Contact: Jill Enyart
Director of Medicaid Services
841-0333 ext. 145
jenyart@independenceinc.org

Beginning July 1, 2007 the Kansas Health Policy Authority will implement a new state plan package of benefits that will provide personal services, as well as other services, for employed persons with disabilities in Kansas. Work Opportunities Reward Kansans (WORK)is designed to provide eligible enrollees with optimum control of their lives by allowing them to purchase personal assistance services in alternative ways that will meet their unique needs using a monthly cash allocation, decide whether they want to self-direct or have an agency direct their care, determine whether to use the services of an Independent Living Counselor or manage their care independently, decide whether to use the fiscal management service designated by KHPA or act as their own fiscal manager, and choose providers with whom they feel the most comfortable rather than have to use mandated providers based on disability or geographical location.

Qualifications for the WORK Program:

eligible for the Kansas Medicaid Buy-In, Working Healthy, including;
age 16 through 64;
determined disabled by the Social Security Administration;
earned income verified by FICA/SECA payments;
countable net income no higher than 300% of the Federal Poverty Level;
assets no higher than $15,000; and
a Kansas resident;
individuals who demonstrate a need for Activities of Daily Living (ADL) and whose level of care is similar that required for the DD, PD, and TBI HCBS waivers or waiting lists*.
competitively** employed in an integrated*** setting, earning the federal hourly minimum wage, and earning at least $65.00 per month; and
residing in a home or property that is not owned, operated, or controlled by a provider of services not related by blood or marriage.

*It is important to note that WORK is not a waiver program, and rules for participating are different from HCBS.

** Competitively employed is defined as work performed in the competitive labor market on a full or part-time basis for which individuals are compensated at or above the federal minimum wage, but not less than the customary wage and level of benefits paid a non-disabled individual performing the same or similar work.

*** Integrated setting is defined as a community setting where individuals with the most severe disabilities interact with non-disabled individuals, other than non-disabled individuals who are providing services for them, to the same extent that non-disabled individuals in comparable positions interact with other persons. Referral for assessment is done by the Benefit Specialist at the SRS office.

WORK Fiscal-Management Training & Assessment
Take this on-line training to become certified to be your own fiscal manager for the WORK program!

THE KANSAS SELF-DIRECTION TOOLKIT provides individuals with disabilities the information and tools needed to self-direct any component of their personal assistance services. Consumers, case managers, service coordinators, family members and others will like the Toolkit�s step-by-step format with a mix and match option that puts you in control of the information you want and need to self-direct your personal assistant (PA) supports and services. CLICK HERE to access.

WORK Informational Presentations
Working Healthy staff can travel to various regions throughout the state to provide information about WORK to community agencies. If your staff works directly with consumers in case management positions (Independent Living Counselors, Service Coordinators, etc.) they would benefit the most from this information. We have a presentation and then can facilitate questions and discussion about this new opportunity. If you would like more information about WORK and/or how to schedule a WORK presentation in your area, please contact your local Benefits Specialistor contact Nancy Scott at (785) 291-3461.