USCC Workers Comp 2024 - 91

Chart X-Rehabilitation of Disabled Workers
Jurisdiction
Alabama
Alaska
Source of Fund
No fund established
No fund established
Maintenance Allowance
If PP compensation is exhausted prior to
completion of reemployment process,
additional compensation is paid at a reduced
rate.1
Costs for travel and temporary lodging
may be included in the plan costs.
Special Provisions
Board, lodging, and travel if away from home Vocational rehabilitation to restore employee to gainful employment at
employer's expense. Employee's refusal results in loss of compensation for
period of refusal.
Employer pays for eligibility evaluation, which must be performed if
employee is totally unable to return to time-of-injury employment for 90
consecutive days. Within 30 days for eligibility determination, employee
must elect either reemployment benefits or job dislocation benefits.
Reemployment benefit costs paid for by employer, up to $10,000 or
$13,300,2
5%-29%/3
0%.
Arizona
Special fund tax up to 1.5% on
premiums written
Arkansas
California
No fund established
No fund established
Commission may authorize additional
necessary awards to persons undergoing
vocational rehabilitation.
Reasonable expenses for maintenance,
travel, and other necessary costs; 72 weeks
maximum
None
exclusive of rehabilitation professional fees. Job dislocation
benefits ($5,000/$8,000/$13,500) paid in lump sum after determination of
permanent partial impairment rating of 1%-14%/1
Industrial Commission's special fund provides vocational rehabilitation
for both scheduled and unscheduled injuries. The insurance carrier or
self-insured employer may also make available vocational rehabilitation to
claimants.
The Commission does not have to authorize rehabilitation, although it can if
it is pursued by claimant and not agreed to by employer/carrier.
Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit (SJDB) program. This is a
nontransferable voucher for education-related retraining or skill enhancement,
or both, payable to a state-approved or accredited school. To qualify for
this benefit, the employee does not return to work within 60 days after
temporary disability ends and does not return to modified or alternative work.
The maximum voucher amount is $6,000.3
If employee is eligible for SJDB,
he or she may also apply for return-to-work supplement program if PD is
disproportionately low in comparison to earning losses. Will pay $5,000.
Colorado
Connecticut
No fund established for vocational
rehabilitation
Funded out of unified 4%
assessment
Delaware
District of
Columbia
Florida
No fund established
No fund established
Workers' Compensation
Administration Trust Fund derived
from assessments upon insurers
and self-insurers.
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
No fund established
No fund established
Part of 2% Premium Tax Industrial
Administration Fund
TT and plan expenses paid during vocational
rehab by carrier or employer if offered and
accepted
Tuition, room, and board if necessary
Voluntary benefit offered by carrier. If employee refuses offer of vocational
rehabilitation, no PT benefits awarded.
Employer pays full cost of medical rehabilitation, which continues until
employee reaches maximum improvement. Vocational rehabilitation
is furnished by Rehabilitation Services in the Bureau of Rehabilitation
Services.
Reasonable board, lodging, and travel
Up to $50 per week
Division pays preapproved costs for tuition,
books, board, lodging, and travel. Carrier pays
rehabilitation TT benefits for up to 52 weeks.
Physical and vocational rehabilitation furnished at employer's expense.
Employee's refusal results in loss of compensation.
Employer must provide vocational rehabilitation. Benefits forfeited if
worker fails to cooperate.
Carrier is responsible for reemployment services for dates of accident
9/30/89 or before. Carriers may voluntarily provide services for dates of
accidents after 10/1/89. Carriers may voluntarily extend TT benefits beyond
52 weeks. Training and education benefits and additional payment for lost
wages are forfeited if employee refuses to accept training and education
approved by the Division.
Reasonable board, lodging, and travel if away
from home
Board, lodging, travel, tuition, books, and
basic materials in addition to compensation
Reasonable expenses for maintenance and
travel
Rehabilitation benefits are compulsory only in catastrophic cases.
Employee's unreasonable refusal may result in suspension of
compensation.
Rehabilitation unit within the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations
makes recommendation for vocational rehabilitation. Director approves
services and reviews progress.
Rehabilitation Division works as neutral party to facilitate early return-towork
with the time-of-injury employer within medical restrictions. If new
employment is determined as the option for return-to-work, rehabilitation
consultants assess and report the most cost-effective means of returning
the injured worker to gainful employment. An in-depth transferrable skills
analysis is done to mutually agree on vocational objective. TT and TP
benefits may be payable where retraining is authorized. Period of retraining
not to exceed 52 weeks unless the commission, following application and
hearing, extends the period.
Illinois
Indiana
No fund established
No fund established
Maintenance costs and incidental expenses
Physical, mental, and vocational rehabilitation as necessary. Institutional
care if required.
Vocational rehabilitation available to any employee unable to attain gainful
employment due to an occupational disease or injury.4
2024 Analysis of Workers' Compensation Laws | 91

USCC Workers Comp 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of USCC Workers Comp 2024