Suffering a workplace injury can throw your life into uncertainty—especially if you’re thinking about leaving your job. If you’re receiving workers’ compensation benefits in Massachusetts, you may be wondering: Can I quit my job without losing those benefits? The short answer is yes, you can—but it’s not always that simple.

Understanding how quitting affects your workers’ comp claim in Massachusetts is important for protecting your income, medical care, and future employment rights. Below, we break down the legal and practical implications of leaving a job while receiving benefits.

Understanding Workers’ Compensation in Massachusetts

Massachusetts workers’ compensation is a no-fault insurance system designed to help employees who suffer job-related injuries or illnesses. It covers medical expenses, partial wage replacement, and, in some cases, vocational rehabilitation. Most employers in the state are required to carry this insurance.

If your injury is approved for benefits, you may receive:

• Temporary total incapacity benefits (60% of your average weekly wage)
  
• Temporary partial incapacity benefits (up to 75% of your total disability rate)
  
• Permanent and total incapacity benefits
  
• Medical treatment coverage
  
• Mileage reimbursement
  
• Job retraining in some cases
  

Can You Legally Quit While on Workers’ Comp in Massachusetts?

Yes. Massachusetts law does not prohibit an injured worker from quitting their job while receiving workers’ compensation benefits. However, quitting can affect the type and amount of benefits you receive going forward.

For example, if you leave your job while receiving temporary total disability, you may continue to receive benefits if your doctor confirms that you’re still medically unable to work.

But if you’re receiving partial disability benefits—and your employer had been accommodating your restrictions—quitting might be viewed as voluntary loss of income, which could reduce or terminate your wage replacement benefits.

How Quitting May Impact Your Wage Replacement Benefits

Whether or not you continue receiving lost wage payments often depends on your work status at the time of quitting and the reasoning behind it. Here’s how different scenarios might play out:

1. Quitting While Totally Disabled

If your doctor confirms that you’re completely unable to work due to your injury, and your condition hasn’t changed, quitting your job should not affect your temporary total incapacity benefits. These payments are based on your medical condition, not your job status.

2. Quitting While on Light Duty

If you’re on light-duty work and your employer is accommodating your restrictions, quitting could be seen as voluntarily removing yourself from available employment. In this situation, your weekly benefits may be reduced or suspended.

3. Quitting to Take Another Job

Taking a new job can impact your workers’ comp eligibility, especially if the job pays more than your reduced earning capacity allows under Massachusetts law. You’ll need to report any new income to the insurer, and your benefits will likely be adjusted accordingly.

How Insurance Companies View Voluntary Quits

Workers’ compensation insurers often scrutinize voluntary resignations. They may argue that:

• You quit for personal reasons unrelated to your injury
  
• You declined suitable light-duty work
  
• Your wage loss is no longer work-related
  

This can make it more difficult to prove ongoing eligibility for wage replacement benefits. If this happens, you may need to attend a hearing before the Massachusetts Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA) to fight for continued benefits.

Will You Still Receive Medical Treatment Coverage?

Yes, in most cases you will still be entitled to medical treatment coverage under Massachusetts workers’ compensation—even if you quit your job. As long as your doctor certifies that your treatment is related to your work injury and medically necessary, the insurance company must continue paying.

However, keep in mind that changing employment status could complicate the approval process. Some insurers may delay or challenge care if they suspect your injury has improved or that you’ve left for unrelated reasons.

What If You Were Forced to Quit?

If your employer made your working conditions intolerable—such as refusing accommodations or retaliating against you for filing a claim—you may have grounds for a constructive discharge argument. In these cases, quitting doesn’t always count against your benefits. You might even have an additional employment law claim.

Consulting a Massachusetts workers’ compensation attorney is essential in these scenarios to evaluate whether your departure could trigger legal consequences or result in the loss of benefits.

How a Workers’ Comp Lawyer Can Help if You’re Thinking of Quitting

Before you submit a resignation letter, it’s a good idea to consult with a qualified Massachusetts workers’ comp attorney. Here’s how legal counsel can help:

• Review the status of your benefits and advise how quitting may affect them
  
• Evaluate medical documentation to support ongoing eligibility
  
• Communicate with the insurer to protect your wage replacement and treatment coverage
  
• Prepare you for disputes or hearings if your benefits are denied or reduced after quitting
  
• Determine if other legal claims apply, including retaliation or workplace harassment
  

Having a knowledgeable workers’ compensation lawyer on your side can make all the difference when navigating these complex decisions.

Other Options Besides Quitting

If you’re feeling pressured to leave your job due to poor treatment, pain, or lack of accommodations, quitting isn’t your only choice. Alternatives include:

• Requesting a formal reasonable accommodation
  
• Asking for a different department or job assignment
  
• Exploring vocational rehabilitation through the DIA
  
• Filing a retaliation claim under Massachusetts law if your employer punishes you for your injury
  

Leaving your job should be a last resort—not your first move. An experienced workers’ comp lawyer in Massachusetts can help you weigh your options.

Call Brandon J. Broderick For Legal Help

If you’re considering leaving your job while on workers’ compensation in Massachusetts, don’t risk losing the benefits you depend on. At Brandon J. Broderick, Attorney at Law, we help injured workers protect their rights and navigate difficult decisions with confidence.

Whether you’re dealing with wage loss, insurer pushback, or workplace retaliation, our experienced legal team can guide you through every step. We offer free consultations and are ready to stand up for what you’re owed. Contact us today to learn how a trusted workers’ compensation attorney can help you move forward.