Personal Care Employment Support
What is Personal Care Employment Support?
Personal Care Employment Support is an expansion of the Medicaid Personal Care Services Program administered by the Bureau for Medical Services, DHHR. It allows an individual who is eligible for personal care services in the home to also use these services while seeking and retaining competitive employment of at least forty (40) hours per month. If you need personal care to go to work but are not receiving Personal Care Services in the home you may want to contact a personal care provider agency to determine if you are eligible for Personal Care Employment Support.
What Does Personal Care Employment Support Mean To You?
It means an eligible individual may have hands on assistance with daily activities related to personal hygiene, dressing, eating, environmental support functions and health related tasks during job seeking activities and employment. Some Personal Care Employment Support services can include activities such as:
- Eating and food preparation
- Personal hygiene
- Repositioning, transferring, mobility
- Self administration of medication
Who is Eligible for Personal Care Employment Support?
Individuals that are medically in need of assistance with performing daily activities related to personal hygiene, dressing, feeding, nutrition, and environmental support functions and health related activities. These services must be:
- Prescribed by a physician
- Necessary to the long term maintenance of the individual's health and safety
- Provided according to a Plan of Care developed and monitored by a registered nurse
- Provided by an individual who has met basic training requirements and not a member of the recipient's family
What Does Job Seeking Mean?
Job seeking is the process of obtaining employment. In order to receive authorization for use of Personal Care Employment Support services you must qualify for Job Seeking Status by completing a Job Seeking Agreement Form with your provider agency. In this agreement you are asked to register with your local job service office AND participate in one of the following:
- Complete an individual job search agreement
- Document eligibility for placement services from the Division of Rehabilitation Services
- Register with an Employment Network Provider
Using Personal Care Employment Support services while Job Seeking can provide you assistance with:
- Researching employment opportunities
- Completing employment applications
- Interviewing
- Participating in pre-employment assessments
- Participating in pre-employment observation periods
- Obtaining supplies and equipment necessary for employment
What Happens After I Obtain Employment?
After you become employed, you will need to meet with your Personal Care provider agency to complete an Employment Status Agreement Form. This form will indicate whether your employment is Partial or Full Employment.
- Full employment is working forty (40) hours or more per month at or above minimum wage. You can receive Personal Care Employment Support indefinitely if you are in Full Employment Status.
- Partial employment is working less than forty (40) hours per month at or above minimum wage. During partial employment if your employer has indicated they may not be able to offer full employment you will be expected to continue participation in a Job Seeking Agreement. You may only use Personal Care Employment Support services for a total of twelve (12) nonconsecutive months if you are in a Job Seeking Agreement or remain in Partial Employment Status.
For More Information Contact:
In Morgantown -
Jack Stewart, Program Manager or Sally Burchfiel, Senior Program Specialist
Phone: (304) 293-4692
In Charleston -
Angela Vaught, Program Specialist
Phone: (304) 720-3200
