Incapacity Determination - Case Management

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Incapacity Determination - Case Management

Revised September 21, 2009

Purpose:

In order to assist our incapacity clients in their goal to return to employment or reduce their need for assistance, it is important that we follow the basic principles of social work as well as the following:

Be aware of and develop professional working relationships with local service agencies and treatment providers.

Make sound incapacity decisions using clear, objective medical evidence, based upon program rules as described in Chapter 388-448 WAC.

Require and monitor any treatment that will assist the incapacitated client to become employed or reduce the need for assistance.

All social workers are required to use the Inclusive Case Management System (ICMS) as a case management and tracking tool. Use ICMS for all documentation and the generation of forms from the time of the initial application interview through the time the case is closed.

Be aware of accessibility issues and the need to provide Equal Access.

CLARIFYING INFORMATION

General Assistance Case Plan

We provide case management to all GA recipients. Each GA recipient must have a case plan that helps the person move towards one of the following goals:

Improved health or functioning adequate to allow the person to work; or

Improve self sufficiency by obtaining income from other sources, such as the Veterans Administration or the Department of Labor & Industries, or

Approval of application for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

WORKER RESPONSIBILITIES

Developing a Case Plan

1.      Gather information about the person’s treatment concerns, employment and health goals, and social network. Explain the program benefits and expectations. This may be accomplished by:

a.       A post-approval case management meeting.

b.      A General Assistance orientation.

c.       Dedicating a portion of the intake interview to case management.

2.      Determine what the person is able to do:

a.       If the person has a short-term medical condition, it may be appropriate to only require the person to follow through medical appointments as determined by the person’s medical provider.

b.      If the person is able to participate in pre-employment activities, include referrals to vocational or rehabilitation services available in the community.

c.       If the person appears to meet SSI disability criteria(citizen or SSA qualified alien), refer the person to the SSI facilitator.

d.      Refer non-citizens for naturalization services.

NOTE:
If a person has received or approved for 12 months or more of GA-U, the person must participate in pre-employment activities or you must clearly document why a client with chronic impairments does not meet disability criteria, cannot participate in any activities, and what needs to happen before or when the person will become able to participate in pre-employment activities.

Treatment Monitoring

Work with the individual’s provider to determine how often you should monitor compliance with treatment referrals.

If a person does not follow through with treatment or other referrals, determine good cause, and sanction promptly if the person does not have good cause for failure to follow through.

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