What Is the Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit (SJDB) and Am I Entitled to It?
if you've been injured at work and your doctor determines that you have a permanent disability, you may be eligible for a benefit called the Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit (SJDB) — also known as the Workers’ Comp voucher. This benefit is designed to help you return to the workforce if your employer cannot offer you your regular job or modified work.
Who Qualifies for the SJDB Voucher?
Under California Labor Code section 4658.7, you are entitled to the SJDB if:
You have a report from a Primary Treating Physician (PTP), Agreed Medical Evaluator (AME), or Panel QME (PQME) confirming permanent disability, and
Your employer fails to make a valid offer of regular or modified work within 60 days of receiving that report.
To avoid issuing the voucher, your employer must:
Offer regular, modified, or alternative work within 60 days.
Guarantee the work for at least 12 months.
Ensure that any modified job pays at least 85% of your pre-injury wages.
If they don’t meet all of those criteria, you should receive the voucher.
What Can You Use the SJDB Voucher For?
You’ll receive two types of benefits:
1. $5,000 Return-to-Work Supplement
This is a one-time payment from the State of California.
👉 Apply here: https://www.dir.ca.gov/RTWSP/RTWSPApplication.html
2. $6,000 Voucher for Retraining and Job Support
This voucher can be used for:
Tuition, books, and fees at an eligible California public school or a certified training provider.
Licensing and certification fees, including exams and prep courses.
Job placement, counseling, and résumé preparation services (up to 10% of the voucher value).
A computer, up to $1,000 (save your receipt for reimbursement).
A $500 miscellaneous expense reimbursement that you can request without receipts.
Note: The voucher cannot be used for transportation, clothing, phone bills, or internet service.
Common Tricks Insurance Companies Use to Deny SJDB
Don't let the insurance company or employer wrongly deny your benefit. Watch out for:
Sham job offers – like saying, “We would have offered you a job if you weren’t terminated.” That’s not valid. The offer must be real and unconditional.
No offer from the actual employer – even if you're working elsewhere now, only the employer where the injury occurred can make the return-to-work offer that would cancel your right to the SJDB.
Delaying the report – once a permanent disability report is issued, the 60-day clock starts. Insurers sometimes delay issuing or acknowledging it to avoid triggering your rights.
Final Thoughts
If you suffered a work injury and your doctor has found permanent disability, you may be entitled to $11,000 in total benefits through the SJDB and the Return-to-Work Supplement.
At Lee Partners Law, we fight to make sure injured workers get every benefit they’re owed — including the voucher. If you have questions about your eligibility or suspect the insurance company is dodging its responsibilities, contact us today.