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WCD Preferred Worker Program (PWP): qualification and employment support: practical steps
Oregon Workers' Compensation Division (WCD) · Shared Oregon or applicable federal route
PWP offers qualified Oregon injured workers and employers employment purchases, worksite modifications and reemployment incentives subject to program conditions.
Where and how to proceed: prepare, file and follow up
Start here: Confirm this is a workers' compensation return-to-work question involving permanent restrictions, not a general disability grant. Contact PWP staff for an individual qualification review.
1. Is this for me?
Workers with permanent restrictions from an on-the-job injury who cannot return to regular employment because of that injury. Participating employers must maintain Oregon workers' compensation insurance and follow the applicable laws. WCD must confirm qualification and benefit-specific conditions.
Service area: Oregon or applicable federal route; confirm venue and agency jurisdiction.
2. What should I prepare?
Some documents may be conditional. Ask about alternatives. Checkmarks are temporary and are not saved or sent.
3. Where and how do I submit?
Contact WCD Preferred Worker Program (PWP) staff at 800-445-3948 or pwp.oregon@dcbs.oregon.gov to ask about qualification, the correct forms and job/purchase conditions. Review the PWP forms/resources and coordinate any employer benefit request with the employer/insurer; do not assume a purchase is authorized.
- Confirm this is a workers' compensation return-to-work question involving permanent restrictions, not a general disability grant. Contact PWP staff for an individual qualification review.
- Call 800-445-3948 or email pwp.oregon@dcbs.oregon.gov and use the linked PWP forms/resources. Explain the job and proposed support and confirm the correct worker/employer/insurer role.
- Get the applicable approval, timing and purchase/reimbursement instructions before making commitments. Keep the authorization and any employer/insurer notice or receipt required for the specific benefit.
Timing: Read the actual notice and current official instructions promptly. Confirm any request, appeal, review or response date with the appropriate agency/insurer; this guide does not calculate a case deadline.
4. What will it cost?
PWP includes employer/insurer incentives and qualified employment purchases; posted caps are not personal awards. Confirm authorization, covered cost, payee and any worker responsibility before spending. No purchase or reimbursement is guaranteed.
5. What happens after I submit?
Keep qualification/authorization notices and follow up with the PWP contact and employer/insurer identified for the benefit. The employer's premium-exemption reporting period is not a universal worker claim deadline.
6. What if something goes wrong?
If you are not qualified or the purchase/job does not fit program rules, ask about the correct insurer vocational or other return-to-work route. PWP, EAIP and general ODHS vocational rehabilitation are different programs.
Language, disability and offline help
The program publishes the same toll-free contact for Spanish information at 800-445-3948. Ask staff about interpretation, accessible forms and help coordinating the worker/employer parts.
Choose your step and follow-up instructions
Work through the existing instructions for this route. Reviewing a step does not complete a legal requirement.
Overview amounts are program limits, not an individual award. Qualification does not establish every purchase or employer incentive; confirm approval, job-in-Oregon conditions, timing and responsibility before spending. The premium exemption notice requirement is employer-specific, not a universal worker application deadline.
Sources for the added submission and follow-up details
Reviewed 2026-10-18. Read current publisher instructions before acting.
Retained evidence SHA-256: 6a259078768d36b5dbb06cd77f49298bee8798c15234a12d49a1850fffa477b0
Oregon Workers' Compensation Division : Returning to work : Worker : State of Oregon
Retained evidence SHA-256: 8d1e239c6fb02a491d2747633350289b98fca64f114799d258b8d8e245359dbb
Sources and review date
Guidance reviewed 2026-10-18. Read the current publisher instructions before acting.
Oregon Workers' Compensation Division : Preferred Worker Program (PWP) : Return to work : State of Oregon · publisher html snapshot
Captured evidence SHA-256: 6a259078768d36b5dbb06cd77f49298bee8798c15234a12d49a1850fffa477b0
Oregon Workers' Compensation Division : Returning to work : Worker : State of Oregon · publisher html snapshot
Captured evidence SHA-256: 8d1e239c6fb02a491d2747633350289b98fca64f114799d258b8d8e245359dbb
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