1. Personal assistance services (PAS) shall (per 2016 Federal Regulation 34 CFR § 361.42 and 2016 Federal Regulation 34 CFR § 361.45) require an initial PAS Assessment - even if the client has already been managing a personal assistant or using a non-VR funding source for PAS. A new PAS Assessment is not required when the VR PAS Coordinator documents in a case note in AWARE that an existing assessment (such as WWRC, state-funded PAS Assessment, etc.) accurately reflects client current functional limitations and types of assistance and hours needed for VR. 
   
   
2. The counselor and client shall (per 2016 Federal Regulation 34 CFR § 361.42, 2016 Federal Regulation 34 CFR § 361.45, 2016 Federal Regulation 34 CFR § 361.46, 2016  Federal Regulation 34 CFR § 361.48, and 2016 Federal Regulation 34 CFR § 361.55) consider whether referral for PAS Assessment is needed to determine eligibility, assess service needs during Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE)​ development and review, and when reviewing a case closed as disability too severe or employed earning less than minimum/customary wage. 
   
   
3. Candidates for PAS Assessment are (per 2016  Federal Regulation 34 CFR § 361.5 (c)(39)) clients who require assistance to perform everyday activities on or off the job that the clients would ordinarily perform for themselves if they did not have the disability. Everyday activities are: tasks bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, eating/feeding, preparing meals, housekeeping, doing laundry, managing money, driving or transportation, shopping, using phone, maintaining the home, functioning in the VR school training classroom and doing homework, and functioning and working in the workplace. 
   
   
4. VR clients must apply for VR PAS and PAS Assessment via the DRS VR counselor. The counselor shall:
   
   
1. Schedule a client screening for long-term care services with the local Department of Social Services (a comparable benefit) 
   
2. Send to the VR PAS Coordinator:
   
   
   
   1. PAS Application (CBS-603) with client signature
       
   2. Copy of the written results of the Medicaid Eligibility Determination if the client applied for Medicaid (or date of screening for long-term care services)
       
   3. Copy of the RS-13 if the client does not financially qualify for Medicaid
       
   4. Information that the client was previously screened by a nursing home screening committee
   
   
   

[REVISED: 11/22/16]

1. VR PAS Coordinator shall document results of the comparable benefits search (per 2016 Federal Regulation 34 CFR § 361.53):
   
   
   1. If the RS-13 shows the client would not financially qualify for Medicaid, document it in a case note in AWARE.
      
      
   2. If a nursing home screening was previously performed, contact Social Services for the results and document the response in a case note in AWARE.
      
      
   3. If a screening for long-term care services is warranted, ensure an appointment is scheduled.
      
      
2. If comparable benefits are not available at the time needed for VR, VR PAS Program staff shall arrange for the PAS Assessment unless waived by the VR PAS Coordinator. 
   
   
3. If authorizing to a vendor, VR PAS Program staff use VR case service funds drawn from a designated fund code and not drawn from local case service budgets.
   
   
   

1. DRS shall (per Federal Register Vol. 66, No. 11, pp 4430 – 4431 guidance for 2016 Federal Regulation 34 CFR § 361.51 on standards for vendors) only use PAS assessors who meet the qualifications in the PAS Policy Manual. 
   
   
2. PAS Assessment shall involve:
   
   
   
   1. Completion (per 1993 House Joint Resolution 601) of the Uniform Assessment Instrument (UAI) and PAS Addendum, and
      
       
   2. Client interview in the home, and work environment if the client is employed
   
   
3. The PAS assessor shall send to the VR PAS Coordinator a written report that includes findings and recommendations regarding: 
   

[REVISED: 8/2/13]

1. The VR PAS Coordinator shall use the PAS Assessment Report and standard allotment of time formula published in the PAS Policy Manual to determine the number of PAS hours the client is eligible to receive. The VR PAS Coordinator shall forward the Report and computation of hours to the counselor.
   
   
2. The counselor shall review the information with the client. 
   
   
3. To proceed with PAS, see Chapter 8.13, PAS, Policy 1.  
   
   
4. For PAS in Delayed status, see Chapter 2.2, ORDER, Policy 2, Section B3.  
   
   
5. For PAS in Service – I status (IPE services interrupted), see Chapter 5, PLAN, Policy 5.
   
   

[REVISED: 8/2/13]

The VR PAS Coordinator may authorize temporary PAS hours pending a PAS Assessment when PAS is needed for an emergency short term situation (such as the sudden illness of a relative who normally provides assistance).​

[REVISED: 8/2/13]

The VR PAS Coordinator shall perform a telephone screening annually. If there is an indication of an increase or decrease in client functional limitations and PAS hours needed, the VR PAS Coordinator shall authorize an in-person re-assessment. The re-assessment may be handwritten on the most recent Uniform Assessment Instrument (UAI) and a new PAS Addendum shall be completed.