Comparable benefits available under another program (such as Student Financial Aid, medical benefits, etc.) must be used to pay for certain DVR services, unless the benefits will interfere with or delay services such as: when an individual is at extreme medical risk; for an immediate job placement; or in progressing toward a student’s employment goal.
Some DVR services consider the economic need of the person with a disability and their family unit. Parents are considered part of a young adult’s family unit until the young adult reaches age 24, if they are claiming the young adult as a dependent for income tax purposes. Post-secondary schools consider this regardless of dependent status on federal taxes and until the student reaches age 24.
Based on a determination of economic need, the available monthly resources of the family unit must be applied to a student or youth’s vocational rehabilitation program (for some services). The exception to this requirement occurs if a young adult is receiving disability-related benefits through the Social Security Administration, Medicaid, or public assistance, SSI, or SSDI. In these cases, DVR does not require students or their parents to contribute to the cost of DVR services.