[nabs-l] Means Testing for College Studentsþ

[Al Spooner]

Hi Elizabeth,

The Federal RSA regulations state that if you are a SSI recipient, that they cannot require you to contribute financially.  Please see below, taken from the Rehabilitation Act Regulations:

Sec. 361.54 Participation of individuals in cost of services based on financial need.

. . . (3) The designated state unit may not apply a financial needs test, or require the financial participation of the individual . . .
. . . (ii) As a condition for furnishing any vocational rehabilitation service if the individual in need of the service has been determined eligible for Social Security benefits under Titles II or XVI of the Social Security Act.

[Note: Title II (2) is Social Security Disability Insurance, and Title XVI (16) is SSI.] 

Al Spooner
Assistant Director
Outreach and Marketing
Blindness Learning In New Dimensions, Incorporated  (BLIND, Incorporated)
100 East 22nd Street
Minneapolis, MN 55404
Office: 612-872-0100 Ext. 226
Toll Free: 800-597-9558
Fax: 612-872-9358 
Web Site: www.blindinc.org
Office E-mail: aspooner at blindinc.org

-----Original Message-----
From: nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nabs-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Elizabeth
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 2010 12:10 AM
To: nabs-l at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nabs-l] Means Testing for College Students‏


Hello List,
 
The Michigan Commission for the Blind is currently reviewing the policy they use to provide services to college students. After reviewing the proposed changes, it appears as though the biggest change they want to make to the policy is implementing a means test as a provision of services. Since I live in Michigan, I am not familiar with the various policies that are carried out in different states. Does anyone know if there are any state vocational rehabilitation programs that use means testing for college students, and if so, how means testing impacts the quality of services college students receive from their vocational rehabilitation agency? Additionally, does anyone know where I might be able to find more information about the use of means testing as a provision of services? 
 
One of the main arguments the agency is using to justify a means test is the fact that in most cases the income of the student’s parents is used to determine federal financial aid. They seem to believe that if the parents income is used to determine federal financial aid then the parents income should also be used to determine how much money the student can contribute to his or her vocational rehabilitation program. However, this does not seem right to me, as I believe the main purpose of the vocational rehabilitation program is to serve the individual, in this case the college student, and not necessarily the family as a whole. 
 
I also understand that the vocational rehabilitation agency cannot require individuals to use Social Security benefits to pay for services. Does anyone know if this applies to providing services to college students as well? The Michigan Commission for the Blind claims that by implementing a means test for college students that they are not violating this policy because the student can choose to pay for their portion of services any way they see fit. However, if the only means of income available to the student is through their Social Security benefits, then how else is the student expected to pay for their portion of services? 
 
Their answer to this argument is that if a student chooses to use their Social Security benefits to pay for their portion of services, then that is the students choice. But what they do not seem to understand is that in most cases the student does not have a choice when that is their only source of income. They also seem to believe that this burden should fall on the parents if the student cannot pay their portion of services. But this statement only leads me to believe that they are out of touch with the real world where many people in Michigan are struggling to keep their job, put food on the table, and make the mortgage payments on time if at all.
 
Any information you might be able to provide on this subject would be greatly appreciated. 
 
Thanks,
Elizabeth
 
 		 	   		  
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