Vocational Rehabilitation
An injured worker is entitled to an evaluation by a
certified vocational rehabilitation counselor of their choice. The cost
of the evaluation shall be paid by the insurance company.
Any employer or injured worker with a total or permanent
partial disability may submit a proposal for a vocational rehabilitation
program. The rehabilitation program will be submitted by a certified
rehabilitation counselor who will also administer the program. The
program may include anything ranging from job search assistance to
formal retraining and schooling. Once the proposal is approved, the
insurance company is required to pay for all aspects of the
rehabilitation program. Workers’ compensation benefits may not be
reduced or terminated while a proposal for approval of a program is
pending or at any time while the injured worker is participating in the
program. However, compensation benefits may be suspended if an injured
worker refuses to participate in a rehabilitation program that was
approved by the Workers’ Compensation Court or agreed to by the injured
worker and the insurance company. Read full text of statute –
28-33-41.
