When can an injured worker in West Virginia receive vocational rehabilitation services?

An injured worker in West Virginia can receive vocational rehabilitation services when they are unable to return to their previous job due to the injury. This service is designed to assist individuals who have sustained injuries that hinder their ability to perform the tasks required in their former positions. The aim is to help these workers acquire new skills, training, or education that will enable them to re-enter the workforce in a different capacity.

In this context, the focus on inability to return to the previous job emphasizes the need for support in transitioning to new employment opportunities. Vocational rehabilitation services can encompass various forms of assistance, including job training, counseling, and job placement services tailored to the individual's abilities and limitations post-injury.

Receiving these services is not contingent upon the completion of medical treatments, the immediate aftermath of the injury, or a formal permanent disability determination. This flexibility allows injured workers to seek the necessary support at the appropriate time when their condition prevents them from resuming their prior work duties.