What If I am Permanently Unable To Do The Job I Was doing When I Was injured?
When you become permanent and stationary (or also called MMI – Maximum Medical Improvement), the evaluating doctor will issue permanent work restrictions. If your employer cannot permanently accommodate those restrictions (may not be able to even if they accommodated the temporary work restrictions) you may be terminated. In a perfect world, you would receive retraining into another job if you are unable to return to your job. While this sued to be the law until 2003, there is no longer an extensive retraining benefit for these unfortunate workers.
If your injury was between January 1, 2004 and January 1, 2013;
If you are unable to do your the job you held when injured, you may be entitled to a “coupon” for retraining – a Supplemental Job Displacement Voucher. The coupon is for an amount between $4,000 and $10,000. It may be used at specified educational institutions only. It does not cover living expenses while attending school. The insurance company does not have to give you the voucher until after your case has settled. For assistance with Supplemental Job Displacement, our office can make referrals to trusted experts.
Additionally, if your company employs 50 or more people, and you are not offered a job with the old employer, you may get a fifteen percent increase in your permanent disability payment amounts. If you do go back to your old job, your permanent disability payments might be reduced by fifteen percent.
If your injury was after January 1, 2013;
You may be entitled to a $6,000 voucher and $5,000 cash. The voucher comes from the insurance company if the employer cannot offer permanent modified work within 60 days of becoming permanent and stationary (MMI). The voucher is to be used for schooling. A vocational expert can help with this process and may be able help get some cash and buy a computer from the voucher credit.
You can obtain $5,000 cash from the Return to Work Fund (State of California). The application for this $5,000 benefit simply requires uploading the voucher letter sent by the insurance company and fill out basic information. Click here for the link
https://www.dir.ca.gov/RTWSP/RTWSPApplication.html
Vouchers do expire two years after issuance. Make sure to use it before this time period or you will not be able to use it or get the $5,000 cash.
