Vocational benefits are discretionary. They are intended to help a worker who cannot return to their previous job due to the effects of their injury and lacks the training or skills for a different job to become employable. Vocational benefits may include approved training plans.

Vocational Plans

If vocational assistance is necessary to help you become employable, your employer will provide a vocational counselor to work with you to develop a training plan for L&I’s approval.

A vocational retraining plan includes a job goal based on your skills, interests, and medically documented limitations. The plan may include schooling or on-the-job training and may not exceed two years.

When a vocational retraining plan is approved, you can choose one of two options: begin the approved plan with the assistance of the vocational expert or pursue the necessary training independently.

Disputing Decisions About Vocational Benefits

L&I’s Self-Insurance Section approves or disapproves your employer’s decisions regarding your employability or your vocational plan. If you disagree with L&I’s decisions, you have the right to dispute them. If you decide to take this step, you must send a written dispute to:

The Vocational Dispute Resolution Office

Department of Labor & Industries PO Box 44880
Olympia, WA 98504-4880

You must write to L&I within 15 days of receiving the notice that you disagree with. Explain your concerns in detail. The Vocational Dispute Resolution Office will investigate your complaint and help resolve the dispute. Its recommendations will then be forwarded to the L&I director, who will make the final decision.

Note that your City of Seattle claims analyst can assist you with this process.