(1) A person who wishes to be certified as a person with a disability for purposes of this part shall apply to the department on forms furnished by the department. The department shall conduct an investigation and shall issue a certificate to a person who, in the department's discretion, meets the requirements for certification. A person shall apply for certification before an injury occurs that is covered by this part. The certification is effective retroactively to the date the department received the application.
(2) If a claimant has met the provisions of subsection (1) and a subsequent claim has been accepted by an insurer, the claim is eligible for the benefits under the fund.