Coordination with Economic and Employment Support (EES)

Rehabilitation Services (RS) staff will work collaboratively with staff of the EES Section to provide effective services leading to employment for Temporary Assistance for Families (TAF) participants who are eligible for vocational rehabilitation services. Joint interviews and development of Self-Sufficiency Agreements (SSA) and Individualized Plans for Employment (IPEs) are encouraged when feasible.

When meeting with mutual participants and when developing an IPE for an eligible individual, counselors must discuss the 60 calendar month limit on TAF assistance. Clients should be aware of the number of months of assistance that remain for them, and should use this information when making informed decisions about rehabilitation plans and vocational objectives. IPEs that will extend beyond the client’s 60 months of TAF assistance must address how the client will meet his or her basic living needs once TAF assistance has ended.

TAF participants who are referred to RS will not be assigned other work activities such as applicant job search. These individuals will be placed in an EES work component called Disability Employment Services (DES). At the time of referral, the DES component will indicate zero hours of participation. Once the IPE is developed (Status 12) for eligible individuals, the DES component will reflect 20 hours of participation per week.

Individuals who are found ineligible will be referred back to EES to receive appropriate services.

Individuals who are already RS applicants or clients when they apply for assistance from EES will be considered DES component participants.

Support services will be provided by RS during the application, eligibility and IPE development stages. Once the IPE development is completed (Status 12), EES will provide support services such as child care, transportation and other special services as allowed.

Communication between RS and EES staff is essential for the effective delivery and coordination of services. Local staff has flexibility to address individual client needs.

RS staff will be responsible for determining whether clients are making progress on their rehabilitation plans and whether they are complying with expectations for participation in the DES component. RS staff will discuss the expectations for participation and the possible consequences of failure to participate with each client.

Determination that a client is not participating or not making progress is an issue of counselor discretion. If such a determination is made, it will be reported promptly to EES staff. EES staff will accept the RS counselor’s determination and take appropriate action to implement penalties, which could close the TAF and food stamp cases.

Staff should communicate quarterly to update each other on progress. Information on employment, case closure and non-compliance will be reported immediately.