About Vocational Rehabilitation Services Through Workers' Compensation

You can pursue vocational rehabilitation services through workers’ compensation. When your doctor says you’ve reached Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI), your injuries can still prevent you from performing your previous job duties. Workers’ compensation lawyers help you build new skills and return to the workforce, even if your injury changes what you can physically do.

Understanding if you qualify and how to access vocational rehabilitation services is vital. With the right legal guidance from Sawers & Sackel in Buffalo, NY, you can get the support you’re entitled to.

What are Vocational Rehabilitation Services?

Vocational rehabilitation is a set of services designed to help workers injured on the job who can’t return to the same kind of work they did before. These are available through the Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) and usually include:

• Help you find a new job that fits your current abilities
• Training or education for your new career
• Counseling and job readiness support
• Assistance with resume building, job interviews, and applications
• Adaptive tools or workplace accommodations if you need them

The goal? To get you back to work safely, confidently, and in a role that matches your new ability and reality.

Are You Eligible for Vocational Rehabilitation Services?

Not everyone injured on the job will qualify for vocational rehabilitation services, but many do. To be eligible in NY, you must have a job-related injury or illness covered by workers’ comp, making it hard or impossible to return to your previous job. You must also be able to benefit from retraining or job support services.

The need for vocational rehabilitation services is significant. In recent years, agencies like Adult Career and Continuing Education Services—Vocational Rehabilitation (ACCESS-VR) have helped thousands of injured workers on their path back into the workforce. Getting the right help to navigate this system is key to ensuring you can earn a living regardless of your work injury.

You must participate in vocational rehab to get a Schedule Loss of Use (SLU) award of 50% or more for specific body parts, like an arm or leg. You are not eligible if you’re already working or have found another way to support yourself. Our seasoned workers’ compensation attorneys can help determine your eligibility and fight for your right to access the services you need if your case is denied.

Secure Your Vocational Rehabilitation Services Benefits

While the workers’ comp system is supposed to support injured workers like you, the truth is it can be hard to navigate, especially when you’re in pain or dealing with doctor’s visits, bills, and time off work. But you don’t have to figure it all out alone, and you shouldn’t have to. Our Buffalo, NY, workers’ compensation lawyers at Sawers & Sackel can help you get your life and career back on track. They can ensure your employer refers you to vocational rehab services if you qualify and help you fight back if services are denied or cut off.

Our workers’ compensation attorneys in Buffalo, NY, can ensure that the training or job offer fits your restrictions and skill set. Additionally, they can aid in negotiating a fair settlement for your claim, especially if it affects future earnings. Contact us online or call (716) 455-2416 to arrange your free case review today.