This depends on several things, one of which is how long you were out of work.  You need to talk to a labor and employment attorney in your area, to discuss the unique facts of your case.  One place to find a qualified lawyer is our website, http://attorneypages.comIn some cases, if you are out of work for less than three months, your job is protected by the federal Family and Maternity Leave Act, or FMLA.  There are situations where the courts have extended that time period, but on very technical arguments.Your employer's compensation insurance company, if they have one (some companies are "self-insured," meaning they pay the benefits themselves), might try to find you another job.  There have been cases where the "new job" was really not meant to do anything but give them an excuse to stop paying you.  A lawyer on your side can make a very big difference if something like that happens.