Division of Rehabilitation Services

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Division of Rehabilitation Services

• Under the Department of Human Services
• More Information on DRS Services found on home
  page dhs.sd.gov/drs/
• State Office, 5 District Offices, 7 sub offices
• 9 of the 12 offices are co-located with Labor

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Division of Rehabilitation Services
Brookings/ Watertown/Huron
Aberdeen/Pierre/Mobridge
Rapid City/Spearfish
Sioux Falls
Yankton/Mitchell/Chamberlain
District Offices
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Eligibility for VR Services

• Eligibility
• Individual with a disability
• Substantial impediment to employment and
• Requires VR Services and Needs VR Services to
  become employed
• Determined within 60 days or
• SSA Presumed Eligible
• Same Day Eligibility

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Key Concepts VR Services

• VR is an eligibility based program for services
  and not entitlement.
• Eligibility is not a guarantee for services
• The Individual Plan for Employment (IPE) will
  identify the employment goal, services provided,
  provider of services and VR financial role.
• Services need to be necessary for the employment
  goal

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Key Concepts VR Services

• Individuals with common disabilities may be
  eligible and receive common services but dont
  assume this. There are many other factors to
  consider. The other individuals may have less of
  an employment impairment, different vocational
  goal, different strengths, different interests
  and different financial resources.
• List of Services http//dhs.sd.gov/drs/vocrehab/v
  r.asp

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When does VR pay for Services?

• Comparable Benefits - Services currently
  available and the individual is eligible for
• Financial Needs Test for some services (Financial
  needs exempt for SSA with new Regs)

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When does VR pay for Services?

• Transition Cases
• Evaluation - Exposure - Experiences
• vs
• Permanent Employment

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Order of Selection

• When A VR agency has determined they no longer
  have sufficient resources available to provide
  vocational rehabilitation services to all the
  individuals who are eligible for the vocational
  rehabilitation program, they are required by law
  to implement an Order of Selection which
  designates the order in which eligible
  individuals are to be provided services.
  Eligible individuals with the most significant
  disabilities will be served first, then eligible
  individuals with significant disabilities, and
  finally other individuals with disabilities

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Order of Selection

• On October 1, 2006 DRS did implement an Order of
  Selection but through out the year was moving
  people off the waiting list.
• As of January 1, 2008 no individuals are being
  placed on the waiting list.

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Follow-up on questions