WAC 67-25-030   Eligibility for services -- Criteria.  (1) Eligibility shall be based only upon determination by a vocational rehabilitation counselor that:

     (a) The individual is blind, as defined in WAC 67-25-005;

     (b) The blindness alone or combined with other disabilities constitutes or results in a substantial impediment to employment; and

     (c) Vocational rehabilitation services are required for the individual to prepare for, enter, engage in, or retain an employment outcome consistent with the applicant's unique strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice.

     (2) Any applicant who has been determined eligible for Social Security benefits under Title II or Title XVI of the Social Security Act and meets the criteria in subsection (1)(a) of this section is presumed eligible for vocational rehabilitation services and is considered to be an individual with a significant disability as defined in WAC 67-25-060.

     (3) If an individual is blind, and the individual's disability results in a substantial impediment to employment, it shall be presumed that the individual can benefit in terms of an employment outcome from vocational rehabilitation services, unless, the department can demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence, in accordance with WAC 67-25-065, that the individual is incapable of benefiting in terms of an employment outcome from vocational rehabilitation services due to the significance of his or her disability.

     (4) Eligibility requirements are applied without regard to the race, color, sex, religion, national origin, creed, marital status, or age of the applicant.

     (5) No individual or group of individuals shall be found ineligible solely on the basis of the type of disability.

     (6) No individual shall be found ineligible based on requirements for duration of residence.

     (7) No individual shall be found ineligible solely on the basis of lack of U.S. citizenship. However, before the department will pay for vocational rehabilitation services, including assessment services, the applicant must provide copies of documents requested by the department that verify his or her immigration and naturalization status, and verify his or her identity. If the applicant is not a United States citizen, his or her legal work status must also be verified. The department will provide services, including assessment services, only to applicants who meet at least one of the following conditions: United States citizenship; permanent residency status in the United States; or when a valid work permit has been issued.

     (8) Eligibility requirements are applied without regard to the particular service needs or anticipated cost of services required by an applicant or the income level of an applicant or applicant's family.

     (9) An individual who is blind or who has a visual disability which does not result in an impediment to employment, but who may have other disabilities which might result in impediments to employment, may be referred to other service providers or may be provided services through a cooperative plan with other service providers, such as, division of vocational rehabilitation, division of developmental disabilities, and WorkSource centers established under the statewide workforce investment system.



[Statutory Authority: Chapter 74.18 RCW. 05-08-097, § 67-25-030, filed 4/4/05, effective 5/5/05. Statutory Authority: Chapter 74.15 RCW. 95-06-057, § 67-25-030, filed 2/28/95, effective 3/31/95. Statutory Authority: Chapter 74.18 RCW. 91-20-010, § 67-25-030, filed 9/20/91, effective 10/21/91. Statutory Authority: 1983 c 194 § 18. 84-01-042 (Order 83-08), § 67-25-030, filed 12/15/83. Formerly WAC 67-20-030.]