Helping you get back to suitable work!
Vocational rehabilitation (VR) is one of your workers’ compensation benefits, just like your weekly check and your medical treatment. VR is paid for by the workers’ comp insurance company, there is no cost to you.
The purpose of VR is to support you in getting back to work that pays as close as possible to your previous wage AND that is physically safe. This is called “suitable work”.
If you are eligible for VR, we work together to figure out what type of work will be suitable for you based on your wage, physical abilities, restrictions, skills and experience.
VR will assist with things like help applying for jobs, all the way to helping you go to school to earn a degree, and everything in between.
Overview of the typical Vocational Rehabilitation process:
- When an injured worker has been out of work for 90 days, the claims adjuster should file a 25M form with the Department of Labor.
- VT Dept of Labor then refers the injured worker to a Vocational Rehabilitation Screening. The screening determines whether the injured worker needs a full eligibility assessment. The screening is due 20 days from the date of the referral.
- If you need a full eligibility assessment, your claims adjuster should refer you to a vocational rehabilitation counselor.
- The vocational rehabilitation counselor will contact the injured worker to set up a meeting to gather information needed to determine eligibility.
- At any time after the claims adjuster has assigned a vocational rehabilitation counselor, the injured worker has the right to change to counselors to one of their choosing.
- If the injured worker is determined eligible, which is referred to as “entitled”, the counselor and injured worker develop a Return to Work Plan that will outline the steps needed for the injured worker to return to suitable employment.
- The workers compensation insurance company is asked to fund the Return to Work Plan.
- The Return to Work Plan is completed.
- The worker begins new employment.
Read more about vocational rehabilitation by following the link below:
