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
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