Which worker's compensation benefit focuses on restoring individuals to their original work capabilities?

Rehabilitation benefits specifically aim to restore individuals to their original work capabilities following an injury. This type of benefit provides the necessary resources and support—such as vocational training, counseling, and physical therapy—needed to help injured workers regain their skills and re-enter the workforce. This focus on rehabilitation emphasizes the importance of enabling employees to perform their previous job functions or find suitable alternative employment, thereby facilitating their return to economic independence.

Disability benefits, in contrast, typically provide financial assistance to workers who are unable to perform their job duties due to an injury or illness, without a specific focus on restoring their work capabilities. Medical benefits cover the costs related to medical treatments for the workplace injury, while income benefits offer compensation for lost wages during the recovery period. Each of these other benefits plays a crucial role in the overall workers' compensation system, but rehabilitation benefits are uniquely designed to address the goal of returning individuals to their previous levels of productivity and job capabilities.