What is the Supplemental Job Displacement Voucher?
A workplace injury always makes for a harrowing time. On top of the injury, the injured worker has to deal with the added pressure of filing for workers’ compensation benefits and navigating the myriad of options to qualify for each benefit. One small silver lining could be Supplemental Job Displacement Benefits. If you’ve been injured and can’t return to work, you may be eligible to receive training for another job.
The State of California Injured Worker Guidebook gives a good summary of supplemental job displacement benefits, and goes into detail about how to obtain and use these benefits”
“A supplemental job displacement benefit is a voucher that promises to help pay for educational retraining or skill enhancement, or both, at eligible schools. You can use the voucher to pay for tuition, fees, books, tools, or other expenses required by the school for retraining or skill enhancement, and for licensing or professional certification fees, related examination fees, and examination preparation course fees.
Up to $600 of the voucher money may be used to pay for services of a licensed placement agency, a vocational or return-to-work counselor (a person who helps injured workers develop their goals and plans for returning to work), and resumé preparation.
Up to $1,000 may be used to purchase computer equipment.
Up to $500 of the voucher money may be used upon request for miscellaneous expenses without receipts or other documentation.
The voucher is redeemable up to $6,000, regardless of your permanent disability rating.“
You’ll be eligible to receive these benefits if you have a work-related permanent partial disability and your employer hasn’t offered you an alternative work option that meets legal requirements. As with any workers compensation, medical evaluations will be necessary. You can read more about that process in a previous blog.
It’s worth reviewing the Department of Industrial Relations web page on supplemental job displacement benefits. If you have questions or would like to work with an attorney to ensure you receive all the benefits to which you’re entitled, you can contact us here.
