So you’ve been hurt in a job-related accident—whether that means you were involved in a work-related accident on a job site or in the office or even while making a delivery. At the end of the day—literally—you were hurt on the job.
And now? You are out of work due to your accident and injury. If your accident and injuries were severe enough, you may even be out of work for an indefinite amount of time. Of course, your job is only protected for a certain amount of time while you recuperate from your accident and injuries. So once it is time to return to the workforce, what do you do? The answer is re-employment services…
What Are Re-Employment Services Exactly and How Can They Help Me?
Florida’s Division of Workers’ Compensation provides that re-employment services are programs and services created and designed to help injured workers return to the workforce.
For example, if you were a construction worker but due to a work-related injury you cannot return to the construction industry, re-employment services will help you return to a type of job that you can perform within your physical limitations.
There are all types of re-employment services and they may include:
- Counseling with respect to different types of jobs
- Skills training related to how to effectively search for a job
- Job placement
- Education and training
- Other services that may help you get back to work
You may receive these services from the workers’ compensation insurance carrier who handled your workers’ compensation claim. Or you can request the services from the state’s Division of Workers’ Compensation.
Am I Eligible?
In order to be eligible for reemployment services, you must:
- Be legally able to work in the United States
- Have an illness or injury that is covered by the Florida Workers’ Compensation Law
- Submit a “Request for Screening” within 365 days of your last receipt of medical treatment (for the work-related injury) or your last receipt of lost wage benefits
How Do I Submit a “Request for Screening”?
In order to request a screening, Florida’s Division of Workers’ Compensation suggests that you have the following information available prior to beginning your application:
- Your Social Security Number (or the Jurisdiction Control Number you were assigned by the Division);
- Your work history for the last 15 years (including employer names, job titles, dates of employment and job duties for each job);
- Medical evidence that demonstrates your ability or inability to work. The medical information should include data specifically related to your workers’ compensation injury as well as other medical information (not related to your injury) that affects your ability to work;
- Your educational background (dates of attendance, names of schools and degrees or certificates earned);
How Do I Know What Services I May be Eligible to Receive?
Florida’s Workers’ Compensation law requires the Department to consider many factors when determining what is called a “return to work plan”.
Some of these factors include the following:
- Your work history
- Your age
- Your transferrable skills
- Your education
- The extent and nature of your injury
- The wages you received at the time of your injury
Contact a Workers’ Compensation Attorney
Finally, your “return to work” plan is important for getting your life back together and getting back on your feet. Therefore, working with a workers’ compensation attorney can aid you with this step. Find out what you are eligible for and get your “return to work” plan in motion.
Also Read :
- 5 Tips to Avoid Workplace Injuries
- When to Hire a Worker’s Comp Attorney in West Palm Beach
- Quick Ways to Solve the Workers Compensation Problem