(a) The purpose of basic living requirements (BLR) is to establish a framework for determining whether the customer should pay any of the service cost. VRD does not consider BLR in determining eligibility for vocational rehabilitation services, but VRD does apply BLR to determine whether the customer must contribute to the cost of certain services. VRD applies BLR uniformly to ensure that all customers in similar circumstances receive equitable treatment.
(b) All services are subject to required customer participation except for the following:
  (1) services paid for, or reimbursed by, a source other than VRD;
  (2) counseling, guidance, and referral provided by VRD;
  (3) employment assistance services provided by VRD;
  (4) diabetes education training;
  (5) VR teacher services (including consumable supplies);
  (6) orientation and mobility services;
  (7) assessment services, to determine eligibility and rehabilitation needs;
  (8) interpreter services;
  (9) reader services;
  (10) translator services;
  (11) personal assistant services; and/or
  (12) job-related services: job placement, services leading to supported employment, and job coach services.
(c) Customers who are recipients of Social Security disability benefits, either SSI or SSDI, are not required to participate in the cost of services.
(d) The VR counselor informs each customer of the services that require customer participation in the cost of services and the services that do not require customer participation.
(e) If a customer declines to provide financial information to determine BLR, it is assumed that the customer has resources that exceed the BLR and therefore must fully participate in the cost of planned services.

Source Note: The provisions of this §856.60 adopted to be effective December 10, 2012, 37 TexReg 9651; duplicated effective September 1, 2016, as published in the Texas Register September 2, 2016, 41 TexReg 6773; amended to be effective November 8, 2017, 42 TexReg 6195