RSB may pay the cost of support services to or in behalf of an eligible individual in order for the eligible individual to benefit from physical or mental restoration, personal and vocational adjustment evaluation or training, academic training, vocational training or job placement. Support services include, but are not limited to, transportation; books, equipment, tools and supplies; reader service for visually impaired persons; interpreter service for deaf‑blind persons; services to members of the eligible individual’s family and maintenance.
(A) Transportation: RSB may pay the cost of the most economical source of transportation that meets the eligible individual’s rehabilitation service needs. RSB pays the cost of mileage traveled by private automobile at a rate not to exceed the rate per mile currently allowed state employees by the Department of Social Services; bus fare and train fare at actual charges; and cab fare, only when other methods of transportation are not available, at actual charges. When an eligible individual must travel by plane, coach fare at the most feasible travel plan may be paid. 361.48(h), 361.5(b)(57)
1. Physical or mental restoration. RSB may pay costs of transportation that an eligible individual needs in order to obtain physical or mental restoration that is prescribed by a provider who meets the standards in subsection (23)(D).
2. Personal and vocational adjustment training. RSB may pay costs of transportation that an eligible individual needs in order to participate in personal and vocational adjustment evaluation or training at a rehabilitation facility that meets the standards in subsection (23)(A) and (B).
A. When an eligible individual stays in rehabilitation facility residential quarters, RSB shall limit payment to the necessary trips the eligible individual makes between the eligible individual’s home and the rehabilitation facility during the time the eligible individual is in evaluation or training activities at the facility. The decision regarding the number of trips that are necessary is made by RSB, the rehabilitation facility and the eligible individual.
B. When an eligible individual lives at home and commutes, the total monthly payment for transportation and meals, as described in subsection (15)(B)2.B., shall not exceed the cost of room and board that is available at or in conjunction with the rehabilitation facility.
3. Academic training and vocational training. RSB may pay costs of transportation that an eligible individual needs in order to participate in academic training or vocational training.
A. If an eligible individual lives at home and commutes to a public college or university in Missouri that has dormitories, the total monthly payment for transportation, as described in subsection (15)(B)2.B., shall not exceed the cost of double occupancy dormitory charges at the college or university the eligible individual attends.
B. If an eligible individual attends a private college or university in Missouri, a public college or university in Missouri that has no dormitories, or a college or university outside of Missouri, the total monthly payment for transportation shall not exceed the cost of double occupancy dormitory charges at the University of Missouri‑Columbia.
4. Job placement. RSB may pay costs of transportation that an eligible individual needs in order to seek employment.
5. Relocation expenses. RSB may pay costs of transportation that an eligible individual needs in order to relocate after obtaining employment. Payment of relocation expenses is limited to payment of moving expenses from the eligible individual’s home locale to the location of the eligible individual’s employment.
(B) Maintenance: Nature and scope of Service: Maintenance means monetary support provided to an individual for expenses, such as food, shelter, and clothing, that are in excess of normal expenses of the individual and that are necessitated by the individual’s participation in an assessment for determining eligibility and vocational rehabilitation needs or the individual’s receipt of vocational rehabilitation services under an individualized plan for employment.
NOTE: Maintenance, as defined in this manual, became effective on 12-20-04 per memo dtd 9-15-04, Subject: Maintenance Policy and Implementation Plan
1. Definition: Maintenance is a limited support service for eligible individual to use when the circumstances of participating in a vocational rehabilitation service cause additional costs to the eligible individual for food, shelter, clothing, or other subsistence items, i.e. personal toiletries. Maintenance is not based on economic or financial need
2. Authorization of Maintenance:
A. The amount of maintenance must be justified based on the specific circumstances and the justification must be documented in the case record.
B. District supervisors will sign off on all authorizations for maintenance.
3. Maintenance that can be authorized without an exception:
A. Meals not covered under a specific contract will be paid at the maximum state rate.
NOTE: Procedures for meal reimbursement are defined in the memo dtd. 9/17/08, Subject: REIMBURSEMENT OF MEALS AS MAINTENANCE
B. Housing will be paid at the state university rate for double occupancy with air and maximum meal plan. Housing not covered under a specific contract (i.e. hotel room charges) will be paid at the maximum state rate.
C. Maximum not to exceed $120 per month for other subsistence items that are additional expenses in excess of normal living expenses necessitated by participation in an assessment or IPE
4. Maintenance to support academic and vocational training:
A. For in-state public institutions the maximum payment shall not exceed the cost of a double occupancy /air dormitory charge with maximum meal plan at the state university’s rate.
B. For private and out of state institutions, and in-state public institutions that have no dormitories, the maximum payment shall not exceed the cost of double occupancy/air dormitory charge with maximum meal plan at UMC unless a comparable academic or vocational program is not offered at in-state public institutions, in which case RSB’s payment shall not exceed actual costs.
Note: To compute maximum maintenance payments for actual costs at the private and out of state institutions that offer academic or vocational programs not found at in-state public institutions, the costs should be based on the standard used by the university or college for in-state residence hall cost. This may be the same standard as used for UMC, i.e., the cost of a double occupancy with air and maximum meal plan. If the university or college has no residence halls for the student body, then the cost of lodging and meals would be based on a concept of reasonable costs. The concept of reasonable cost is defined as the least expensive goods and services that meet the recipient’s needs. (Per e-mailed memorandum dtd. 8-21-06, Subject: Computation of RSB Support for Out of State or Private College/University Attendance)
C. For Personal and Vocational Adjustment to Blindness (PVA) training at a contracted Community Rehabilitation Program (CRP), maintenance will be paid at the contract rate. Those maintenance costs not covered by a PVA contract will be paid in accordance with Paragraphs 4a-c above.
NOTE: Maintenance and personal incidentals for persons attending Alphapointe will be paid in accordance with the memorandum dtd. 8-14-06, Subject: Maintenance Authorization for Advancement of Money for Meals and Personal Incidentals to Alphapointe
D. Maintenance for academic or vocational training is contingent on maintaining acceptable academic standing and maintaining full-time status as dictated by the institution. The counselor can approve an exception for supporting less than full-time status with justification.
E. RSB may pay continuous maintenance to an eligible individual if the eligible individual is attending consecutive semesters and the term between semester is less than 6 weeks
5. Maintenance to support job-related services such as job search services.
A. RSB may pay the necessary costs of establishing a new living arrangement in order for an eligible individual to accept employment. Payment will be limited to expenses incurred for no more than two weeks prior to the start date of the employment, and may continue until the eligible individual has been employed for one full month (30) days. 361.5(b)(35), Sec.103(a)(7)
(C) Books, Equipment, Tools, Supplies and Start‑up Costs for Small Businesses: RSB may pay for books, equipment, tools, supplies and start‑up costs that the eligible individual needs to participate in personal and vocational adjustment training, homemaker training, academic or vocational training and to perform required job duties following employment.
1. Personal and vocational adjustment training. RSB may pay the costs of basic equipment that the eligible individual needs in order to participate in training. 361.48(p-q), Sec.103(a)(5)
2. Academic training or vocational training, including homemaker training. RSB may pay the cost of books, equipment, tools and supplies that the eligible individual needs to participate in training.
3. Job placement. RSB may pay the cost of equipment, tools, and supplies that an eligible individual needs in order to perform required job duties.
4. . Start up costs for small businesses. RSB may pay no more than seventy five percent (75%) of an eligible individual’s start up costs for establishing a small business. When RSB’s payment reaches $17,500 (including equipment for the client to do his/her job in the small business) requests for payment of additional start up costs must be reviewed and approved by the deputy director or designee. Requests for payment of additional start up costs beyond one (1) year after the initial payment must be reviewed and approved by the deputy director or designee. Detailed information regarding small business start-ups is found in the memorandum dtd. 10-17-07 subject: Funding Small Business Start-Ups and the RSB Self-Employment Resource Guide. This rule does not apply to start up costs for vending facilities that RSB supervises according to 13 CSR 40 91.010. Sec.103(a)12-13)
5. Purchase of equipment. Authorizations for equipment purchase with a cost of less than $1,000 may be signed be the VRC (with approval by the District Supervisor). Purchase of specialized equipment, or equipment with a cost greater than $1,000 is authorized as follows;
A. District supervisors will review and sign off on all major equipment items over $1000.
B. Equipment that costs more than $2,999 requires that the VRC/RT must obtain three price comparisons from vendors that are acceptable to the eligible individual. The specifications for these price comparisons should include warranties and any service requirements the eligible individual has. If staff obtain price comparisons over the telephone, the information will be recorded on a Price Comparison Request Sheet. If the lowest price is not selected, a memorandum must be attached explaining why this particular item/vendor was chosen. Authorizations must be reviewed and signed by the district supervisor.
Note: See example: Bid Request Form
C. District supervisors will review and sign off on PVA authorizations beyond six months or any extensions past six months.
D. District supervisors may approve case expenditures above $10,000 and up to $14,000 for equipment related to training and job placement. It is the district office’s responsibility to track the accumulated purchases and identify when the limit has been reached.
E. All exceptions to the $14,000 equipment limit must be in writing and approved by the deputy director or his/her designee.
F. District supervisors will review, sign and date all maintenance authorizations.
G. If the district supervisor is not available for signature, another district supervisor, the Deputy Director or other administrative staff may approve.
H. When the cost of equipment purchased for an eligible individual who is in post‑employment status reaches five thousand dollars ($5,000) regardless of the number of times an eligible individual’s case is opened for post‑employment services, requests for purchase of additional equipment must be reviewed and approved by the deputy director or designee.
NOTE: Authority for 5 A-H is memorandum dtd. 9-22-03, Subject: Expenditure Authority
NOTE: Authorizations for computer purchases should include installation and setup (per memorandum dtd. 10-16-97 Subject: Computer Bids
NOTE: No large equipment purchases may be made from LWSB or other contracted CRPs (i.e., computers, note-takers, etc.). Small items may be purchased at LWSB with a total value less than $100. (Per memorandum dtd. 12-20-02 Subject: Purchases Through LWSB
NOTE: Furniture for eligible individual use may be purchased from vendors other than Prison Industries, provided that the furniture is to be delivered directly to the eligible individual’s residence. If the furniture is to be delivered to the RSB office and then delivered to the eligible individual, it must be ordered from Prison Industries. (Per memorandum dtd. 04-04-96 Subject: Purchase of Furniture for Consumers)
(D) Home Modification: Home modification is an allowable expense under the following circumstances:
1. It is essential in order for the eligible individual to achieve an established vocational goal;
2. The eligible individual is in an active status (06 or higher); (Note: This service cannot be provided in Status 02, 10, or 24)
3. The home being modified is owned or being purchased by the eligible individual or the eligible individual’s immediate family and is the eligible individual’s place of residence.
4. If the eligible individual resides in rental property, the only modification allowed will be ramping or a lift.
5. When a ramp or lift is being provided for rental property, there must be written permission from the landlord in the case file prior to the service being authorized.
NOTE: Authority for (D) is Memorandum dtd. 6-12-92 Subject: Home Modification
(E) Reader Service: RSB may provide reader service that an eligible individual needs in order to participate in a rehabilitation program, including orientation to employment. RSB will pay the cost of reader service for an eligible individual who is in post‑secondary training using funds that are available from the State Reader’s Fund as matching funds, as authorized in sections 178.160 and 178.180, RSMo. When all funds available from the State Reader’s Fund have been expended, RSB may provide additional funding for reader services through vocational rehabilitation funding. 361.48(k), Sec.103(a)(10) READERS FOR THE BLIND
(F) Interpreter Service for Deaf‑Blind Persons: RSB may pay the cost of interpreter service when a deaf‑blind eligible individual needs interpreter service in order to participate in a rehabilitation program, including orientation to employment. RSB may pay the rate that is charged by a qualified interpreter who is available to an eligible individual.Sec. 103(a)(10), 361.48(j)
(G) Services to Family Members: RSB may provide services to members of an eligible individual’s family, when the provision of such services is necessary in order for the eligible individual to become rehabilitated.. 361.48(i), Sec.103(a)(17)
(H) Exceptions: All service limitations expressed in this Chapter are subject to the exception provisions expressed in Chapter 26.
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