Mass. Rehabilitation Commission

As of September 2024, Mass Rehabilitation Commission is now known as MassAbility

On Thursday, April 14, 2005, representatives from Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (Mass. Rehab.) presented an overview of their services at the Community Resource Center’s monthly Information Session. Mass. Rehab. falls under the Massachusetts State Health and Human Services Department. They have three main divisions:

Because there are so many programs that MassRehab provides, this presentation focused on the most frequently used programs: Vocational Rehab, Home Care Assistance (homemaking services), and Personal Care Attendants.

Vocational Rehabilitation Division

Andrew Gilson explained that the mission of the Vocational Rehabilitation program is to provide appropriate services for eligible consumers so they may enter part- or full-time competitive employment. Services provided include vocational counseling and assistance in job placement, training programs, rehabilitation technology, vehicle and housing modifications, and college or vocational training. This is a federal program that is available nationwide. Potential clients can also see a benefits counselor who will review a client’s current benefits and determine how they will be affected if she or he returns to work.

Massachusetts Eligibility:

A person needs to have a significant disability, which causes impediment to their employment. The disability must be documented medically (presumptive eligibility if receiving SSI). Additionally, both the Voc. Rehab. counselor and the client need to believe that a work-related outcome is a possibility and that Voc. Rehab. will help the client achieve this goal. There is no age limit on who can participate, however the person must of working age. Voc. Rehab. will also help with the transitional process for those aged 18 to 22 who may be losing services from the educational system. There are also priority categories based on the severity of the disability. If the applicant is presumptively disabled due to receipt of SSI, Mass. Rehab. will still need medical documentation for goal-setting and assigning a priority category.
Immigrant eligibility: Requires citizenship or possession of a legal immigration status.

Once eligibility has been determined, the counselor and client identify goals that are realistic and achievable. The counselor conducts an adaptive technology assessment and a job market assessment (because goals must be for a job that is attainable). The end result is an Individual Plan for Employment (IPE). Overall this entire process takes approximately two months. Due to current budget constraints, services to meet these goals cannot begin before three months. If able, clients can private-pay during this time.

Once employment is established, the Voc. Rehab. counselor will follow the client for approximately 3-4 months to assure that the placement is successful. Post-employment services for up to 3 years are also available. These services allow clients to return to the program if problems arise, without having to re-determine eligibility.

Overall Voc. Rehab. is the largest division within MassRehab. They have 25 offices throughout Massachusetts (unlike the Community Services Division, where there is one central office and the Disability Determination Division, where there are two central offices). To apply for Voc. Rehab., call the local office, which can be found on the MassRehab website – www.mass.gov/mrc , in IRis (Keywords: Employment/Counseling, Health/Rehabilitation or Specialgroup:Disabled), or call the MassRehab Ombudsperson at 800-245-6543. Anyone can make a referral and clients can apply at any time.

Community Services Division

The Mass. Rehab. Community Services Division, formerly called Division of Independent Living, offers the following services:

Home Care Assistance Program

One of the most frequently used programs is the Home Care Assistance Program, of which Angela Cipriano provided an overview. The goal of this program is to enhance independence of individuals with disabilities and prevent unnecessary hospitalization or institutionalization through the provision of direct assistance with homemaking tasks. Homemaking tasks are defined as direct assistance with meal preparation, grocery shopping, medication pick-up, laundry, and light housekeeping. Not included are personal care, heavy chores, and transportation.

Eligibility

Individuals must have a disabling condition, other than blindness (Massachusetts Commission for the Blind covers this type of service for those who are legally blind), which prevents them from performing one or more homemaking tasks. Individual (or “applicant”) must be between the ages of 18 and 59, receiving MassHealth, or in the process of applying. A person does not need to be homebound in order to receive services, but must be in one of the following living situations: alone, with another disabled adult who is unable to help, or with a child under the age of 18. Additionally, the person must require homemaking assistance in order to prevent hospitalization or institutionalization.
Immigrant eligibility: There are no immigration requirements; noncitizens may apply.

Applications are completed over the phone via the central intake telephone number for the entire state of Massachusetts – 617-204-3853 or 800-223-2559. Currently there is a 4-month processing time/waitlist in which Home Care Assistance staff will collect financial and medical documentation, and conduct an in-home evaluation. Once that process is complete, there will be a determination of eligibility and hours. There is a maximum of 12 hours per week of service, however the average consumer receives 3-5 hours per week of assistance. The Home Care Assistance Program contracts with a vendor to provide these services to clients. Periodically, an eligibility review is conducted on each client. When a client turns 60 years old, they are referred to their local Elder Services Agency.

Personal Care Attendants (via the Independent Living Centers)

The Centers for Independent Living are local programs, staffed primarily by people with disabilities, that offer a variety of services to people with disabilities under contract with Mass. Rehab. Among other services, they provide skills and self- advocacy training, and advocacy assistance with applying for public benefits and services such as completing MassHealth applications, obtaining equipment and applying for subsidized housing. The most extensive and well-known program they manage is the Personal Care Attendant program, funded by MassHealth.

Eligibility

Individuals must have MassHealth Standard or CommonHealth and limitation in two or more functional activities of daily living. There is no age limit for the PCA program.

Immigrant Eligibility: Requires citizenship or possession of a legal immigration status. Must be eligible for MassHealth Standard or CommonHealth. See Understanding the Affordable Care Act in Massachusetts: Eligibility of non-citizens for MassHealth & other subsidized health benefits - Massachusetts Law Reform Institute, October 1, 2015.

Disability Determination Division

The Disability Determination Division is funded by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and determines the initial and continued eligibility for federal SSI and SSDI public benefits. Details on this program were not covered during the presentation, however more information can be found on the Mass. Rehab website ( www.mass.gov/mrc).

Overall, the purpose of the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission is to provide comprehensive services to people with disabilities that will maximize their quality of life and economic self-sufficiency in the community. Additional information about their services is available on their website ( www.mass.gov/mrc).

04/2005