal, medical, or financial advice, and it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Workers Comp Explained is an independent educational resource, not a law firm, insurer, or medical provider. Benefit caps, deadlines, and rules vary by state and change every year, and any settlement figure is an illustration, not a prediction. For your situation, confirm the exact figure and any deadline with your state workers’ compensation board and a licensed attorney before you act.