The Benefits of Vocational Rehabilitation After a Work Injury
Once you land a good job and the paychecks start coming in, you can breathe a sigh of relief. The goal is to stay in that job and provide for the family. What happens if there is a workplace injury?
In an instant, all of that financial security can be in jeopardy.
Fortunately, injured workers have an opportunity through workers’ compensation insurance to maintain a portion of their salary while they recover from the injuries. They could also benefit from enrolling in available vocational rehabilitation as a way to get back to work and back to earning.
The goal of vocational rehabilitation is to help people with disabilities, including those injured on the job, get back to work. For vocational rehabilitation to be effective, it needs to start as soon as the injured party is able to do so. While the goals are clear, the path to being enrolled in vocational rehabilitation can be complicated.
This is where you can benefit from speaking with an experienced workers’ compensation attorney who can help you navigate the claims process.
The following guide provides vital information about eligibility requirements and vocational rehabilitation benefits.
Eligibility Requirements
Every state has a version of a workers’ compensation commission that regulates the program. While there are some commonalities, there are differences in the eligibility requirements you must match to be enrolled in a vocational rehabilitation program.
For instance, in Illinois, you have to meet the following three factors:
- Your injury has reduced your earning capacity, and the evidence shows that rehabilitation will positively impact you.
- Your job security is diminished because of the injury.
- Your rehabilitation will enable the employee to get hired successfully.
In Ohio, injured workers who are dealing with a significant challenge at work can qualify for vocational rehabilitation by meeting the following requirements:
- You are receiving either temporary total, non-working wage loss, or permanent total compensation.
- You have received a scheduled loss award.
- You are not receiving compensation but have job restrictions.
- You are receiving job retention services.
- You have sustained a catastrophic injury.
If you are deemed eligible for a vocational rehabilitation program, you can expect the following benefits:
Vocational Rehabilitation Case Manager
You’ll be assigned a case manager as you enter a vocational rehabilitation program. This will be your advocate who will ensure that you’re receiving the maximum benefits allowed based on your circumstances.
Your case manager will evaluate your previous work history, education, skills, and extent of your injuries to determine the best path to employment.
Occupational or Physical Therapy
Once your injuries and skills have been established, you can begin occupational or physical therapy. Physical therapy is designed to help the injured worker regain general mobility. For instance, if you injure your shoulder, physical therapy can help you slowly regain function.
Occupational therapy works alongside physical therapy but focuses on helping you develop functionality for specific job-related tasks.
Work Conditioning and Hardening
Work conditioning and hardening are part of vocational rehabilitation that helps workers prepare to return to their specific jobs. For example, if your work involves lifting heavy boxes, work conditioning involves lifting boxes with an increase in weight until you can lift the heavy boxes.
Transitional Work
Transitional work might be available to employees who cannot return to their previous jobs until they complete their physical therapy, but can work in a different position. If you’re still working on your lifting and loading skills, your transitional job might be centered around a desk job until you are ready to return to your previous job.
On-the-Job Training
The on-the-job training phase of vocational rehabilitation places the recovering employee in a specific new job and provides all the relevant training to help them excel in their new position.
Job-Seeking Skills Training
There might be a situation where the injured employee can’t return to their previous position but is able to work in a different type of job. Vocational rehabilitation can provide job-seeking skills that include resume preparation, help with cover letters, and interview practice.
Job Placement
A vocational case manager can also help the recovered worker find new work in an appropriate field with a different employer.
Going through the vocational rehabilitation process can help you maintain a positive attitude, knowing that you’re working towards the goal of gainful employment. Qualifying for these benefits is not automatic. If you apply and are denied, you could file an appeal.
At Work Injury Advisor, we have the resources to help you understand how workers’ compensation is designed to work and what you’re entitled to.
It will help to speak with a qualified workers’ compensation attorney to provide the guidance and information you need to make the right decision.
