What is Worker's Compensation?
If you get hurt on the job, your employer is required by law to pay for workers’ compensation benefits.
Examples of getting hurt on the job:
What are the special benefits of Worker's Compensation?
Medical care: Paid for by your employer, to help you recover from an injury or illness caused by work.
What should you do if you have a job injury?
I’m afraid I might be fired because of my injury. Can my employer fire me?
Can I cash in or "settle" the voucher?
The vouchers cannot be converted into cash. They can only be used taking classes and for buying related equipment.
How do I apply for the voucher?
A vocational counselor can assist in processing the voucher paperwork and in locating the resources you would like to use it for.
Please contact Lori Levin at Career Options, for further information, at (818) 374-5361, or fill out our contact form.
What does it cost to apply for the voucher?
There is no cost or fee to the injured worker for inquiring and pursuing these voucher funds. The assistance of a vocational counselor, to process your claim and to help find training options that meet State guidelines, is paid for with 10% of the voucher funding.
How is the amount of the voucher determined?
For work-related injuries that occur between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2012, the amount of the voucher depends on the amount of disability.
For work-related injuries that occur after January 1, 2013, the voucher amount is $6,000.
Are there any additional funds for injured workers?
If you get hurt on the job, your employer is required by law to pay for workers’ compensation benefits.
Examples of getting hurt on the job:
- hurting your back in a fall
- getting burned by a chemical that splashes on your skin
- getting hurt in a car accident while making deliveries
- hurting your wrist from doing the same motion over and over
- losing your hearing because of constant loud noise.
What are the special benefits of Worker's Compensation?
Medical care: Paid for by your employer, to help you recover from an injury or illness caused by work.
- Temporary disability benefits: Payments if you lose wages because your injury prevents you from doing your usual job while recovering.
- Permanent disability benefits: Payments if you don’t recover completely.
- Supplemental job displacement benefits: Vouchers to help pay for retraining or skill enhancement if you don’t recover completely and don’t return to work for your employer.
- Death benefits: Payments to your spouse, children or other dependents if you die from a job injury or illness
What should you do if you have a job injury?
- Report the injury to your employer - Tell your supervisor right away. If your injury or illness developed gradually (like tendinitis or hearing loss), report it as soon as you learn or believe it was caused by your job.
- Get emergency treatment if needed - If it’s a medical emergency, go to an emergency room right away. Your employer may tell you where to go for treatment. Tell the health care provider who treats you that your injury or illness is job-related.
- Fill out a claim form and give it to your employer - Your employer must give or mail you a claim form (DWC 1) within one working day after learning about your injury or illness. Use it to request workers’ compensation benefits.
- Get good medical care - Get good medical care to help you recover. You should be treated by a doctor who understands your particular type of injury or illness. Tell the doctor about your symptoms and the events at work that you believe caused them. Also describe your job and your work environment.
I’m afraid I might be fired because of my injury. Can my employer fire me?
- It’s illegal for your employer to punish or fire you for having a job injury, or for filing a workers’ compensation claim when you believe your injury was caused by your job.
- If you feel your job is threatened, find someone who can help. Note that there are deadlines for taking action to protect your rights.
- The California Division of Workers’ Compensation (DWC) is the state agency that oversees the delivery of benefits for injured workers and helps resolve disputes over benefits between injured workers and employers.
- DWC information and assistance (I & A) officers can help you navigate the workers’ compensation system and can provide claim forms or other forms you need to receive benefits.
- The FREE publication, “A Guidebook for Injured Workers,” can be downloaded from www.dwc.ca.gov.
Can I cash in or "settle" the voucher?
The vouchers cannot be converted into cash. They can only be used taking classes and for buying related equipment.
How do I apply for the voucher?
A vocational counselor can assist in processing the voucher paperwork and in locating the resources you would like to use it for.
Please contact Lori Levin at Career Options, for further information, at (818) 374-5361, or fill out our contact form.
What does it cost to apply for the voucher?
There is no cost or fee to the injured worker for inquiring and pursuing these voucher funds. The assistance of a vocational counselor, to process your claim and to help find training options that meet State guidelines, is paid for with 10% of the voucher funding.
How is the amount of the voucher determined?
For work-related injuries that occur between January 1, 2004 and December 31, 2012, the amount of the voucher depends on the amount of disability.
- Up to $4,000 voucher for permanent partial disability of less than 15 percent
- Up to $6,000 voucher for permanent partial disability between 15 and 25 percent
- Up to $8,000 voucher for permanent partial disability between 26 and 49 percent
- Up to $10,000 voucher for permanent partial disability between 50 and 99 percent
- For injuries occurring on or after Jan 1, 2013, the amount of the voucher is $6000.
For work-related injuries that occur after January 1, 2013, the voucher amount is $6,000.
Are there any additional funds for injured workers?
- Injured workers may also be eligible for an additional $5,000 beyond their training voucher amount.