Our attorneys have been assisting the Orange County and Southern California communities for over 40 years.
For many people suffering from an injury at work or through a car accident, some time off and proper care will allow them to heal and get back to their lives. For others, that does not happen. Catastrophic injuries and disabilities can make it impossible for you to do the work you were doing.
This is where vocational rehabilitation becomes critical, and speak with an Orange County work injury attorney today.
If you are a worker who suffers an injury while on the job, you may be owed workers’ compensation benefits. These benefits provide you with compensation for any medical bills you have and may cover your missed time until you can go back to work.
If you are unable to go back to work because of your injuries or complications from them, you may benefit from learning new skills. This is where vocational rehabilitation helps.
Vocational rehabilitation helps you acquire the training and skills necessary to pursue a different career. Sometimes called retraining, the goal here is to equip you with the necessary tools to find work that is comparable to your previous role.
If you are hurt at work in California and qualify for workers’ compensation, the objective is typically to get you back to that job. If you cannot return to work due to complications from the injury but do not qualify for permanent disability, vocational rehabilitation may become available.
It is not available just because you were hurt and want a new job. Your doctor must certify that you can no longer do the work you were doing.
This type of benefit is available to those who suffer a permanent partial disability, and the employer cannot offer any regular, modified, or alternative work for you. In situations where the employer does offer a qualifying alternative as regular work, you cannot reject that offer and still obtain benefits from vocational rehabilitation.
These benefits provide financial compensation, allowing you to pursue new education, training, or other services necessary to enter the workforce in a different career or even a completely different industry.
You will receive a voucher to cover the cost of the skill enhancement or educational training you desire, provided you obtain it from a qualified institution. You can use those funds to pay for professional certification fees as well as the tools you need to use to enter the new field.
The amount of your voucher is dependent on when you suffered an injury after January 1, 2013; the maximum value of a voucher is $6,000. Previously, the amount obtained was dependent on the percentage of functionality or disability you had.
You are entitled to these vouchers if your workers’ compensation approves them. They do expire. You must use the voucher within 2 years of the date it was issued or within 5 years of the date of the injury, whichever is later.
When you are hurt due to your employer’s mistakes, it is crucial to be proactive and seek answers to your questions. Start with a free consultation with DiMarco | Araujo | Montevideo.
Let our legal team help you determine if you qualify for vocational rehabilitation or what other services may be available to you.