Transportation services must be provided only when necessary for an individual with a disability to prepare for, secure, retain, advance in or regain competitive integrated employment that is consistent with the individual’s strengths, resources, priorities, concerns, abilities, capabilities, interests, and informed choice.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services will pay for transportation services only while a person is receiving other vocational rehabilitation services necessary to the achievement of an employment outcome.
There must be a search for comparable benefits unless the search would interrupt or delay:
- The progress of an eligible person toward achieving the employment outcome identified in the Employment Plan, or
- An immediate job placement.
- The provision of vocational rehabilitation services to any individual who is determined to be at extreme medical risk, based on medical evidence provided by an appropriate qualified medical professional.
A comparable benefits search is not required for assessment activity.
If it is known that comparable benefits exist but are not available at the time needed to ensure the timely progress of the individual toward achieving an employment outcome, the agency must provide services until those comparable benefits become available.
The agency must not purchase a service when the person refuses or fails to make formal application for a comparable benefit to pay all or part of the cost of the service, or when the individual refuses to accept a comparable benefit that is available to the person.
Consumer Financial Participation (CFP) applies unless transportation services are required for assessment or Pre-Employment Transition Services.
When an individual uses public transportation, Vocational Rehabilitation Services will pay for the actual cost of the most cost-effective method of public transportation that meets the individual’s needs.
When public transportation is not available and the individual drives a private vehicle, Vocational Rehabilitation Services will pay 17 cents/mile for actual miles required by the plan plus the cost of parking and a driver if needed. When public transportation is available and the person chooses to drive a private vehicle, Vocational Rehabilitation Services will pay up to 17 cents/mile but not more than the cost of the most cost-effective method of public transportation that meets the individual’s needs. Vocational Rehabilitation Services payments for a driver are determined using the usual and customary rate for an area. When public transportation and transportation by personal vehicle are unavailable, Vocational Rehabilitation Services may provide for other alternatives at the actual cost of the available transportation.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services will not purchase, lease or otherwise obtain, maintain or insure vehicles for applicants or eligible individuals.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services must limit transportation payments in support of postsecondary training to the amount that would apply if the individual attended the Minnesota public institution closest to the person’s residence which offers the broad field of study required by the employment plan, or the actual amount of transportation, whichever is less.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services may provide vehicle repair only when all of the following conditions are met:
- The individual would be unable to participate in vocational rehabilitation services if vehicle repair is not provided,
- The repair is necessary for the safe and legal operation of the vehicle, and
- No other means of transportation, such as public transportation, is available.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services will not provide assistance with routine vehicle maintenance.
Vocational Rehabilitation Services will only provide vehicle repairs to vehicles owned by the person.
When Vocational Rehabilitation Services pays for vehicle repairs, the cost of that repair plus the cost of any other vehicle repairs, if any, paid for by Vocational Rehabilitation Services in the prior 365 days, cannot exceed $1000.
Completion of the Vehicle Repair Payments Worksheet in Workforce One is required prior to the provision of any vehicle repair.
Transportation payments for relocation may be provided only when the rehabilitation counselor, in consultation with the eligible individual, has determined that:
- The eligible individual cannot receive needed vocational rehabilitation services without relocation.
- and/or
- There is a need to relocate, based on available employment and labor market information.
Through appropriate modes of communication, each applicant and recipient of VR services must be given the information necessary to make informed choices. Individuals who need assistance in exercising informed choice must be made aware that support services are available.
As appropriate, services can be obtained from either an in-state or out-of-state provider. If a person chooses an out-of-state provider at a higher cost than an in-state provider, if either provider would meet the individual’s rehabilitation needs, Vocational Rehabilitation Services is not responsible for those costs in excess of the cost of the in-state service.
Exceptions to the transportation policies may be requested from the Director of Vocational Rehabilitation Services or a designee when there are unique rehabilitation needs that cannot be met.
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Effective July 1, 2023, all Consumer Financial Participation (CFP) Policies are temporarily rescinded until further notice. The strikethrough in the text above is intentional due to the temporary nature of the CFP Policy lift.