“I’ve had to be at work on time, work long and varied hours, and
travel extensively… To live a productive life, I employ personal assistants
to help me perform tasks I can’t do on my own."
—Judy Heumann
In an effort to improve employment opportunities for people with disabilities, new federal and state policies now encourage the expansion of personal assistance services at work. In California, this means a change in how In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) can be used and a change in how much you can earn and still keep your Medi-Cal health insurance, including IHSS.
Old thinking: People with disabilities are not able to work. IHSS hours are restricted to use in the home.
New rules: Work opportunities are expanding for people with disabilities. IHSS hours can be used at work as well as at home.
Do the new rules let me work and keep my Medi-Cal and IHSS personal assistance services?
Yes. In the past, earning income through work would lead to loss of benefits. However, the rules have changed with California’s Medi-Cal Working Disabled program. Now, workers with disabilities enrolled in Medi-Cal can earn as much as two-and-one-half times the federal poverty level. You can earn as much as $50,028 (in 2006) and still receive Medi-Cal and IHSS services. The program allows you to buy into Medi-Cal health coverage, including IHSS, by paying a monthly premium.
Workplace Personal Assistance Services
There are two types of Workplace Personal Assistance Services (Workplace PAS).
Personal care-related assistance, such as help in the restroom or at lunch breaks.
In California, (IHSS) provides personal assistance services so that you can live safely in your own home. Since January 2003, you can also use some of your IHSS hours to meet your personal care-related needs at work.
A second type of assistance, called job-related assistance, includes tasks such as help with reading, interpreting, lifting or reaching work materials, and travel assistance between work sites. These services are not available through the IHSS program.
Employers may have a responsibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act and other laws to provide reasonable accommodations for you to perform job-related tasks. Employers are not generally required, however, to provide personal care-related assistance.
Read this brochure and use the resources described to find out more about meeting your personal care- related needs at work.
Local departments of health services and social services are responsible
for determining eligibility and need for Medi-Cal and IHSS.
www.dhs.ca.gov/mcs/medi-calhome/CountyListing1.htm
IHSS Public Authorities are responsible for keeping local lists of screened and trained personal assistance service providers, making individual referrals, and providing information and training. www.capaihss.org/IHSS_PA_YourCounty.html
If you already receive IHSS, you can learn more about ways to use your hours at work by talking with your IHSS social worker. You can learn more about Medi-Cal’s Working Disabled Program by calling your county Health and Human Services department, Medi-Cal office.
These county offices can also help if you receive SSI, SSDI, and/or Medi-Cal and want to learn more about IHSS, or if you don’t currently use Medi-Cal, SSI, or SSDI, but have a disability and need personal assistance services to work.
Benefits Planning Assistance and Outreach projects help you understand relationships
between work and public disability benefits if you are planning to work, are
working, or are changing jobs.
http://www.vcu-barc.org/region9/ca.html
Department of Rehabilitation provides assessment, education and training,
assistive technology, job development and placement, and other services, including
personal assistance services in certain circumstances, to people with disabilities
who are eligible for services and looking for work.
www.dor.ca.gov
DisabilityBenefits101; working with a disability in California offers a primer
on health, benefits, work and disability resources, laws, and programs in California
and has answers to many of your questions.
www.db101.org
Independent Living Centers serve people with all disabilities and provide
referrals for personal assistance services, affordable and accessible housing
and transportation, and other services necessary to live independently in the
community.
www.calsilc.org/ilcfinder.pdf
Job Accommodation Network (JAN) provides free information on workplace accommodations,
including PAS and assistive technology, self-employment options, and disability-related
legislation.
www.jan.wvu.edu
Research and Training Center on Personal Assistance Services provides information
on workplace personal assistance services, as well as home and community-based
services, workforce issues, formal and informal PAS, and consumer issues. It
also offers consumer-directed training of personal assistance.
www.pascenter.org
WorkNet is a website for employment and training services delivered by One-Stop
Career Centers in California. In a centralized setting, One-Stop Centers
have a variety of partners and programs that provide support to its customers
related to employment, education, vocational rehabilitation, and employers’ needs.
The Centers are available and open to everyone, including people with disabilities
and English-language learners.
www.edd.ca.gov/one-stop/
Medi-Cal, California’s Medicaid program, pays for medical care to people who are eligible, including people eligible through SSI and other disability-related programs.
In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) is a component of Medi-Cal that provides personal assistance services to use at home or at work. To qualify for IHSS, you must have a disability or be over age 65, have limited income and resources, and be able to live at home safely with help from an IHSS worker.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based, cash assistance program for children and adults under the age of 65 who are disabled or blind. To be determined eligible, you must be a U.S. citizen, have limited income and resources, and be considered medically disabled or blind. SSI recipients in California are also eligible for Medi-Cal and Vocational Rehabilitation services.
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a form of insurance available to individuals if they have worked in the past but can no longer work because of their disability.
CHIIP. California Health Incentives Improvement Project.
PAS. Center for Personal Assistance Services.
Request this information in alternate formats or languages by calling 916-654-2561; TTY 916-654-9820
This publication is funded fully under a Medicaid Infrastructure Grant from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, grant number P-91494/9-03. The CHIIP and its partners are equal opportunity employers/providers.
CHIIP Publication 4 (3/2006) English