Why Is Earning Capacity Important in Vocational Rehabilitation Assessments?
When an unexpected injury, workplace accident, or chronic illness interrupts one’s working life, the financial implications can be frightening. Beyond tending to the physical and emotional needs of the injured or ill, families and legal representatives may worry about the financial future. How will a medical crisis affect someone’s ability to earn? Assessing this situation is a key part of a rehabilitation plan. A vocational rehabilitation consultant does more than determine possible jobs for an injured or ill worker. The professional evaluates one’s economic limitations in terms of overall earning potential. The vocational rehabilitation consultant calculates a person’s overall earning capacity over their professional working lifetime. What Is Earning Capacity? Earning capacity is not only the current hourly rate or the latest paycheck. It reflects a person’s overall ability to earn money based on their education, work experience, and physical limitations. Therefore, assessing earning...