Lost work can stop an income from coming in when a worker can not go back to the job after a work injury or illness. But, a permanent disability does not have to stop a worker from making a fresh start.

Californians can regain their footing at a job and return to work by using a voucher, called a Supplemental Job Displacement Voucher (SJDV), to pay for retraining or skills development.

Not Fully Able To Return To The Job

The voucher is given to Californians who can not do the same work as they did before the injury, or illness, and did not return to work for their employer. Someone who simply avoids work because they find it too hard, though they are able to return to the job and do work the employer will pay them for does not get a voucher. The employer is given the opportunity to find a job the worker can do. They discuss the opportunities with the worker. If no work plan is worked out, the worker can ask for a voucher as a workers' compensation benefit.

The Voucher Made for Work Opportunities

A claims administrator can send a worker a voucher that is a promise to pay for education or training at an approved or accredited school. The money pays for tuition, fees, books and other expenses. Anything that helps them come closer to working at a job again.

Workers just have to walk in the door and give the voucher to a school staff member or vocational counselor. The California colleges can take the vouchers. Any school in the Community College, State University, or University of California systems can take them. Private schools approved by the California Bureau of Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education are also on the list. Another state agency that works with BPPVE can approve a school.

One other choice is a school accredited by a regional association of schools and colleges that the U. S. Department of Education has authorized. Another is a Federal Aviation Administration approved educational institution. If the worker decides to get their education or training outside of California, they just need to know the school is accredited by an association similar to BPPVE.

The school does not have to give out a degree.

Up to ten percent of the voucher amount can be used to pay for help from a vocational rehabilitation counselor that helps plan a return to work.

Money for Recovering Ability

The greater the loss in work ability the more money the voucher is worth. When a Worker's Compensation Judge approves a settlement, they give the worker a permanent disability rating. The claims administrator uses this rating to calculate the voucher amount.

There are fixed voucher amounts for each rating category. A worker with a less than 15 percent disability gets an amount they can use to pay for some or all their costs for abilities development at a school that gives them basic abilities. Short training on basic computer skills is open to workers with these vouchers. Workers with a 50 to 99 percent rating can get a voucher worth enough to pay for recovering from ability losses that can keep them out of the workforce permanently. The costs for a full college course can stay within budget.

There are two ratings categories in between the least serious and most serious disability categories. One is 15 to 25 percent disability and the other is 26 to 49 percent disability. The voucher amounts are moderate amounts.

Help for Workers with Old Injuries

The voucher is for workers injured in 2004 or later. Workers that were injured or became ill before 2004 use vocational rehabilitation services, such as job placement counseling and training. During the time the disability keeps the worker from earning income and they are getting ready to return to work, they can also get paid an amount that covers necessary living expenses.

A Decent Opportunity

A job is at hand for workers prepared to do a job. Vouchers help get the Californian back into the workforce.

Source:

California Commission on Health and Safety and Workers' Compensation, Workers' Compensation in California: A Guidebook for Injured Workers (Third Edition, November 2006).