Vocational Rehabilitation & Maintenance Benefits Under The Illinois Workers Compensation System.
Vocational rehabilitation & maintenance benefits are workers compensation benefits that an injured worker may be eligible to receive in connection with a work related injury. Vocational rehabilitation is the process by which work skills are rebuilt as part of an injured employee’s recovery from a work injury or illness. If an injured worker cannot return to the pre-injury job and the employee wishes to retrain for another occupation, the employer is required to pay for training, treatment, and instruction necessary for the vocational, mental and physical rehab of the employee, including maintenance costs and incidental expenses. The maintenance benefit should not be less than the temporary total disability rate determined for the injured employee.
Vocational rehabilitation benefits may include, for example, the following:
- Counseling for job searches
- Supervising a job search program
- Vocational retraining
- Education at an accredited learning institution
- On the job training
- Resume and job application assistance
- Coaching for job interviews
In order to be entitled to maintenance and vocational rehabilitation benefits, an injured employee must show that he or she suffered a reduction in his or her earning capacity as a result of his or her work injury and that rehabilitation will increase his or her earning potential.
Unfortunately, workers compensation insurers often will attempt to reduce or even deny the amount of vocational rehabilitation and maintenance benefits.
If you have been injured in an accident at work in Illinois, a workers compensation lawyer or workmans comp attorney may be able to help you recover vocational rehabilitation & maintenance benefits.
If You Or A Loved One Were Injured At Work, You May Be Entitled To Maintenance and Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits From Your Employer. Contact A Workers Compensation Attorney.
Fill Out The Form On The Right To Request A Free Review By A Workers’ Comp Lawyer.