(a)
Eligibility. The Chairman or his designee may provide to each
person for whom a vocational rehabilitation plan has been approved, timely
allowances for basic living expenses of the employee while engaged in a
full-time vocational training program under the rehabilitation program's
sponsorship, provided:
(1) The employee is
not receiving or eligible to receive any benefits provided by Chapter 568 of
the general statutes, is not receiving or eligible to receive other benefits
such as, but not limited to, unemployment compensation or social security
disability benefits.
(2) The
employee is engaged in a training program described by a vocational
rehabilitation plan requiring the trainee to be present at the place of
instruction at least 25 scheduled hours, or at a college level program
consisting of a course load of no less than 12 credit hours required and earned
per semester, or no less than six credit hours required and earned during the
summer.
(3) The trainee is adhering
to the specific terms of the plan and trainee manual and is providing timely
and accurate information as to training progress, performance, and attendance,
as required by the Chairman or his designee.
(b)
Schedule of payments. The
Workers' Compensation Commission may pay vocational rehabilitation allowances
to eligible trainees in accordance with the following:
(1) The allowance paid each trainee shall be
a percentage of the benefits which the trainee would receive for the same
period if eligible for compensation provided in Section
31-307,
31-307a,
31-308(a),
or
31-308a
of the general statutes; which percentage shall be established at least
annually by the Chairman or his designee. An additional allowance includes
travel expenses from the employee's home to the training facility and
return.
(2) Each trainee's starting
date and payment amount shall be approved by a Workers' Compensation
Commissioner and submitted to the Chairman or his designee on an authorization
for rehabilitation allowance.
(3)
Payments will be made at two-week intervals, upon completion and submission to
the Chairman or his designee of a claim for payment of rehabilitation
allowance, at the end of each period.
(c)
Termination of payments. The
Workers' Compensation Commission shall cease to pay vocational rehabilitation
allowances to any person whose training under the plan has been concluded. If
payments are terminated for reasons other than scheduled expiration of the
trainee's vocational rehabilitation plan, written notice of termination and the
reason therefor shall be provided to the employee by the Chairman or his
designee.
