Opinion ID: 2543894
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 5

Heading: Statutory Eligibility

Text: [¶ 7] In his first challenge, Hermosillo disputes the hearing examiner's finding that his hourly rate at the time of injury was $8.00 per hour and contends that no work is available at a comparable wage. When Hermosillo was injured in 1997, his injury report stated his hourly income as $8.00 per hour, and during the hearing he testified that it was $9.00 per hour. His permanent disability award application contained two entries, one of which stated that his hourly wage at the time of injury was $9.50 per hour, and another that stated it was $9.00 per hour. The Division contends that because Hermosillo failed to support the higher rate with pay stubs or written evidence, the hearing examiner reasonably relied upon the wage stated on the injury report. We agree that this was a reasonable resolution of the conflicting statements, that substantial evidence supports this wage rate, and the vocational evaluation identified available positions at a comparable wage. [¶ 8] Hermosillo next contends that he could rely upon the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation to find employment, and the hearing examiner arbitrarily determined that his efforts were insufficient under the statute. The Division contends that its rules establish that Hermosillo's efforts were insufficient, and the hearing examiner properly concluded that he had not actively sought employment. Hermosillo does not challenge the rule's application, and we assume it applies. The rule states: (x) Actively Seeking Work. For purposes of benefit eligibility an individual is actively seeking work if they: (i) Have engaged in a systematic and sustained effort to obtain work; (ii) Registers for work and continues to report to a department office in effort to obtain suitable employment; (iii) Are available for suitable employment; (iv) Furnished the department with tangible evidence of their effort; or (v) Have contacted their employer from the time of injury to inquire if they have work available within their medically documented restrictions. Wyo. Workers' Compensation Division Rules, Regulations & Fee Schedules, Ch. 1, Sec. 4(x) (Oct.1999). [¶ 9] The State tells us that the rule has since been changed from or to and between elements number four and five, and requests that we correct this previous version. Again, Hermosillo presents no objection to this; however, we find it unnecessary to determine the rule's intent. Under the statute, the hearing examiner was required to consider whether the evidence showed that Hermosillo was actively seeking employment. A review of the record shows that Hermosillo testified that, since 1999, he had applied at ten different companies, but, in his opinion, had not been hired either because of his health or his limited ability to speak English. Hermosillo did not testify about the specific dates of his applications or provide further details about his job search efforts. Before he applied for benefits, he registered with the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation and, at the time of hearing, was about to begin a part-time position for a few hours per week. In contrast, the Division presented testimony by the vocational evaluator that, in 2000 and 2001, work was available for which Hermosillo was qualified and would accommodate the lifting restrictions imposed by his physician. The evaluator testified that work at a comparable or higher wage was available for Hermosillo despite a language barrier and lifting restrictions. This evidence of sporadic efforts is substantial evidence supporting the hearing examiner's conclusion that Hermosillo did not present evidence that he had engaged in any kind of a sustained effort to apply or train for work when he applied for benefits. Although the evidence somewhat conflicts, a review of the entire record shows that the hearing examiner's conclusion that Hermosillo had not actively looked for work as required by the statute was reasonable and not arbitrary and capricious. [¶ 10] Affirmed.