1. (a) Not later than 14 days after receiving a rehabilitation specialist's eligibility evaluation report for an employee injured on or after July 1, 1988, the administrator shall rely on the division's record, including any documents submitted by the rehabilitation specialist and parties, and determine whether the employee is eligible for reemployment benefits, or whether there is insufficient information to make a determination on the employee's eligibility for reemployment benefits. The administrator shall give the parties written notice under 8 AAC 45.399 of the determination, the reason for the determination, and how to request review by the board of the determination.

2. (b) If the administrator determines the eligibility evaluation is not in accordance with 8 AAC 45.525, or the information in the board's case file is insufficient or does not support the eligibility recommendation, the administrator

   1. (1) may not decide the employee's eligibility for reemployment benefits; and

   2. (2) shall notify the employee, the employer, or the rehabilitation specialist

      1. (A) what additional information is needed, who must submit the information, and the date by which the information must be submitted so eligibility can be determined; or
      2. (B) that the administrator shall reassign the employee to a new rehabilitation specialist in accordance with 8 AAC 45.430.

3. (c) If the administrator determines that the employee is eligible for reemployment benefits, the administrator's notice must

   1. (1) state that the employee either shall elect reemployment benefits and select a rehabilitation specialist to assist in formulating a plan or shall accept a job dislocation benefit; the employee's election must be made no later than 30 days after the employee receives the notice;

   2. (2) be accompanied by

      1. (A) a copy of the division's form for an election to either receive reemployment benefits or waive reemployment benefits and receive a job dislocation benefit instead; and

      2. (B) a copy of the list maintained under 8 AAC 45.400 of rehabilitation specialists; under this subparagraph, if the employee

         1. (i) lives in this state, the administrator shall send the list of rehabilitation specialists in this state; or
         2. (ii) does not live in this state, the administrator shall send a list of rehabilitation specialists nearest the employee based on the geographic area; and
   3. (3) inform the employee how to notify the employer and administrator of either the election of a job dislocation benefit or the name of the rehabilitation specialist selected to assist in the formulation of a plan.

(Eff. 7/20/97, Register 143; am 7/2/98, Register 146; am 7/9/2011, Register 199; am 4/9/2016, Register 218; am 3/23/2025, Register 253)

Authority: AS 23.30.005, AS 23.30.041, AS 23.30.043