Being injured at work can have long-term effects on your ability to earn an income. If your injury has caused a disability, you may no longer be able to work in the job you had prior to the incident. As a result, you will need to go through the process of building new work skills to help you change your career path.
Job training can cost a great deal of money, and this is why rehabilitation is one of your rights under workers’ compensation law. It is important that you make sure to assert your vocational rehabilitation rights in addition to claiming workers’ compensation funds.
Rehabilitation rights of workers in California
Injured workers in California are eligible for a nontransferable voucher for the purpose of education-related retraining or skill-building. This voucher is only valid when being used in conjunction with a state-approved school or training program.
Are all injured workers in California eligible for rehabilitation benefits?
Only workers who have become permanently disabled as a result of their work-related injury will be eligible for rehabilitation benefits in the form of vocational re-training.
What is the maximum monetary value awarded for rehabilitation?
In California, the maximum amount awarded for vocational retraining is a voucher to the value of $10,000.
In addition to rehabilitation benefits, permanently disabled workers will also be eligible for disability benefits. It is important that you ensure you are getting the benefits that you deserve after you were injured in the California workplace. By taking the time to understand the law, you will be able to do this successfully.