Eligibility, Acceptability, and Ineligibility
Trust Fund are different from those appearing
in this manual section, and concern citizenship,
residence, economic need, selection criteria,
order of selection, and some limitations on the
vocational rehabilitation services that can be
provided. For details on these requirements,
refer to issuances on the Beneficiary Rehabilitation
Program, and Part 401, Subpart D, beginning with
Section 401.80 of the Regulations.
REOPENING CASES CLOSED AFTER REFERRAL OR EXTENDED EVALUATION,
OR "NOT REHABILITATED"
Instances will occur in which a client whose case has been
closed after referral or extended evaluation, or as "not
rehabilitated" will re-apply for vocational rehabilitation
services. In such situations it will be necessary to
establish, at the time of reapplication, eligibility for
vocational rehabilitation services, including vocational
rehabilitation services to determine the rehabilitation
potential of an individual, in accordance with the same
criteria used for other applicants. At the time of
reapplication the total circumstances of the individual and
his environment may have changed materially over those
existing at the time of the previous closure. Every effort
should be made, therefore, to review and arrive at a
decision on the basis of present rather than previous
conditions. If services are to be initiated, then the case
should be reopened and processed in a manner similar to
that for cases applying for the first time.
REOPENING CASES CLOSED "REHABILITATED"
A. Cases requiring treatment and reporting similar to
that accorded a new case
It is recognized that it is sometimes both necessary and
desirable to reopen the case of a client for whom the
goal of rehabilitation, suitable vocational adjustment,
had been previously achieved and whose case had been
closed and the client reported as "rehabilitated".
Changes in socio-economic conditions and individual
circumstances influence the employability of the disabled
Vocational Rehabilitation Manual
Eligibility, Acceptability, and Ineligibility
and non-disabled alike. Certain vicissitudes,
such as subsequent disability, aggravation of
a previous disability, and discrimination against
the employment of disabled persons, when combined
with changes in socio-economic conditions, make
the employment problems of the disabled more acute.
As a result of such conditions the individual with
a physical or mental disability may be unable to
maintain employment or secure suitable re-employment.
Consequently, if the criteria for determining
eligibility are observed, cases may be reopened in
order to provide rehabilitation services necessary
to prepare and again establish a former client in
suitable employment. This would also be applicable
for an individual determined suitably employed at
closure but later found substantially underemployed
or in a gainful occupation which is not consistent
with his capacities and abilities.
If, therefore, at some future time, the circumstances
of a former client change sufficiently to indicate
he is again in need of rehabilitation services, his
eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services
should be determined on the basis of the same criteria
as would be applicable to a person applying for the
first time. This would include, if necessary, the
provision of vocational rehabilitation services under
an extended evaluation plan to determine the rehabili-
tation potential of an individual.
If the criteria of eligibility can be satisfied or a
period of extended evaluation is necessary, the case
may be reopened. The same case, statistical, and
financial records shall be maintained for reopened
cases as are required for cases being processed for
the first time.
Upon the completion of rehabilitation services, the
same criteria for terminating services should be observed
as would be applicable to cases being closed for the
first time. A "Case Service Report," Form R-300, is
required for the first or original closure and is also
required for the second or subsequent closure. The
number of months from the last closure to the current
acceptance should be entered on the "Case Service Report,"
Form R-300.
Vocational Rehabilitation Manual
Eligibility, Acceptability, and Ineligibility
B. Cases not requiring re-establishment of eligibility or "Case Service Reports," Forms R-300
It is recognized that situations may occasionally
occur when, after services have been terminated and
the case reported as "rehabilitated," it is determined
that further or additional service is necessary to
complete or make more effective the rehabilitation plan
which led to such closure. Such situations are usually
a result of the following: The need for certain services
was either not recognized or was believed to be un-
necessary prior to the time of closure. For example, a
disabled individual may have been prepared for and
established in a business enterprise. Because of
circumstances not apparent during follow-up prior to
closure, it is later determined that additional
equipment is necessary in order for him to continue
successfully his business enterprise. In another
situation, tools or a specific type of training may not
have been provided because the need for such service
either was not recognized or was determined to be
unnecessary. Subsequent to closure, however, it may
be determined that certain services are necessary in
order that the client may continue in his employment.
When such situations occur and the State agency
decides that additional services are necessary to
complete or make more effective the preceding closure,
and that the client meets the criteria for providing
such services, the case should be reopened, the
individual's plan amended, and the services provided.
In such instances, however, eligibility for voca-
tional rehabilitation services need not be re-established,
since such eligibility has already been determined; nor
should the case be reported as employed a second or
subsequent time after the services have been provided
and the case closed. Cases similar to those described
should occur infrequently and, if so, usually within
a short period after the closure.
The same financial records should be maintained and the same reports rendered as are required for all other cases and expenditures. "Case Service Reports,"
Vocational Rehabilitation Manual
|