If you’ve been injured at work in Colorado and can’t return to your previous job, you may be wondering if you can receive vocational rehabilitation help retraining or finding new employment. Theoretically, the answer is yes. Colorado law allows vocational rehabilitation, but in practice, insurance companies rarely offer it.
Why Vocational Rehabilitation Is Rare
Colorado’s workers’ compensation system makes vocational rehabilitation voluntary for insurance companies. That means:
- A judge can’t force an insurance company to provide it.
- Your attorney can’t require it through a court order.
So while it’s technically possible, it almost never happens unless it benefits the insurance company.
When Is It Offered?
Insurance companies typically offer vocational rehabilitation only when you’re claiming permanent total disability (PTD)—meaning you believe your injury prevents you from working in any capacity.
In that situation, the insurance company may:
- Offer you a new job with your employer, or
- Offer to train you for another job.
If you refuse either offer, you could lose your eligibility for permanent total disability benefits.
In short: insurers use vocational rehabilitation as a strategy to defeat PTD claims and avoid paying lifetime benefits.
What Happens If It’s Offered
If vocational rehabilitation is approved:
- You’ll begin receiving wage-loss benefits again from the date of your Maximum Medical Improvement (MMI) forward.
- A vocational rehabilitation provider will meet with you to assess your skills, experience, and physical restrictions.
- The plan may include computer courses, job training, or education for more sedentary work.
However, both sides have conflicting goals:
- The insurance company hopes you refuse or fail the program to reduce benefits.
- The injured worker may hope the plan doesn’t succeed, which could support a finding of permanent total disability.
Sometimes, though, the process is successful — the worker learns new skills, finds meaningful work, and earns even more than before. That’s a win-win outcome.
We’re Here to Help
These cases are complex and fact-specific. If you or someone you love has been injured at work in Colorado, our experienced team can help you understand your options.
Call or text us at 970-356-9898 for a free, confidential consultation. En Kaplan Morrell, hablamos español y estamos aquí para ayudarte.
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