Vocational Rehabilitation

All
  • All
  • Order Of Selection (OOS)
  • Payments
  • Services
  • Appeal
  • Plan (Individualized Plan for Employment or IPE)
  • Denial of Services
  • Eligibility
  • Application
  • What, where, how?

Will VR pay for assistive technology items already purchased or installed prior to determining eligibility?

No. VR will only pay for services after appropriately approved by VR. Approvals for services normally come after eligibility has been determined and an IPE (individualized plan for employment) has been written and approved by VR.

Does VR make direct cash payments to customers?

In nearly all cases, the VR counselor will authorize to have assistive technology or other services contracted for and paid directly to the service provider or vendor. No cash payments are done to the clients other than for mileage reimbursements, items bought by the client as per authorizations from VR.

What is OOS and how can the customer know if VR in a state is in OOS?

Order of Selection (OOS) is a status entered by VR when financial resources for a fiscal term are depleted and services provided have to be restricted. Services will only be offered on the basis of the category status assigned to the customer at the time of eligibility and severity determination. The three categories are:

MSD
most significantly disabled
SD
significantly disabled
NSD
Not SD

The first priority is for MSD as they require maximum services and then SD customers are considered. It is possible that NSD customers may not receive any services during OOS. The state reviews OOS status periodically. There are states that are continuously in OOS status. The VR office can provide information on the current status of the state VR.

Is there a condition where the customer is eligible but still cannot receive services?

When the state VR is under order of selection (OOS), certain customers may be denied services or the services may be postponed.