You’ve been injured on the job, but because of your injury restrictions you’re unable to return to work at your former position or former hours.
What can you do to protect yourself when you receive a lower rate of pay. What can you do about the difference between your pre-injury earnings and post-injury reduced wages? Read on . . . . 
Under Ohio Law, if you’re returned to work with restrictions and you suffer a wage loss as a result, you can seek wage loss compensation. This is a wage supplement to ‘make up’ for the difference in pay loss. Based on the year of your injury, the length (number of weeks) of wage loss compensation varies. You need to discuss the number of weeks you qualify to receive with a Board Certified Workers’ Compensation Specialist Attorney.
However, no matter how many weeks you’re qualified to obtain wage loss, the weekly method of calculation remains the same.
Taking the AWW (Average Weekly Wage) set in your OhioBWC claim, you subtract the gross weekly compensation you are paid while on work restrictions. Example: AWW is $700 per week. You return to work and are only able to earn $400 per week. You are suffering a $300 per week wage loss. OhioBWC pays 2/3 of the wage loss, which, in this example, is $200 per week. Wage loss compensation is tax free.
Wage loss can occur if you’re paid less money per hour because of your work injury restrictions. Wage loss also can occur if you’re paid less money per week because your workers’ comp doctor of record (POR) has placed restrictions of how many hours or days you’re permitted to work per week.
Wage loss compensation is an important component of a workers’ compensation claim. It can pay money for quite a long time, but you need to know how it works, how to apply, and how to utilize this important benefit.
To effectively seek wage loss (working or non-working), you should contact a Board Certified Ohio Workers’ Compensation Specialist Attorney. Mike Gruhin is a Board Certified Specialist. Call him now, there are time limits. Whatever you do – Don’t forfeit your wage loss benefits.
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