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​Experienced ILLINOIS Workers’ Compensation Lawyers
& CHICAGO Injury Lawyers

Benefits for Workers With Two Jobs

Chicago Attorneys Helping Employees Who Suffer Job-Related Injuries

Workers’ compensation provides for disability payments, medical costs, and other benefits associated with job-related injuries. According to Illinois law, accidents that arise out of and in the course of employment entitle employees to workers’ compensation benefits. Coverage begins at the moment that an employee begins their job, and it applies to people who work two jobs. While there may be more of a challenge computing the average weekly wage if an employee has two jobs, the law provides for benefits should they be injured in their work. The skilled Chicago workers’ compensation attorneys at Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca understand the importance of financial compensation following serious job-related harm. We are prepared to help pursue benefits for workers with two jobs.

Workers’ Compensation Benefits Available for Workers with Two Jobs

When workers have two or more jobs, they may question their entitlement to workers’ compensation benefits. First, it is important to report the second job to the employer after notifying them of your injury. In the event that this second job has not been mentioned, the workers’ compensation insurer may deny your claim for compensation.

Depending on the severity of the injuries, workers may qualify for compensation from both jobs. By relying on the income from both jobs, the worker will recover an increased amount of benefits in their workers’ compensation case. In order to recover benefits as a worker with two jobs, an employee must demonstrate that the employer at the job site where they suffered injuries was aware of the employee’s second job. It is important that the employer not have objected to the employee having a second job. If these factors are met, both jobs will likely be used to calculate the employee’s average weekly wage.

The average weekly wage plays a large role in determining the benefits to which an injured employee is entitled. When an employee works two jobs and has a higher wage, they receive more benefits. In other words, they would receive benefits based on an average weekly wage that accounts for both jobs. In many cases, the amount of temporary total disability benefits equals two-thirds of an average weekly wage while unable to work. This type of compensation typically begins within 14 days of the insurance carrier receiving notice of the injury.

When a workers’ compensation insurer has not been aware of an employee’s second job, it may challenge a claim that income from both jobs should be factored into the average weekly wage. The insurance carrier could attempt to provide benefits to an employee by using only the wages from the workplace where the employee was injured. The result will be a smaller recovery for the injured worker.

If an injury does not disable a worker from performing at their second job, they may not receive temporary total disability benefits. They may be entitled to temporary partial disability benefits. Being able to work at one of two jobs indicates that an injury did not render an employee completely disabled. These benefits are often appropriate when an employee is recovering and participating in light-duty work on a full or part-time basis but earning less than they did before the accident. Temporary partial disability benefits are paid until an employee returns to their job on a regular basis or reaches the maximum benefits provided by Illinois law.

Retain a Skilled Job Injury Lawyer in the Chicago Area

According to the Illinois Workers’ Compensation Act, benefits for workers with two jobs are available if certain factors apply. At Katz, Friedman, Eisenstein, Johnson, Bareck & Bertuca, our experienced job injury lawyers can help you understand your legal rights and obligations. We have helped employees in Aurora, Springfield, Champaign, Quincy, and Rockford, as well as other areas of Cook, Sangamon, Kane, Winnebago, and Adams Counties. Call our office at 312-724-5846 or complete our online form to schedule a free initial consultation with an attorney in the Chicago area.