Section 3 / Part 10
Effective Date: January 17, 2001
Comparable services and benefits
Synopsis of federal regulation
Prior to providing any vocational rehabilitation (VR) services to an
eligible individual, or to members of the individual's family, Rehabilitation
Services (RS) shall determine whether comparable services and benefits
exist under any other program and whether those services and benefits
are available to the individual.
If comparable services or benefits exist and are available to the eligible
client at the time needed to achieve the rehabilitation objectives in
the individual’s Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE), RS shall
use those comparable services or benefits to meet, in whole or in part,
the cost of vocational rehabilitation services.
If comparable services or benefits exist under any other program, but
are not available to the client at the time needed to satisfy the rehabilitation
objectives in the individual’s IPE, RS shall provide VR services
until those comparable services and benefits become available.
Exceptions: The following services
are exempt from a determination of the availability of comparable services
and benefits:
- Assessment for determining eligibility and priority for services.
Assessment for determining VR needs.
- VR counseling, guidance, and referral services.
- Vocational and other training services, such as personal and vocational
adjustment training, books (including alternative format books accessible
by computer and taped books), tools, and other training materials. Exception:
No training or training services in an institution of higher education
(universities, colleges, community or junior colleges, vocational schools,
technical institutes or hospital schools of nursing) may be paid for
with VR funds unless maximum efforts have been made by RS and the client
to secure grant assistance in whole or in part from other sources to
pay for that training.
Reference: §361.48(a)(6)
- Job-related services, including job search and placement assistance, job
retention services, follow-up services, and follow-along services.
- Rehabilitation technology.
- Post-employment services consisting of the six services listed above.
It is not necessary to complete a search for comparable benefits if the
determination of the availability of comparable services and benefits
under any other program would interrupt or delay:
The progress of the individual toward achieving the employment outcome
described in the IPE.
An immediate job placement.
The provision of VR services to any individual who is determined to be
at extreme medical risk, based on medical evidence provided by an appropriate
qualified medical professional.
Reference: §361.53
RS policy
Services that are exempt from a comparable benefits search may still
be subject to the RS Economic Need policy.
|