Louisiana workers who have been injured or suffered a condition from their work that prevents them from doing their job need to know all the necessary information about workers’ compensation benefits. People will automatically think about getting medical treatment and coverage for wage loss. However, there are other matters that often arise and workers need to be completely aware of them.
Specifically, that includes a person who cannot return to the same job they did before. This might be perceived as related to a person who did a physical type of job like construction or worked offshore. But it can apply to any job. For example, a person who worked an office job and suffers from carpal tunnel could have issues doing the same type of work they did previously.
Regardless of the type of employment a person had, vocational rehabilitation can be essential to finding suitable employment after they can get back to work. If there are problems with the assessment that the injured worker needs vocational rehabilitation or other obstacles arise, having qualified help is key.
Key points about vocational rehabilitation
A fundamental aspect of getting vocational rehabilitation is if the worker cannot earn the same income they did prior to the work-related injury that warranted them being approved for workers’ compensation benefits. The primary objective with vocational rehabilitation is to get the employee back on the job with as little retraining as is needed for them to reach their previous income levels.
The employer must choose a counselor trained in vocational rehabilitation to assess the injured worker’s skills and help them with getting training for new employment. There are several options that will be considered, including the worker being able to return to their previous job; working at a modified job or the worker getting a job that fits their skills and education.
If the worker needs to be retrained, they can get this training for as much as 26 weeks. The request must be made within two years of their temporary total disability benefits coming to an end. The treating physician makes the decision as to when the benefits will stop. The employee will not be responsible for paying for a move to be closer to the location where they will receive their training.
Employees can also dispute the case if they do not think the services they are getting meet the necessary standard or they do not think it is necessary. Refusing to take part can cut the supplemental earnings in half for every week while they are refusing.
I can help you with your workers’ compensation case
Workers’ compensation cases often hinge on small details. A minor mistake can be exceedingly costly. When deciding on a legal representative, it is important to remember how valuable experience and knowledge of the Louisiana workers’ compensation system can be.
When you contact me, you will immediately realize how essential it is to have representation that is adaptable, up to date on the law and puts the injured worker’s best interests at the forefront. Part of that stems from more than three decades of experience in helping injured people with the challenges they face every day.
Just because a worker cannot do the same work they did before does not mean they should not get help in finding suitable employment through the workers’ compensation vocational rehabilitation program. For advice, it is wise to call as soon as possible to get the training necessary to move forward.