OAR 436-120-0145: Vocational Assistance Eligibility

(1) A worker whose permanent total disability benefits have been terminated by a final order is eligible for vocational assistance. (2) A worker is eligible for vocational assistance if all of the following conditions are met: (a) The worker is available in Oregon or within commuting distance of Oregon, unless: (A) The worker states in writing that within 30 days of being determined eligible for vocational assistance the worker will move back to Oregon, or within commuting distance of Oregon, at the worker’s expense; (B) The worker did not work and live in Oregon at the time of the injury; (C) The worker needs to live outside of Oregon due to financial hardship, family circumstances over which the worker has no control, or other similar situation; or (D) The training program or supporting labor market for a specific vocational goal is only available outside of Oregon; (b) As a result of the limitations caused by the injury or aggravation, the worker: (A) Is not able to return to regular employment; (B) Is not able to return to suitable and available work with the employer at injury or aggravation; and (C) Has a substantial handicap to employment and requires assistance to overcome that handicap; (c) The worker was not employed in suitable employment for at least 60 days after the injury or aggravation; (d) The worker did not refuse or fail to make a reasonable effort in available light-duty work intended to result in suitable employment. Before finding the worker ineligible, the insurer must document the existence of one or more suitable jobs that would be available for the worker after completion of the light-duty work. If the employer at injury offers such employment to a worker who is not medically stationary, the offer must be made in accordance with OAR 436-060-0030; (e) The worker is available for vocational assistance. If the worker is not available, the insurer must determine if the reasons are for reasonable or unreasonable cause before finding the worker ineligible. If the reason was for incarceration, this reason must be stated in the notice to the worker. Declining vocational assistance to accept modified or new employment that results from an employer at injury activated use of the Preferred Worker Program, under OAR 436-110, is reasonable cause; and (f) The worker did not refuse or otherwise relinquish their rights to vocational assistance in writing. (3) Individuals covered under ORS 656.033, 656.046, 656.135, or 656.138 (work experience program participants, apprentices, trainees), are eligible for vocational assistance if they otherwise meet the eligibility requirements in section (2) of this rule. For purposes of vocational assistance: (a) The employer at injury is the district, college, or school conducting the program or project in which the individual was injured; (b) Regular employment is the job for which the individual was being trained at the time of the injury; and (c) The assumed wage upon which premium was based, but in no event less than minimum wage, should be used to determine suitable wage under OAR 436-120-0147. (4) The worker must participate in the vocational assistance process and must provide relevant information. If the worker does not participate, or fails to provide relevant information, the insurer must issue a written warning before finding the worker ineligible under this rule. (5) The worker must not misrepresent a matter material to evaluating eligibility.