Individual Employment Support can help a person learn how to do a new job or get better at their current job. It supports someone to learn about

• different job tasks,
• technology that can make their job easier, 
• and how to work more easily with other people.

When to Apply this Service

The person’s service and support administrator, or SSA, will assess them for a need for Individual Employment Support. If there is a need, the SSA will include it in the person’s individual service plan.

This service includes

• job coaching,
• training for Assistive Technology used on the job, 
• other workplace support services, including services not specifically related to job skill training, that help the person succeed in integrating into their job setting,
• and personal care and assistance (as a component of an Individual Employment Support activity).

Individual Employment Support is provided in a way that matches the person's interests, strengths, priorities, and abilities, while meeting their personal and career goals.

This service does not support someone to find a job. Learn more about that with Career Planning.

Providing this Service

Agency and independent providers that have a Medicaid provider agreement and are DODD-certified can provide this service.

Individual Employment Support is a one-on-one service.

This service is typically provided in person or through virtual supports. This service is available On Behalf Of (OBO) if a need is identified by the team and authorized by the county board of developmental disabilities. 

A provider may be authorized for Individual Employment Support OBO and Non-Medical Transportation OBO to get in between work sites. DODD views travel from the office to the worksite akin to travel between worksites.

If the person's team has identified the service need and the county board of developmental disabilities has authorized both NMT OBO and IES OBO, these services may be billed while a person is not in the vehicle in between work sites. Mileage to the first site and from the last site is not billable if you do not have the person with you; however all other mileage from site to site is billable. 

Training Requirements for this Service 

After initial provider certification and completing annual training requirements, the following is required to provide this service.

During the First Year - Agency Providers

During the first year after hire, agency providers, other than those who have at least one year of experience providing Individual Employment Support at the point of hire, will be assigned and have access to a mentor.

No later than one year after hire, agency providers, other than those who have at least one year of experience providing Individual Employment Support at the point of hire, must successfully complete at least eight hours of training specific to Individual Employment Support that includes but is not limited to

• skill-building to advance a person with disabilities on his or her path to community employment and development of the person’s strengths and skills necessary for competitive integrated employment,
• and self-determination, which includes assisting the person to develop self-advocacy skills, to exercise his or her civil rights, to exercise control and responsibility over the services he or she receives, and to acquire skills that enable him or her to become more independent, productive, and integrated within the community.

Agency providers must successfully complete on-the-job training specific to each person he or she serves, including

• what is important to the person and what is important for the person,
• and the person’s support needs, such as behavioral support strategy, management of the person’s funds, and medication administration or delegated nursing.

During the First Year - Independent Providers

Prior to providing the service, independent providers need the following:

• at least one year of paid work experience supporting people with disabilities to maintain a job in the general workforce,
• or 30 hours of formal training related to supporting people to maintain their jobs in the general workforce.

Independent providers must successfully complete on-the-job training specific to each person he or she serves, including

• what is important to the person and what is important for the person,
• and the person’s support needs, such as behavioral support strategy, management of the person’s funds, and medication administration or delegated nursing.

During the Second Year - Agency and Independent Providers

Beginning in the second year of hire, agency and independent providers must annually complete at least eight hours of training that includes

• the role and responsibilities of direct services staff with regard to services including person-centered planning, community integration, self-determination, and self-advocacy,
• a person’s rights,
• the requirement of the Major Unusual Incidents rule, including a review of Health and Welfare Alerts issued by DODD since the previous year’s training,
• the requirements for providing behavioral support to the person, and
• best practices related to providing Individual Employment Support.

Billing and Payment Information

All services must be delivered as specified in the individual service plan and authorized in Payment Authorization for Waiver Services, known as PAWS, to be successfully submitted for payment through eMBS.

Rates and limits for Individual Employment Support are contained in the service rule’s appendix.