Did you know that VR does not have to find a comparable services or benefits to pay for a service if it would cause a delay in the progress towards your employment outcome or result in losing an immediate job placement?
Comparable services and benefits mean services and benefits, including accommodations and auxiliary aids and services, that are provided or paid for, in whole or in part, by other Federal, State, or local public agencies, by health insurance, or by employee benefits.
If comparable services or benefits exist, and are available to the individual at the time the client needs them, the state VR agency must use those comparable services or benefits to meet, in whole or part, the cost of those services. But if comparable services and benefits are not available and the client would need to wait, then VR may not require them to be applied. Waiting for comparable services or benefits should not interrupt or delay progress towards an IPE employment outcome, risk loss of an immediate job placement, or affect a client with an extreme medical risk.
If you have a dispute with VR about comparable services, you may call DRAZ and do an intake form.
Source for Today’s Tip: 34 CFR §361.53 (c)(2).
