If a work injury means you cannot go back to the job you had, California return to work and job displacement benefits can help you retrain or move into a new line of work. Abramson Labor Group represents injured workers, never employers, in workers’ compensation claims, including disputes over job offers and displacement vouchers. Our case reviews are free and confidential, and we work on contingency.
These benefits come into play after your condition has stabilized and you are left with lasting restrictions. If the injury causes permanent partial disability, your employer has a choice: offer qualifying work, or you become entitled to a voucher. Under Labor Code section 4658.7(b), you receive the voucher “unless the employer makes an offer of regular, modified, or alternative work” that meets the law’s requirements.
The offer must be made “no later than 60 days after receipt by the claims administrator” of the qualifying physician’s or evaluator’s report, and the work must last at least 12 months. Earlier in the claim, you may receive temporary disability while you recover.
The supplemental job displacement benefit (SJDB) is a voucher you can use to prepare for new work.
| SJDB rule | What the law says | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | Up to “an aggregate of six thousand dollars ($6,000)” | Labor Code 4658.7(d) |
| Uses | Education-related retraining or skill enhancement, occupational licensing or professional certification fees, and other listed costs | Labor Code 4658.7(e) |
| Computer equipment | Up to $1,000 | Labor Code 4658.7(e)(5) |
| Expiration | Two years after the voucher is furnished, or five years after the date of injury, whichever is later | Labor Code 4658.7(f) |
Workers who receive an SJDB voucher may also qualify for a separate state payment. The Department of Industrial Relations runs the Return-to-Work Supplement Program, which offers “a one-time $5,000 payment.” The applicant “must have received a SJDB voucher furnished by a claims administrator,” the date of injury must be on or after January 1, 2013, and the program “must receive application within one year from the date the SJDB voucher was served to the injured worker.”
These benefits are time-limited and easy to miss. These are the problems we see most often.
A workers’ compensation attorney can evaluate whether an offer meets the legal requirements and whether you are owed the voucher. If your claim was denied or delayed, see that page. Our workers’ comp benefits overview covers every benefit in one place, and our article on how much workers’ comp pays explains payment amounts. If a job injury is fatal, the employer is liable for a death benefit to the worker’s dependents under Labor Code section 4701. Families can learn more on our workers’ compensation death benefits page.
Being fired or pushed out because of a work injury can be a separate legal claim. See our articles on whether you can be fired for filing workers’ comp, being fired for medical reasons, and workers’ comp and disability, plus our workplace injuries page.
We represent injured workers in Burbank, Glendale, Pasadena, and across Los Angeles County, and statewide through our California employment lawyers.
We work on contingency, so you do not pay anything unless we win. The case evaluation is free. The DWC notes that “your attorney can’t directly charge you for his or her services” (DWC). Learn more about how contingency fees work.
Not always. The law gives the employer the option to offer regular, modified, or alternative work. If it does not make a qualifying offer, you may receive the job displacement voucher instead (Labor Code section 4658.7). Other laws may also protect you if you were fired because of the injury.
Possibly. The Return-to-Work Supplement is only available to workers who received an SJDB voucher, and the application must be received within one year of the voucher’s service date (DIR).
Our California workers’ compensation FAQ answers common questions about claim forms, deadlines, and delays.
If a work injury is keeping you from your old job, we can review your claim and make sure you know which benefits apply. Request your free case evaluation, contact us, or call us at (213) 493-6300.
You do not pay ANYTHING unless we win!
Last updated: October 2026
This page is general information about California law, not legal advice. Every situation is different. For advice about your specific case, talk to a licensed California workers’ compensation attorney.
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