Workers' Compensation and Furlough Days

June 24, 2009

A number of you have inquired about how furlough days may affect workers' compensation payments for those individuals who have returned-to-work, but are continuing to receive workers' compensation benefits. Based on conversation with the Workers' Compensation Agency, workers' compensation benefits are based on a comparison of weekly wages actually paid to weekly wages at the time of loss.

Since a furlough day reduces the weekly wages actually paid, anyone receiving a workers' compensation benefit would have that benefit increased to compensate for the lost wages. If the employee's wages, even after the furlough day, is still in excess of the statutory workers' compensation benefit, then no wage loss would exist. Citizens Management Inc (CMI) has been notified of this fact.

Those receiving the Civil Service Supplement (Disability Payment for Duty-Incurred Injuries) or Statutory Supplement will continue to receive those disability related payments.