But What About My Other Job? A Refresher on Supplemental Disability Benefits in Oregon
By Charles Leineweber, Attorney at Law
These days, it is not uncommon for workers to hold multiple jobs to make ends meet. In fact, a 2025 study from the Bureau of Labor Statistics found over 9.3 million Americans worked multiple jobs, the highest level of the workforce in 25 years. But what is the implication of multiple income streams on claims processing? And what happens when a compensable injury impacts a worker’s ability to work their multiple jobs? Oregon has long addressed these issues through “supplemental disability benefits.”
Supplemental disability allows for additional monies to be paid to the worker to address wages lost at secondary jobs (not the job at injury). Eligibility is determined by OAR 436-060-0035(3). An injured worker must first provide notice of their secondary employment to the insurer and processing agent within 30 days of the insurer’s receipt of the claim. It is then on the insurer, within five business days of receiving the worker’s notice, to mail the worker a request for confirmation of secondary employment and verifiable wage information.
The worker must send their secondary employment wage records within 60 days of the insurer’s request. If the worker does not, they may be ineligible for benefits. But if the worker does provide this information, the insurer/processing agent has 14 days from the date of receipt to determine eligibility. In doing so, the insurer/processing agent must calculate the total average weekly wage inclusive of each secondary job and determine the temporary disability rate.
To incentivize insurers, the Division will reimburse supplemental disability payments made. Therefore, these benefits should be documented separately. Reimbursement can also include administrative fees paid to a claims processing administrator for managing supplemental disability benefits. Reimbursement may be requested quarterly via a Form 3504, and a full list of reimbursement requirements are noted in OAR 436-060-0500.
Claims professionals should be aware of their obligations to investigate entitlement, and the procedures and timelines for supplemental disability. Should you have any questions regarding supplemental disability, the attorneys at Reinisch Wilson are available to help navigate this complex process to ensure it flows as smoothly and efficiently as possible.