Job training may be a workers’ compensation benefit

Workplace injuries could leave employees sitting at home wondering if they will ever be able to rejoin the Texas company where they have spent their career thus far. Losing the ability to do that job can be devastating, and the isolation during recovery may be depressing.

In fact, a study published in BMC Public Health reported that people with a work-related injury had a higher risk of depression than people with a nonwork-related injury, or people with no injury at all. Factors that may contribute to mental health problems include the following:

• Disability
• Lower income
• Treatment costs
• Inability to work

Although the previous job may not be an option, a worker is not automatically relegated to the armchair after a disabling injury. According to the Texas Labor Code 409.012, one aspect of rehabilitation that workers’ compensation may cover is job training.

The employer must report the injury to the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers’ Compensation, and that agency will analyze the circumstances to decide whether the employee might be benefited by the vocational rehabilitation. If so, then the employee will be notified, and the division will provide information about the services that are available, and the facilities that offer them. The workers’ compensation insurance company covers the cost of the job training as one of the WC benefits the employee receives.

If the employee seeks training through a private provider, he or she should make sure that the organization is registered by the division and has the credentials or qualifications necessary to officially offer the services.