| TEA Manual 01/04/1999 |
3700 Arkansas
Rehabilitation Service Referrals and Activities The
Arkansas Department of Human Services and the Arkansas Rehabilitation Service (ARS) have
entered into a contract through which ARS will assess and provide services to TEA
recipients who are subject to the time-limit and are required to participate in TEA work
activities but allege a long-term disability. ARS will determine if the alleged disability
is too severe for participation in TEA work activities or if services can be provided
through their agency which will enable the client to move forward toward being
self-sufficient. The client will also be required to apply for SSA/SSI disability
benefits. However, a doctor’s or other medical statement will not be accepted as
documentation for work deferral purposes once the ARS assessment is made. Because of the
time frame for a SSA/SSI determination and the possibility of being denied, the
client’s 24-months of assistance may end while they are in deferred status.
Therefore, if rehabilitative services are provided, the recipient’s chance for
becoming self-sufficient is increased. |
| TEA Manual 01/04/1999 |
3710 Procedures for Referring
TEA Clients to Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS)
| A TEA recipient who
alleges a long-term disability will be referred to Arkansas Rehabilitation Services (ARS)
for an assessment to determine if the alleged disability will allow him or her to
participate in TEA work activities or other activities through ARS. The recipient is also
required to apply for SSA/SSI disability benefits. If ARS determines that the disability
is not severe enough to prevent participation, the client must comply with the TEA work
activity requirements. If the disability is too severe for participation in TEA work
activities, ARS will determine if they can provide services that will possibly enable the
client to enter the workforce. Failure to comply with the ARS assessment process will
result in possible sanction for non-compliance with TEA activities. |
When a TEA recipient alleges a long-term disability the caseworker
will explain the ARS referral and assessment process as described above. An informational
ARS pamphlet will be given to the client during the interview.
Form DCO-3350, Referral for Services, will be used for referring the client to ARS. An
explanation of the disability and a request to receive a report of the diagnosis will be
included on the referral. The county must include form DCO-81, Consent for Release of
Information, signed by the client in order to receive a report back from ARS regarding the
diagnosis. The address for submitting the referral is based on the county location.
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| TEA Manual 01/04/1999 |
3711 Responsibility of ARS Upon
receipt of the referral, ARS will contact the TEA recipient and schedule an appointment
for an assessment. Through this assessment, ARS will determine if the client can
participate in a work activity or needs further ARS services. ARS will provide DHS and the
client with a decision upon completion of the assessment via memorandum. The decision will
state that the individual has been found to:
- Not have a significant impairment and can participate in TEA work activities; or
- Has an impairment and can benefit from ARS services; or
- Has an impairment too severe for ARS services and should be deferred from TEA work
requirements.
ARS will also provide any additional information if appropriate. |
| TEA Manual 01/04/1999 |
3712 Responsibility of County
Office
The county will coordinate with the Rehabilitation Counselor as
needed during the assessment process and if the client is accepted for services.
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| TEA Manual 01/04/1999 |
3720 Accepted for Services
If ARS determines that the client is eligible for ARS services, the
worker will contact the client to update the employment plan to include the ARS
activities. The worker will determine if the service being provided can be considered a
TEA work activity (e.g., WE, OJT, etc.) If the services can be applied to a TEA work
activity, the appropriate work activity code will be used and thus, counted for purposes
of calculating the State federal participation rate. If the service being provided is
determined not to be a TEA work activity, the client will not be considered as deferred
but shown as participating in ARS activities. In either event, the ARS activity will be
the client’s required TEA activity. Failure to comply with the ARS activity may
result in the non-compliance sanction.
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| TEA Manual 01/04/1999 |
3730 Not Accepted For Services ARS
will notify the county if an individual is not accepted for services and provide a reason
for non-acceptance as follows.
Disability Not Significant
If ARS determines that the client’s alleged disability is not significant
enough for ARS services, the worker will send a notice to the client that he or she will
have to comply with TEA work participation requirements. The worker will schedule an
appointment with the client to discuss work participation activities and to develop an
Employment Plan or EP update.
Refused Services
ARS will notify the county if a client refuses services. The worker will contact
the client to discuss the reason for refusal. If it is determined that the client refused
services without good cause, the non-compliance procedures in TEA
3500 will be followed.
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| TEA Manual 01/04/1999 |
3740 Impairment Too Severe for
ARS Services
If ARS determines that the disability is too severe for ARS
services, the TEA recipient will be deferred from participation in TEA work activities
pending the disability determination from Social Security. The worker will contact the
client advising him or her of the deferral. The client will also be advised that although
deferred, the time limit is continuing to run. However, if the Social Security
determination has not been made by the end of the client’s 24 month limit, an
extension to the time limit should be considered.
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