Alternate grants: academic and self-employment - Archived Feb 5, 2024
Procedure summary
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| Purpose | To refer injured workers for services to assist them in exploring new job options when they can no longer return to their date-of-accident job or employer. To determine entitlement and amount of wage loss benefits. |
| Description | The decision maker anticipates the need for re-employment services for their worker and, in most cases, refers the worker for a triage assessment. During the triage assessment, a re-employment specialist collaborates with the worker to assess their needs and then makes recommendations for the right re-employment services that would best suit the worker’s unique needs and circumstances. The recommended services can range from basic “skilling up” services that focus on short term training options to enhance the worker's employability, to longer-term services such as job training and supported job search. Throughout the re-employment process, the decision maker keeps in regular contact with the worker and re-employment specialist to monitor the worker’s progress and to offer additional assistance and support to the worker. The decision maker makes every effort to support the worker in finding a job that maximizes their earning potential or matches what the worker earned at their date of accident job. If the worker’s return-to-work options lead to lower earnings, the decision maker determines whether they may be entitled to an additional wage loss benefit. The wage loss benefit provides a top up between the worker’s estimated or actual earnings and their earnings at the time of their injury. |
| Key information | Decision makers can make a referral for a triage assessment while the worker is still in treatment. The re-employment services triage assessment supports workers by focusing on the services they need and allows them to access training earlier so they stay focused and engaged in returning to work. The assessment also supports decision makers by making recommendations for the services that will best support their workers' return to work. Changing jobs or careers can be a challenging time for an injured worker. The decision maker ensures the worker is engaged and plays an active role in each decision and step throughout their return-to-work journey. While the decision maker assists the worker in finding a job, it is the re-employment specialist who assesses the worker and makes the recommendation for services based on the triage assessment results. As of April 1, 2021, workers have a duty to cooperate in their return to work and vocational rehabilitation (re-employment). Cooperation means full participation and disclosure, as required, in those activities and services at each stage of a claim that are focused on supporting a worker’s recovery and return to work. The goal is to act in good faith to maximize recovery and achieve return to work, or independence for workers who are medically unable to return to work. There may be an impact to the worker’s benefits if they are not cooperating. Alternate grantsAlternate grants are available in rare situations when an individual would like to explore alternate employment options outside of WCB's re-employment services stream. Eligible workers receive a lump sum payment in instalments, representative of their entitlement to WCB services. Generally, these options are explored with the worker during their job planning phase. Academic grants support workers’ academic pursuits when the cost of their chosen program is suitable but not cost effective. An academic grant allocates the costs for the program(s) WCB would sponsor to the worker’s chosen program. For example: a worker would like to attend a four-year academic program, but is only eligible for costs that would finance to a two-year program, the worker would receive a grant to use towards a portion of their chosen program’s costs. Self-employment grants provide funding to workers who are eligible for re-employment services, but have instead opted to start their own business. In order to be approved for this grant, the worker must develop their own business plan with assistance from WCB’s Re-employment Services and Business Development Services. |
