Unable to Work and Eligibility

[TimH]

Q: We have a participant who provided documentation of her disability in the form of a doctor's statement that she is totally unable to work. If she is unable to work at all would she also not be eligible for the program?

[charteroakadmin]

Q: No. Disability is not part of the eligibility criteria for SCSEP. Eligibility is determined solely by age, income, employment status, and residence. Under federal law, denying enrollment to someone on the basis of disability would be illegal. Furthermore, Congress has mandated that SCSEP give special consideration to individuals who are disabled, severely disabled,or frail in initial enrollment and continued enrollment beyond the 48 month durational limit. Grantees have an obligation to accommodate individuals who have documented disability and to find a suitable host agency assignment for them. If the participant is so disabled that she cannot perform any existing host agency assignment even with an accommodation, you might contact organizations that work with disabled persons to help identify a potential community service assignment.