The $6,000 Job Displacement Voucher Explained

There is a benefit in California's workers' compensation system that thousands of eligible workers never collect, not because they do not qualify, but because no one told them it existed. The Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit (SJDB) is a non-transferable voucher worth up to $6,000, available to injured workers who cannot return to the job they held before their injury. It is not wage replacement, and it is not part of a settlement. It is a standalone benefit, funded and issued separately, designed entirely to help you retrain for new work and move forward with your career.

Eligibility for the $6,000 Job Displacement Voucher

The SJDB is governed by California Labor Code Section 4658.7 and applies to injuries occurring on or after January 1, 2013.

Three conditions must all be met to qualify:

1. You have a permanent partial disability resulting from your work injury. The disability does not have to prevent you from all types of work, only from returning to your previous position.
2. Your employer does not offer suitable work. Specifically, your employer must fail to offer you regular, modified, or alternative work consistent with your permanent restrictions within 60 days of the claims administrator receiving a medical report establishing your permanent partial disability.
3. Your injury occurred on or after January 1, 2013. Workers injured before this date fall under a different and older benefit structure.

Once eligibility is established, the claims administrator has 20 days to send you the voucher on California Form DWC-AD 10133.32.

What the Voucher Can Cover

The $6,000 is earmarked specifically for education and career retraining expenses. It is not issued as cash. Instead, funds go directly to approved providers, or the worker submits receipts for reimbursement within 45 days of purchase.

Approved uses of the voucher include:

• Tuition and enrollment fees at California public schools or providers listed on the state's eligible training provider list through CalJOBS
• Required books and tools needed for the training program
• Licensing and certification exam fees for credentials related to the new career path
• Up to $1,000 for computer equipment, including monitors, software, keyboards, tablets, and printers needed for training or employment
• Up to $600 for vocational and job placement services, including return-to-work counseling and resume preparation
• Up to $500 in miscellaneous expenses directly related to the training program

The voucher cannot be used for transportation, travel expenses, internet access, clothing, or general living costs, though.

How to Claim and Use the Voucher

Once you receive the voucher form, you will identify your chosen school or training program, which you can search for through CalJOBS at careeronestop.org, and indicate your selection on the form. In most cases, the training provider bills the claims administrator directly, meaning you should not be required to pay out of pocket upfront for covered expenses. If you do pay out of pocket, you can submit receipts to the claims administrator for reimbursement within 45 days.

One deadline to keep in mind: a voucher issued after January 1, 2013, expires two years from the date of issue or five years from the date of injury, whichever is later. Do not let it sit unused.

Pacific Workers', The Lawyers for Injured Workers can help you understand whether you qualify, track the employer's 60-day window, and conduct follow-ups if the voucher is not issued as expected.

Return-to-Work Supplement Program

If you receive an SJDB voucher, you may also qualify for an additional one-time payment of $5,000 through the California Return-to-Work Supplement Program, administered by the Department of Industrial Relations. This is a completely separate benefit funded by the state, not the insurance carrier, and it does not reduce or affect your settlement value in any way. To receive it, you must submit a separate online application at dir.ca.gov/rtwsp within one year from the date the SJDB voucher was served on you. If you do not have internet access, every DWC district office has a computer kiosk available for this purpose. The two benefits combined represent up to $11,000 in career transition support that many eligible workers never collect.

If you are approaching the P&S stage of your claim or have questions about receiving a voucher as part of your workers’ compensation benefits, Pacific Workers', The Lawyers for Injured Workers is here to help. Call us at (888) 740-6434 today for a free consultation, so we can see how to get you the most benefits possible after a workplace injury slowed you down.