436-110-0310 Eligibility and End of Eligibility for the Preferred Worker Program (1) Employer eligibility. The eligibility requirements for the Preferred Worker Program for an employer, including the employer at injury, except as provided in OAR 436-110-0345(1) for employment purchases, are: (a) The employer has and maintains Oregon workers’ compensation insurance coverage; (b) The employer complies with the Oregon workers’ compensation law; (c) The employer must offer or provide employment to an eligible preferred worker who is a subject Oregon worker according to ORS 656.027; (d) If the employer is a worker leasing company, it must be licensed with the director under ORS 656.850; and (e) The employer is not currently ineligible for preferred worker benefits under OAR 436-110-0900. (2) Worker eligibility. The eligibility requirements for a worker for the Preferred Worker Program are: (a) The worker has an accepted disabling Oregon compensable injury or occupational disease. Adults in custody eligible for benefits under ORS 655.505 to 655.555 and OAR 125-160 are not eligible; (b) The worker will not be able to return to regular work, as indicated by medical evidence and due to injury-caused restrictions, under any claim opening; (c) Medical documentation indicates permanent restrictions exist as a result of the injury or disease, whether or not an order has been issued awarding permanent disability; (d) The worker is authorized to work in the United States; and (e) The worker complies with the Oregon workers’ compensation law. (3) Work experience program participants, apprentices, and trainees. (a) Individuals covered under ORS 656.033, 656.046, 656.135, or 656.138, are eligible for the Preferred Worker Program if they otherwise meet the eligibility requirements in section (2) of this rule. (b) For purposes of the Preferred Worker Program, for individuals covered under ORS 656.033, 656.046, 656.135, or 656.138, the job for which the individual was being trained is considered regular work. (4) Self-employment. A worker may not use preferred worker benefits for self-employment unless the injury that gave rise to the worker’s eligibility for the Preferred Worker Program occurred in the course and scope of self-employment. In that case, the worker may use the benefits to return to the same self-employment or for employment other than self-employment. (5) Ending eligibility. Reasons for ending Preferred Worker Program eligibility include, but are not limited to, the following: (a) Misrepresentation or omission of information by a worker or employer to obtain assistance; (b) Failure of a worker or employer to provide requested information or cooperate; (c) Falsification or alteration of a preferred worker card or a Preferred Worker Program agreement; (d) Conviction of fraud in obtaining workers’ compensation benefits; (e) The worker no longer meets the eligibility requirements under section (2) of this rule; or (f) The employer no longer meets the eligibility requirements under section (1) of this rule. (6) Reinstatement of eligibility. The director retains the right to reinstate Preferred Worker Program eligibility if eligibility was ended prematurely or in error, or if the employer has reinstated or obtained workers’ compensation insurance coverage. (7) Redetermination of eligibility. A worker found ineligible because the worker was not authorized to work in the United States may request a redetermination of eligibility after providing the division with documentation that the worker is authorized to work in the United States. Statutory/Other Authority: ORS 656.622 & 656.726(4) Statutes/Other Implemented: ORS 656.622 History: WCD 12-2019, amend filed 12/18/2019, effective 01/01/2020 WCD 4-2016, f. 11-28-16, cert. ef. 1-1-17 WCD 3-2009, f. 12-1-09, cert. ef. 1-1-10 WCD 8-2007, f. 11-1-07, cert. ef. 12-1-07 WCD 8-2005, f. 12-6-05, cert. ef. 1-1-06 WCD 4-2005, f. 5-26-05, cert. ef. 7-1-05 WCD 7-2001, f. 8-14-01, cert. ef. 10-1-01 WCD 11-1997, f. 8-28-97, cert. ef. 9-12-97, Renumbered from 436-110-0280 WCD 4-1997(Temp), f. 3-13-97, cert. ef. 3-17-97 WCD 10-1996, f. 3-12-96, cert. ef. 4-5-96 WCD 20-1995(Temp), f. 12-8-95, cert. ef. 1-1-96 WCD 1-1993, f. 1-21-93, cert. ef. 3-1-93, Renumbered from 436-110-0020 WCD 32-1990, f. 12-10-90, cert. ef. 12-26-90 WCD 13-1990(Temp), f. 6-21-90, cert. ef. 7-1-90 WCD 12-1987, f. 12-17-87, cert. ef. 1-1-88 WCD 1-1987, f. 2-20-87, cert. ef. 3-16-87, Renumbered from 436-063-0020 WCD 7-1981, f. 12-30-81, cert. ef. 1-1-82 WCD 2-1978, f. & cert. ef. 2-1-78 WCD 2-1977(Temp), f. 9-29-77, cert. ef. 10-4-77 WCB 3-1973, f. 3-14-73, cert. ef. 4-1-73 WCB 1-1973, f. 1-2-73, cert. ef. 1-15-73