Section 553.50  Eligibility Determination

Prior to the end of the eligibility determination period (i.e., 60 days), one of the following must occur:

a)         the customer has been determined to be eligible to receive VR services and has a disability that will allow services to be provided under the Order of Selection.  At this time a Certification of Eligibility shall be completed.  The customer will then undergo an Assessment pursuant to Section 553.100;

b)         the customer is determined eligible but not to have a disability that allows services to be provided under the Order of Selection (Section 553.130). The customer will be offered the option to have his or her name placed on a waiting list to wait until services can be provided to the priority category established under the Order of Selection or to have his or her case closed.  The customer shall be referred to other agencies that can provide services, i.e., a comprehensive one-stop center, a private rehabilitation agency, a community rehabilitation program, a Center for Independent Living, etc.;

c)         the customer shall be given a trial work experience, if due to the severity of the disability it is unknown if the customer can benefit from services in terms of an employment outcome.  A Written Trial Work Plan shall be completed, the trial work shall begin, and the customer shall be closely monitored during the trial work experience;

d)         the customer does not meet the required eligibility criteria (see Section 553.20). A Certification of Ineligibility shall be completed and the individual's case closed; or

e)         the customer's case is closed for reasons other than ineligibility (e.g., the customer has refused services or further services from DHS-DRS, the customer cannot be located).

(Source:  Amended at 34 Ill. Reg. 19013, effective November 22, 2010)