The benefits you can get through workers’ compensation should help you to heal and manage your medical condition. Sometimes, your benefits will also help you to rehabilitate so that you can return to work. If you need vocational rehabilitation, workers’ compensation should offer you this option, according to the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry.

Of course, as with any type of extra medical care under workers’ compensation, you will need approval to get vocational rehab. To start, you need to request a consultation. You do this with your employer or employer’s insurer. They have 14 days to respond.

You may receive a referral to a qualified rehabilitation consultant, but you also can choose your own as long as you do so within two months of filing your rehabilitation plan.

The consultation involves the consultant meeting with you and discussing your needs. He or she will also meet with your employer or the insurer and your health care provider. The consultant must determine that rehab will benefit you. For an approval, you also need to show that your employers cannot provide alternative duties and you cannot do your usual job duties.

Do note that if you get an approval to go to vocational rehabilitation, you will have to follow the rehab plan. You also must seek employment while working on your plan.

You need to go through the consultation process to get an approval. If you seek out rehab services before getting the approval, workers’ compensation may not pay for it. This information is for education and is not legal advice.