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​Chapter 6.06 Contents:

Chapter 6.06. - HOME MOD ASSESSMENT

1. Referral for Home Modification Assessment

[REVISED: 9/15/22]
 

  1. All home modifications shall (per 2016 Federal Regulation 34 CFR § 361.45 (b)) require Home Modification Assessment.
     
  2. Referral package.
    Referral for Home Modification Assessment shall include an authorization to the rehabilitation engineer and the Home Modification Assessment Tool (RS-33 Form). The RS-33 Form is not required if
    1. The modification cost is within counselor authorizing authority for a single purchase, and    

                    
    2. Either:
      1.  the request is to repair or replace modification the client already owns and uses, or

          
      1.  prescriptive evaluation by a professional is not required to use the equipment safely and appropriately.
         
  1. Once a lifetime.
    If DRS already sponsored home modification, see     Chapter 8.06, HOME MOD, Policy 1 to see if subsequent home modifications and Home Modification Assessments are permitted. 
     
  2. Case status.
    Home Modification Assessment may be authorized in Eligible status or higher after the client and counselor have agreed upon the employment goal and the counselor has made at least one home site visit. In extraordinary situations, the counselor may authorize Home Modification Assessment under Trial Work Experiences Plan only when the counselor has made at least one home site visit and home modification is essential and the most cost effective way for the client to access needed trial work services; and consultation with the supervisor is strongly recommended. Because home modification is a complex and comprehensive service, (per 2016     Federal Regulation 34 CFR § 361.5 (c) (42)) Home Modification Assessment and modification is not appropriate as a Post-Employment Service (PES).
     
  3. Vocationally necessary.
    The counselor must document that modification to the primary living quarters or architectural changes (for definition, see     Chapter 8.06, HOME MOD, Policy 1) and vocational counseling and guidance will remove or reduce the disability impediments to employment and substantially contribute to the employment outcome and there is no other less costly and reasonable way to remove the impediments.  
     
 
 

2. Conducting Home Modification Assessment

[REVISED: 11/22/16]

  1. The Home Modification Assessment shall (per Federal Register Vol. 66, No. 11, pp 4430 – 4431 guidance on 2016 Federal Regulation 34 CFR § 361.51 concerning standards for vendors) be conducted by the DRS rehabilitation engineer.

  2. The rehabilitation engineer shall coordinate and conduct a site visit to assess the home and discuss the Home Modification Assessment Tool (Form RS-33), if the RS-33 Form is required. 

  3. The counselor is required to be present at this site visit. 

  4. The client is required to be present at this site visit - except the rehabilitation engineer may excuse the client under exceptional circumstances (such as client does not currently live in the home to be modified, etc.). If the client is at Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center (WWRC), the counselor may request a leave pass for the client. 

  5. If the client is expected to occupy the home less than one (1) year or has a one-year lease, an occupational therapist (OT) should be consulted.  The OT may be able to identify less permanent alternatives to home modification. 

  6. The home must meet all applicable building codes. For responsibility, See Policy 3 of this chapter.

  7. The rehabilitation engineer shall provide a written Home Assessment Report to the counselor. The Report may contain drawings, photos or product information. The Report shall describe:  

      
    1. Client functional limitations in the primary living quarters (one bathroom, client bedroom, and if the client lives alone, the kitchen and an eating area)  

    2. Which functional limitations, if any, present an impediment to employment

    3. Temporary and permanent options for modifications

    4. Less costly alternatives considered and why they were ruled out

  1. The counselor shall review the Report with the rehabilitation engineer and determine the most cost-effective option.

  1. The counselor shall review the Report with the client and obtain client and homeowner commitment to proceed. To proceed with home modification, see Chapter 8.06, HOME MOD, Policy 1.

 
 

3. Building Code Requirements for Home Considered for Modification

[REVISED: 8/2/13]

The dwelling currently must meet all applicable building codes. This is the financial responsibility of the landlord or homeowner.  If the home modification can only pass the inspection if that specific portion of the home is brought up to code, the counselor may consider authorizing the additional construction cost to bring that specific portion of the home up to code. The counselor shall include this additional cost in the total cost when applying requirements for obtaining price quotes and supervisory approval.  Under no circumstances (including supervisory pre-approval) can this exception be made when the client is renting from a landlord, since this is the landlord’s legal responsibility.

Example 1: The counselor is authorizing a stair lift to make the client second floor bedroom accessible. However, the stairway is too narrow to meet the current building code. The counselor may authorize the cost of widening the stairway as part of the stair lift project, but not widening the second stairway leading to the spare bedroom in the attic.

Example 2: The counselor is authorizing a roll-in shower and lowering the sink. However, the bathroom plumbing system is not up to current building code. The counselor may consider authorizing the additional cost to bring the bathroom plumbing up to code to support the plumbing requirements for the project.

 

Links to the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) are currently unavailable while we await federal changes to the vocational rehabilitation program. Upon promulgation of the final regulations the links will be updated and activated.