Injured Worker Holding His Arm in PainGeorgia worker’s compensation benefits may include vocational rehabilitation. Suppose the worker’s injuries are so severe that they cannot return to their previous position. In that case, the injured worker may receive approval for vocational rehabilitation. Vocational rehabilitation provides training and other services so the injured worker can find a new job or a different career that will accommodate their injury or disability.  

Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits Covered by Workers’ Compensation in GA

Workers’ compensation covers vocational rehabilitation benefits if the injury is considered catastrophic. These are injuries so severe that they prevent an employee from returning to their previous type of work. Catastrophic injuries also prevent the injured worker from doing any other work they are qualified to do that is commonly available. 

Examples of Catastrophic Work Injuries

  • Amputation of an arm, hand, leg, or foot
  • Severe brain injuries
  • Severe burns
  • Severe spinal cord injury involving paralysis
  • Total blindness
  • Traumatic brain injuries

If a worker’s injury is non-catastrophic, GA workers’ compensation insurance companies are not required to provide vocational rehabilitation services.

Definition of Vocational Rehabilitation

Under the Georgia Code, vocational rehabilitation means:

“…any service, provided directly or through public or private instrumentalities, found by the director to be necessary to compensate a person with disabilities for his or her disability to employment and to enable such individual to engage in a remunerative occupation.”

Examples of Vocational Rehabilitation Services

  • Career counseling
  • Consulting potential employers about job accommodations or workplace modifications for the injured or disabled workers’ compensation client
  • Vocational evaluations
  • Educational programs for job training
  • Refresher courses
  • Job placement services (resume preparation assistance, interview coaching)

Georgia Vocational Rehabilitation Agency’s Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) program works with people with disabilities to help them find and keep jobs. The program provides individualized services to each client, from training and education support to providing access to assistive technology. 

Get Advice From an Experienced Workers’ Compensation Lawyer

If you’ve been injured at work, you may have questions about your workers’ compensation claim and the benefits you are eligible to receive. The helpful workers’ compensation lawyer at Rechtman & Spevak has the experience required to help workers’ compensation clients. Our skilled legal team will answer your questions to determine if you’re eligible for vocational rehabilitation assistance and may be able to help you get the benefits you deserve.

Contact our Atlanta law office today at 404-355-2688 or fill out our online contact form to schedule an appointment for a free initial case consultation.