Yes. Vocational rehabilitation services are voluntary. However, if without reasonable cause, you refuse to undertake or fail to cooperate with vocational rehabilitation services approved by the court as suitable, or you refuse to be evaluated or fail to cooperate in such evaluation, a judge of th...
When participating in a vocational rehabilitation plan approved by the court, your weekly temporary benefits and medical costs will continue to be paid by your employer/insurer. The fee for evaluation and for the development and implementation of the vocational rehabilitation plan will be paid by...
Either you or the employer/insurer may propose the initial selection of a vocational rehabilitation counselor. Both parties shall attempt to agree to the selection of the vocational rehabilitation counselor. If the parties are unable to agree to the selection of the counselor, either party may re...
The goal of vocational rehabilitation is to assist the employee to return to suitable employment as soon as possible. Return to work with your previous employer or to employment for which you have training or work experience is emphasized, and direct job placement and on-the-job training is given...
If, as a result of a job related injury, you are unable to return to your previous job or to employment for which you have previous training or experience, you may contact your employer or his or her insurer and request vocational rehabilitation services. If the employer/insurer does not agree to...
When, as a result of an injury covered under the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Act, an employee is unable to perform suitable work for which he or she has previous training or experience, the employee is entitled to such vocational rehabilitation services, including job placement and retraining,...
You can still choose a doctor. You can choose one who has treated you or a family member before your injury, if that doctor agrees to the rules of the plan. Otherwise, you may choose among the doctors signed up with the plan. To learn more check out Nebraska Worker's Comp.
If it is an emergency, see any doctor as soon as you can. The rules regarding choice and change of doctor don't apply until after the emergency is over. Then, if you need more treatment, the rules apply. To learn more check out Nebraska Worker's Comp.
Your employer cannot make you receive treatment from another doctor, but your employer (or its insurer) can ask you to see another doctor for an examination. If you unreasonably refuse to be examined by this doctor you may not receive compensation for the time you refuse to be seen. You may be as...
You can't be made to change your treating doctor if the doctor was chosen by you or your employer after your employer notified you of your right to choose a doctor, unless you agree or unless the court orders you to change. To learn more check out Nebraska Worker's Comp.
You can ask for Informal Dispute Resolution (IDR) from the court. You must first try to get your employer to agree to a change in doctors. If this doesn't work, you or your employer can ask for help through the IDR process. A court staff member will try to help you and your employer agree. If tha...
If the doctor has been chosen by you or your employer after you were notified of your right to choose by your employer, you can't change doctors unless your employer agrees or the court orders a change. If you want to change, talk to your employer about the reasons. If your employer agrees, you m...
There are rules about whether the employee or employer chooses the doctor. The employee has the right to select a physician who has maintained the medical records of the employee (or an immediate family member) when the employer notifies the employee of this right. If the employee does not have o...
The Nebraska Supreme Court's Legal Self-Help Center (https://supremecourt.nebraska.gov/self-help/need-to-know) offers general guidance for appearing in court.
This information can be obtained by contacting the employer or the court. Insurance companies are required to report to the court each policy of workers' compensation insurance they issue and are subject to penalties for failure to report. To learn more check out Nebraska Worker's Comp.
Second injury benefit payments are limited to injuries that occurred before December 1, 1997. To qualify for second injury benefits, an employee must have a prior serious disability documented by the employer through written records when the employee is hired or retained in the employment. If a s...
No. But you have the right to have an attorney represent you. In most cases benefits are paid without an attorney or the Workers' Compensation Court becoming involved. Keep in mind your employers medical and insurance is working for the employer so having an attorney can benefit you in getting m...
The employee may contact the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Court by calling either 800-599-5155 or 402-471-6468. A public information specialist will discuss the situation with the employee and refer him or her for further assistance when it is appropriate. The staff of the court may not provide...
An employee should notify his or her employer immediately of any work-related injury or occupational disease. The employee also should inform the treating physician that it is a work-related injury so that the doctor may comply with the statutory requirement to file a first treatment medical repo...
After the employee has been released from medical treatment and is able to return to work, if the medical evidence indicates that the employee has suffered permanent disability due to the injury, the employee is entitled to payment for the degree of permanent disability sustained. The employer/i...
The amount of time varies with employers and insurers. However, in certain circumstances, a 50 percent penalty may be added for waiting time if payment is not made within 30 days of the notice of injury. This requires a determination that there is no reasonable dispute regarding the employee's cl...
Medical Benefits Indemnity (Wage Loss) Benefits 1. Total Disability Benefits 2. Partial Disability Benefits Temporary Partial Benefits. Permanent Partial Loss of a Member Benefits Permanent Partial to the Body as a Whole 3. Death Benefits ...
An injured employee who is covered by the Nebraska Workers' Compensation Act may obtain benefits if: the injury was caused by an accident or disease that arose out of and in the course of his or her employment; the employee was not willfully negligent at the time of the injury; the employmen...
The Nebraska Workers' Compensation Act applies to most employees including employees of private industry, state and local government, part-time employees, minors, and employees of charitable organizations. Here is a list of the exempt: Federal employees, railroad employees, most volunteers, a...
Workers' compensation in Nebraska is designed to provide certain benefits to employees who sustain injury by accident or occupational disease arising out of and in the course of their employment, and who are not willfully negligent at the time of the injury. It should not be confused with unempl...
