After taking a disability leave, returning to work may involve complex circumstances. Thinking about what to expect when you return might be intimidating, especially if your condition requires you to quit your job and start all over doing something new. Below are some tips for transitioning from disability leave back to employment.
Consult with a professional, ensure you’re mentally and physically prepared to return to work, make use of accommodations, review your company’s disability policy, seek assistance from HR, and update your resume to reflect new skills acquired during your leave, emphasizing abilities that align with your current capacities.
This article will cover how to return to work following a disability leave where you were receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
How to Return to Work After Taking Disability Leave
Here are some steps to follow when considering a return to work after taking SSDI disability leave:
1. Consult With Professionals
You can decide if you’re prepared to return to work following a disability leave by speaking with your doctor. Your healthcare provider can assess your physical health and job responsibilities to determine whether you can safely return to work. If your doctor gives the go-ahead for you to start working again, they will give you the paperwork you need to give your employer as proof that you’re fit to return to work.
Before returning to work following a disability leave, you might also need to speak with a lawyer. You can better grasp the state and federal disability legislation that safeguards your rights as well as the long-term disability policies of your future employer with the assistance of a lawyer.
2. Make Sure You Are Ready
It’s important to consider whether you can carry out your former job’s responsibilities without endangering your health. A premature return to work could hinder your recovery and put your employer in a difficult situation.
You should still evaluate your mental preparedness to adapt to a full schedule once your doctors have given you the all-clear to return to work.
Although it’s not required by law, it could be advantageous to keep the lines of communication open with your employer while you’re on disability leave. Informing your manager or the human resources (HR) division of your anticipated return date can be useful. They cannot, however, compel you to go back to work.
Make the adjustments you need to make the move easier for yourself. It can be daunting to return to work after a traumatic accident, debilitating disability, or event, so it’s important to give yourself time and whatever you need to handle it.
Whether that’s taking quiet intervals to recharge, working from home occasionally, or simply easing back into the office gradually.
3. Make Use of the Accommodation You’re Entitled To
Arrange your medical records in order so that you can readily give your employer information on clarifying your health limits and appropriate adjustments at work. Inform your company of any potential problems and how to successfully overcome them.
Never hesitate to seek assistance. Your company is there to support you by providing specific accommodation, tools, or other resources because they want to see you succeed.
4. Review Your Companies Disability Policy
Review the long-term disability policy of the company before starting a new job. It will describe how to resume working and other important information should you need to go on disability leave again.
In the long-term disability policy, look for an occupational provision. When and how you can obtain disability benefits from your employer are determined by these clauses. The two forms of occupational clauses are as follows;
- Own-Occupation Clause (OCC): If a medical condition prevents you from performing the duties of your employment, you may be eligible for employer disability compensation.
- Any occupation Clause (ACC): if a medical condition prevents you from performing any job duties, you may be eligible for benefits.
If your employer’s disability policy has an OCC, you might be allowed to return to work in a different capacity while still collecting benefits. If the ACC is part of your company insurance, you are eligible for benefits if you cannot work.
Your employer’s disability policy will specify the hours and duties you can carry out after you resume employment. Additionally, you might make a maximum amount and still be eligible for workplace disability payments.
5. Ask For Assistance From HR
You might find it simpler to return to work while disabled if you get in touch with the human resource department of your employer. You can talk about how long your disability benefits will last and the modification you need to return to work successfully.
You might be unable to take up your previous position due to certain limitations. For instance, if you have a job that needs a lot of physical effort you might consider returning to your previous company in a position requiring less physical effort.
In this situation, speak with your HR representative about any retraining or continuing education opportunities the company may have to help you transition to a new role.
6. Update Your Resume
You should update your resume to reflect any new skills you acquired while on leave if your accident or disability prohibits you from returning to your old work. In the education area of your resume, list the skills you acquired if you took any courses or classes during that time.
Reviewing your skill set is important because you will need to understand how your impairments may affect your physical and mental abilities. If your impairments are mostly physical, updating your resume to emphasize your mental abilities, such as problem-solving or phone etiquette, may be helpful.
Maintain Your Disability Benefits
The Ticket to Work program enables you to continue receiving SSDI benefits while working for up to 45 months. Those between the ages of 18 and 64 who receive Social Security Disability Insurance or SSDI, due to their disability are eligible to sign up for the Ticket to Work program.
After taking a disability leave, returning to work needs considerable thought and planning.
People can successfully navigate this transition and pursue meaningful work while defending their rights and well-being by consulting with professionals, assessing readiness, utilizing accommodations, reviewing company policies, getting support from HR, updating their resume, and understanding how to maintain disability benefits.
