The goal of this article is to give you new information and resources that can help you become more comfortable and confident. We’ll begin with some basics about who can help you and what laws protect you, focusing on several important resources:

• Independent Living Centers (ILCs)
• Your doctor
• Personal Care Assistants (PCAs)
• Your rights

Later in this article, we’ll go into detail about different health care programs, cash benefits, job adjustments and training that can help you.

Independent Living Centers

Independent living is one of the most important concepts for people with disabilities. Independent living means you decide how you want to live. It does not mean that you have to know all the answers or do everything by yourself; it means you need to learn how to find resources that can help you reach your goals. You also need to learn to be in charge of how you use these resources.

Independent Living Centers are a one-stop shop that can help you learn how to live independently.

What they offer

Independent Living Centers were created by people with disabilities. They offer many types of information and support that can help you think about decisions you may face and opportunities you may meet.

Independent Living Centers can help you find things like work, housing, transportation, or Personal Care Assistance (PCA) services. They also offer counseling related to benefits, health care, finances, and even your social life.

How you find one

There are Independent Living Centers throughout the country, including dozens in all parts of Missouri. The Missouri Statewide Independent Living Council (MOSILC) can help you find an Independent Living Center near you.

When they’re a good option

If you haven’t already contacted your local Independent Living Center, you should do so now, just to become familiar with the sorts of resources, activities, and programs they offer.

Your Doctor

It's important for you to have good communication with your doctor, because you and your doctor will be working together to come up with ideas and solutions that work well for you.

What your doctor offers

Your primary care doctor is a central partner who will help you better understand your disability. Your doctor will help diagnose your condition, figure out what sort of treatment is available, and refer you to other specialists who can help you. Your doctor also documents your health conditions and keeps your medical record, which can be important if you apply for benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and MO HealthNet.

That means it is important for you to regularly visit your doctor to make sure your medical record is kept up to date. When you apply for disability benefits, you can also ask your doctor to supply you with a letter describing your health conditions and disability. You can include that letter with your application. You can also request your own copy of your medical records and include it with your application.

How to get the best help from your doctor

Communication is the most important part of your relationship with your doctor. You need to clearly tell your doctor how you feel. You also have to explain what your needs are. At the same time, you need to understand the recommendations your doctor makes. If you don’t understand something your doctor recommends, ask your doctor to explain it in a different way.

Likewise, if you find you don’t understand some information, insist that your doctor give you the information in a format that you can understand. For example, if you are hard of hearing and the doctor wants you to watch a video that doesn’t have captions, insist that your doctor give you a copy of the video with captions or supply the information in an alternate format. Or, if your first language isn’t English and you want an interpreter to help you understand your doctor, ask for an interpreter. Health care providers are required to supply interpreters and accessible documents.

By having a primary care doctor with whom you are comfortable and have established clear communication, you will be able to deal more effectively with your medical issues. Learn more about establishing a good relationship with your doctor.

When your doctor is an important option

Your doctor has specialized knowledge and knows a lot about your health conditions. Listen to your doctor and think about your doctor’s ideas and suggestions. Make your doctor a part of your team that helps you figure out the many different ways in which you can adapt to your new disability.

Doctors are a great support in many ways but they are not experts about everything. Most importantly, you are the person who knows best about how you feel. That’s why you have the final say in any decisions involving your health. Your doctor’s job is to support you, not tell you what to do.

Personal Care Assistance

Personal care assistants (PCAs) support people with disabilities to live more independent lives. An assistant works directly for the person with a disability.

What they offer

The role of a personal care assistant is to help you be able to do what you need to do. Your assistant may help you with getting dressed, going from one place to another, preparing meals, bathing, or other activities.

Personal care assistants can also help you in the workplace to do different types of tasks. They can help with personal care, like in the restroom or at lunch breaks, or with job-related tasks, like help with reading, interpreting, lifting or reaching work materials, or with travel between work sites.

How you find one

Some people with disabilities rely on family or friends for their personal care assistance. Others decide to hire someone who works for an agency. You can find good PCAs in a number of different ways, including Independent Living Centers, PCA agencies, or online.

If you qualify for MO HealthNet, it may pay for personal care assistance services if you need them. When you apply for MO HealthNet, they will assess your situation and decide whether you need personal care assistance in addition to health coverage. If you do, you will be able to sign up for these services through the Consumer Directed Services (CDS) program. Contact your Family Support Division (FSD) office for more information.

When they’re a good option

Personal care assistance can be crucial to your ability to live independently. Personal assistants can help you at home or in the workplace, depending on your needs.

Read more about personal care assistance in the DB101 article on Job Supports and Accommodations.

Your Rights

There are several major laws designed to help people with disabilities. The main one is the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The ADA is a federal civil rights law that makes it illegal to discriminate against people with disabilities. It also guarantees that disabled people have access to public services, such as transportation and voting, and to public places, such as restaurants, stores, hotels, and other types of buildings.

What they mean

The first section of the ADA (often called Title I) applies to employment. It makes it illegal to discriminate against qualified jobseekers and employees with disabilities and requires employers to make reasonable accommodations available to jobseekers and employees with disabilities, unless doing so would result in undue hardship to the business. The law applies to all aspects of this employment, including the job application process, hiring, firing, advancement, compensation, job training, and work-related events. In Missouri, the Missouri Human Rights Act (MHRA) also protects people with disabilities.

Perhaps the key difference is that the ADA only covers employers with 15 or more employees, while the MHRA covers employers with 6 or more employees. Both laws apply to private employers, state and local governments, employment agencies, and labor organizations. The ADA does not apply to tax-exempt private membership clubs or the U.S. federal government. However, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is another law that is almost identical to the ADA and does apply to federal agencies. That means that the federal government also cannot discriminate against job applicants and employees with disabilities.

How they help you

The ADA and the MHRA are helping you all the time. Here are some examples:

• If you watch TV with closed captions, those captions are mandated by the ADA.
• If you go up a ramp when you enter a public library, that ramp has to be there thanks to the ADA.
• If you have a job and need a computer program that can read webpages, email, and other documents to you, the ADA requires that your employer supply this software.

The ADA can also help you if you are being discriminated against, since it allows you to file a complaint or even go to court.

When you have to take action

If you are treated worse or unequally because of your disability, you are being discriminated against. The ADA makes discrimination illegal. Here are a few examples of how you could be discriminated against at your job:

• You could be intentionally denied opportunities or benefits, like a job, a promotion, or a competitive salary.
• You could be unintentionally denied these opportunities or benefits, because your employer uses a practice or a system that is not justified by the needs of the business.
• You could experience:
  • Coercion, which means forcing you to do something against your will
  • Intimidation, which means frightening or bullying you to follow the employer’s demands
  • Harassment, which means bothering you with unwanted actions or demands, or
  • Interference from enjoying the same privileges and benefits of employment that others get.

Intentional discrimination happens for many reasons. For example, when an employer does not want to pay for your reasonable accommodations or looks down on you because you are disabled, the employer may do something unfair to you on purpose.

Unintentional discrimination usually happens because an employer evaluates or promotes employees in a way that puts disabled people at a disadvantage. The employer usually does not mean to discriminate and does not realize that certain actions or practices are discriminatory.

If you believe that you have been discriminated against because of your disability, you can file a complaint with either the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) or the Missouri Commission on Human Rights (MCHR).

With a disability, a top priority is to make sure that you have health coverage. Your financial situation and employment status decide what types of coverage you can get. These are the main options:

• Private health coverage, including employer-sponsored coverage and HealthCare.gov, the Health Insurance Marketplace for the State of Missouri
• MO HealthNet
• Medicare

Private Health Coverage

Private health coverage is the most common type of health coverage.

What it offers

It pays for some of your medical costs when you see a doctor, go to the hospital, get medical exams, or get prescription medicine. You may need to pay copayments, premiums, or deductibles for these services. Depending on your coverage plan, it may pay for almost the entire cost of your medical expenses, or it may pay only a portion of those expenses. If you have low income and get private coverage through HealthCare.gov the government may help pay your premium.

How you get it

The most common way of getting private health coverage is through your job or your spouse’s job. Many, but not all, jobs offer health care benefits. If you are still working and get health coverage through your job, your employer will continue to pay most of the expenses for your health insurance. Your spouse or parent (if you’re under 26) may also have a job that will provide health insurance for you.

You can also buy your insurance directly from a private insurance company, through an insurance broker, or on HealthCare.gov. You can buy private coverage for yourself and for your entire family. Insurance companies cannot reject your application or charge you more because you have a health condition. HealthCare.gov is the only place where people who have lower incomes can get government help paying for their individual coverage plan.

When it’s a good option

Private health coverage is best when you or your spouse (or parent) has a job where the employer will pay for it. Or, depending on your income and your plan, the government may help pay for your premium. To get government help paying your premium, you must buy a plan through HealthCare.gov. Note: There is no income limit for getting subsidies that help pay individual coverage premiums. (Before 2021, the limit was 400% of FPG.) To get subsidies, you still must meet other eligibility rules and the premium amount you pay depends on your income and your plan.

It’s important to also note that private health coverage doesn’t always cover everything – you may get private coverage and also be able to get public health coverage to cover whatever the private insurance doesn’t pay for.

Learn more on DB101's pages about getting employer-sponsored coverage and getting individual coverage on HealthCare.gov.

MO HealthNet

Missouri’s public health coverage program is called MO HealthNet.

What it offers

MO HealthNet pays medical expenses for people with disabilities, other adults, children, pregnant women, and people with low income.

If you qualify, MO HealthNet will help pay for your visits to the doctor, hospital stays, prescription drugs, medical equipment, and other medical services. You may need to pay a small copayment for these services.

How you get it

There are various ways of qualifying. The income limit and if there's a resource limit depend on your situation. For example, MO HealthNet for Kids is easier to qualify for than MO HealthNet for adults. Likewise, if your disability meets the Social Security definition of disability, there are other ways to qualify.

See how to apply online, by phone, or by mail on the MO HealthNet website.

When it’s a good option

If you, your spouse, and your parents (if you’re under 26) don’t have jobs where the employer will supply you with private health coverage, MO HealthNet is your best bet. If you are an adult with low income, you may qualify for MO HealthNet. If you are under the age of 19, you may qualify for MO HealthNet for Kids. If you have a disability that meets Social Security’s definition of disability, you can have a job and will still likely qualify for MO HealthNet.

Use the tool shown below to see if you qualify based on having low income. If not, you still might qualify based on having a disability. Learn more about disabililty-based MO HealthNet in DB101's How Health Benefits Work article.

Health Coverage Income Limits for Your Family

Your family size:	123456789101112
Income limits for your family:
	$15,060
	$5,380
	$15,060
	$5,380
Income-based MO HealthNet, adults (138% FPG)
MO HealthNet for Kids, free (150% FPG)
MO HealthNet for Kids, premium (300% FPG)
Subsidized private plans (no income limit)	--
If your family's income is at or below the limit for a program, you may qualify if you meet other program rules. Notes: Some types of income do not count against these limits, including SSI benefits. Different programs sometimes use slightly different numbers for the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG). For private plans with subsidies, your monthly premium amount depends on your income.

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Learn more about MO HealthNet in DB101's How Health Benefits Work article.

Medicare

Medicare is another public health program, but it is run by the federal government, not by the state. While you work, some of the money you earn automatically comes out of your paycheck and goes into a Medicare fund. If you become disabled and start getting Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you will start getting Medicare 2 years after your SSDI benefit begins.

What it offers

Medicare has different “parts” that each help pay for your medical care.

• Medicare Part A helps pay for medical care you get while you’re in a hospital.
• Medicare Part B helps pay for medical care you get outside of a hospital, like when you go to the doctor.
• Medicare Part C, also known as Medicare Advantage, is a way to get Part A, B, and sometimes Part D coverage through private companies.
• Medicare Part D helps pay for prescription drugs.

Each Medicare part has different rules for how you sign up, how much you have to pay in premiums or copayments, which medical costs it helps with, and how much of the costs it will help pay for.

How you get it

People with disabilities get Medicare after being on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for 24 months. SSDI provides income for people who have worked and earned enough work credits to qualify, but who can no longer work because of a disability. Once you’ve been getting SSDI for 2 years, you automatically qualify to get Medicare and will begin to get coverage without having to fill out an application.

In the two years before you qualify for Medicare, you’ll need to get coverage through one of the other health coverage options introduced in this article.

When it’s a good option

Medicare is always a good option if you qualify. Often it can also be combined with other programs, such as MO HealthNet, so that your share of expenses is lower.

Learn more about Medicare in DB101's How Health Benefits Work article.

There are several important benefits programs that can supply you with income support when you become disabled. Your work history, financial situation, and medical condition will impact which cash benefits you qualify for. These are the main options:

• Private Disability Insurance
• Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Workers' Compensation

Private Disability Insurance

Private disability insurance replaces some of your income if an injury or illness prevents you from working. Unlike workers’ compensation, to get benefits through disability insurance, your injury or illness does not need to be work-related.

What it offers

There are 2 types of disability insurance:

1. Short-Term Disability (STD) Insurance pays you a portion of your income for a short period of time after you run out of sick leave. Depending on your plan, STD generally will pay you for between 9 and 52 weeks.
2. Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance pays you a portion of your income after you run out of both sick leave and STD. Depending on your plan, LTD may pay you for a specific number of years, like 2 years or 5 years, or until you turn a specific age, like 65.

With both STD and LTD insurance, the amount of time you can get benefits and the dollar amount the benefits supply depend on how expensive your plan is. Generally, you will get a set percentage of the wages you were earning before you were disabled. Although the amount varies, payments are generally around 60% of your previous wage.

How you get it

To get private disability insurance benefits, you must be covered by a Short-Term Disability (STD) Insurance plan or a Long-Term Disability (LTD) Insurance plan. These are common ways you may be covered:

• Some employers offer this benefit.
• Some other groups you may be a member of, such as a trade union, alumni organization, or other professional organization, may offer this benefit.
• You may pay for an individual plan.

If you had a job before becoming disabled, you should ask your employer’s Human Resources manager if you were covered by a policy. You may have been covered by disability insurance through your job and not even realized it!

If you are covered, you will need to file a claim through your employer, group representative, or insurance agent, depending on how you got your coverage.

When it’s a good option

Private disability insurance is always a good option if you are covered. The biggest problem is that most people don’t know about it and so often are not covered. If you are not covered and recently became disabled, you probably won’t be able to start getting disability insurance coverage because of your pre-existing condition, unless you sign up through an employer or other group plan.

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)

While you work, some of the money you earn automatically comes out of your paycheck and goes into a Social Security fund. If you have to stop working because of a disability, the Social Security Administration will take money from this fund and pay you a monthly cash benefit called Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

What it offers

SSDI pays monthly cash benefits to people who have worked, paid Social Security taxes, and now have a disability that prevents them from working. Your eligibility for SSDI benefits is based on your status as disabled. Because it's an insurance program, you do not have to prove financial need to qualify for SSDI and there are no income or resource limits.

How you get it

You can apply for SSDI after you become disabled:

• Online (which starts the application process immediately instead of having to wait for an appointment)
• By calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY) to make an appointment to apply either:
  • Over the phone
  • In person at your local Social Security office.

Once you’ve applied, Social Security will check two things to see if you qualify for SSDI:

1. You must be insured. That means you must have worked long enough to be covered by SSDI.
2. Social Security must decide that you are disabled. For them to consider you disabled, you must:
   • Not be working and making more than Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA), which is $1,620 per month ($2,700 if you’re blind)
   • Have a “severe” medical condition
   • Have a condition on Social Security’s List of Impairments or have a condition as severe as a condition on that list
   • Not be able to do the same work you did before you became disabled
   • Not be able to do other work

When it’s a good option

SSDI is a great benefit for anybody who qualifies. The benefits can begin when you have been disabled for 5 months. Remember that with SSDI, you automatically become eligible for Medicare after 24 months (2 years), a very important health benefit described earlier in this article.

Learn more about SSDI in DB101's SSDI article.

Watch this short video to learn more about SSDI's basic rules.

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Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

People who are disabled or blind may not be able to work or afford to live on their own. If you have a disability, don’t have enough money for your basic needs, don’t have much income, and have limited resources, you may be able to get Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

What it offers

If you qualify for SSI benefits, you get a monthly cash payment. This money helps you to pay for your expenses, like food and rent. Many people who qualify for SSI also qualify for MO HealthNet and SNAP (formerly Food Stamps), but you have to apply for those separately.

How you get it

You can apply for SSI at your local Social Security office or by calling 1-800-772-1213 or 1-800-325-0778 (TTY). If you need help applying for SSI, talk to a Benefits Specialist.

When it’s a good option

SSI can be a huge help for you if you qualify. It’s very helpful for people with low income and low resources. Even people who have never worked can qualify for SSI.

Learn more about SSI in DB101's SSI article.

Watch this short video to learn more about SSI's basic rules.

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Workers’ Compensation

Workers’ Compensation is a type of insurance that supplies you with benefits if you become injured or disabled while you’re at work. All employers are required to supply you with this insurance.

What it offers

Workers’ Compensation pays for expenses related to an injury or disability that occurred while you were working. For example, if you are a truck driver and get in an accident that leads to you becoming disabled, Workers’ Compensation would pay for your medical expenses related to the accident and also pay you cash benefits for any time that you are unable to work due to your disability.

If your work-caused disability continues for many years and prevents you from working that entire time, you may continue to get Workers’ Compensation cash benefits that entire time. If you can no longer work in your old job due to your disability, Workers’ Compensation may pay for you to get training for different work.

How you get it

If you become injured at work, you need to notify your supervisor or Human Resources department as soon as possible. You should do so in writing (by letter or email), so that there is a record that you reported your work-related injury or disability. Your employer will then report your injury to the Workers’ Compensation insurance company.

It is extremely important to document everything, because the Workers’ Compensation program will not want to supply you with benefits if they think that your injury did not happen while you were working.

When it’s a good option

Workers’ Compensation is important if you have an injury or disability that happened at your work. If you have a disability that prevents you from working that was not caused by your work accident, you will not get Workers’ Compensation benefits.

Read more about Workers’ Compensation on the Missouri Department of Insurance website.

Your job may change after you become disabled. Fortunately, there are standard procedures that mean that in many cases you and your employer can work together to make sure that you can keep working. Here we’re going to talk about 3 important ways that may help your transition to having a disability go smoothly at your job:

• Disclosing your disability
• Requesting reasonable accommodations
• Taking time off through the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

Disclosing Your Disability

Disclosing your disability means telling your employer or potential employer that you have a disability. You have the right to choose whether or not to disclose your disability and disclosing a disability may or may not make sense for you, depending on your situation. Your employer or potential employer does not have the right to ask you about it.

What it offers

The main benefit of disclosing your disability is that it lets you request a reasonable accommodation during the hiring process (interviewing, employment exams, or application process) or after you are hired.

Another reason to disclose your disability is if you have an impairment that is visible to others. You are never required to discuss your disability, but if you address your disability upfront, even if you do not need a reasonable accommodation, you may be able to prevent stigma, discrimination, or misinformation related to your disability.

How you do it

If you choose to disclose your disability, you should tell your Human Resources manager or your supervisor. If you also request a reasonable accommodation, your employer is allowed to ask for documentation of your disability to understand it and how to accommodate it. However, the employer is not allowed to disclose your disability to anybody else, unless it directly impacts another employee’s job.

How much information and detail you give your employer about your disability is your decision. Many people want to limit any medical information they give to their employers to just the information that is necessary to request an accommodation.

When it’s a good option

You decide if you want to disclose your disability and you base that decision on your personal needs, preferences, and comfort level with your disability. When you apply for jobs, start a new job, become disabled, or notice that the nature of your disability changes, you should consider whether or not disclosing is right for you.

Read more about disclosing your disability in the DB101 article on Job Supports and Accommodations.

Reasonable Accommodations

A reasonable accommodation is any kind of change or adjustment to the hiring process, job functions, or work environment that makes it possible for a qualified jobseeker or employee with a disability to have equal access to employment and enjoy the same benefits of employment as their peers without disabilities.

What they offer

To have the right to an accommodation under the Americans with Disabilities Act, you must:

• Be a person with a disability as defined in the ADA
• Need the accommodation because of your disability
• Work for a private employer with 15 or more employees or a state or local government
  • Additional laws called the Missouri Human Rights Act and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 mean that almost all employers in Missouri have to supply reasonable accommodations, including the federal government and employers with as few as 6 employees.

Reasonable accommodations must be given to qualified employees regardless of whether they have part-time, full-time, temporary, permanent, or probationary status.

How you get one

You can request an accommodation while applying for a job, after getting a job offer, after acquiring a disability, or when the nature of your disability or job changes.

It is your responsibility to take the initiative to request an accommodation. If you do not request an accommodation and your job performance suffers, your employer has the right to fire you from your job or take disciplinary action.

To request an accommodation, you should first think about your individual needs and then identify reasonable accommodations that meet those needs. When you have an idea about what you want, request the accommodation from your supervisor or Human Resources manager. Your request can be in plain English and you don’t have to use any legal terms.

An employer does not have to give you the exact accommodation you request. If more than one would work, the employer may choose which accommodation to supply.

When they’re a good option

You should request a reasonable accommodation when there is a barrier that prevents you from performing your job or accessing other benefits of employment. Reasonable accommodations can be a key to success for you at your job.

Read more about reasonable accommodations in the DB101 article on Job Supports and Accommodations.

Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)

You may find that you can’t work for a while after you become disabled or that you want to work fewer hours. Both are possibilities that your employer can help you with. If you work for a private employer with 50 or more employees, or in the state, local, or federal government, your employer is actually required to let you take some time off for a disability thanks to the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA).

What it offers

The FMLA requires private employers with 50 or more employees and all state, local, and federal government employers to give employees up to 12 work weeks of unpaid leave a year for specific reasons. To take the leave, you must have recently had a child, have a serious health condition, or be taking care of a family member with a serious health condition.

In these situations, the leave must be “job-protected,” which means that after the leave, you must be allowed to return to your original job or be given another job that is similar. The FMLA also requires that these employers keep you on group health care benefits during your leave.

How you do it

To be eligible for FMLA benefits, you must:

• Work for an employer to whom the FMLA applies
• Have been employed by the employer for at least 12 months
• Have worked for at least 1,250 hours during the 12-month period before you begin your leave

It’s up to you how you take the 12 weeks off during the course of the year. You can choose to take all 12 weeks off at the same time or take off multiple shorter leaves. You can even take FMLA leave to work fewer hours per week or work just 4 days a week instead of 5.

If you want to take FMLA leave, let your employer know as soon as possible. You’ll need to give your employer enough information so your employer can find out if the FMLA applies to your leave request. Depending on the situation, such information may include that you have been hospitalized, that you are getting continuing care from a health care provider, or that you are pregnant.

When it’s a good option

The FMLA can be a great option for you if you need time to adapt to your new disability or need time for treatment. It’s also important to remember that if you need extra help from a family member, such as a parent or spouse, that person can take time off with the FMLA to help you.

Read more about the FMLA on the Department of Labor website.

In this article we’ve already discussed various health and cash benefits that can help you when you have a disability. We’ve also covered what you can do to make sure that you can keep working for the same employer you had before you became disabled. Here we are going to look at how you can prepare yourself for work if you didn’t have a job before you became disabled or if you are no longer able to do the job you used to do.

In this situation, there are two major programs that can help you:

• Vocational Rehabilitation
• Missouri Job Centers

Vocational Rehabilitation

Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) can supply you with a wide variety of counseling, training, job skills, and job placement services.

What it offers

With VR, you will get a counselor who can help you find work. If you have never had a job, your counselor will orient you to the possibilities that exist. If you had a job before but your disability means you can no longer do that job, your counselor will help you adapt to your new reality and find different work.

The exact services VR offers are carefully chosen to match your individual needs. You and your counselor will work together closely to set goals and then develop a plan to help you reach them.

VR does many things, including:

• Finding you the training or other services that you need to return to work
• Supporting you to enter a new line of work
• Helping you enter the workforce for the first time
• Doing vocational assessments
• Supplying you with ongoing job coaching
• Performing other services that can help you prepare for, get, or keep a job

How you get it

Eligibility for VR is based mostly on whether you have a physical or mental disability that makes it difficult to prepare for, get, or keep work. How VR defines a disability is different from how the Social Security Administration (SSA) defines a disability. So even if you don’t meet SSA’s definition of disability, you may qualify for VR services.

If you get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you are automatically eligible for VR services through the Ticket to Work (TTW) program. If you’re in the Ticket to Work program, you can also choose to get similar services from other Employment Networks.

If you are not on SSI or SSDI benefits, you can still apply to get VR services. However, VR sometimes does not have enough resources to supply services to every person who is eligible to get them. People who have the most severe disabilities will get services first and you may be placed on a waiting list.

To apply for services, call or visit a vocational rehabilitation counselor at your local Vocational Rehabilitation office. If you are blind, contact the Rehabilitation Services for the Blind agency, which offers similar services.

When it’s a good option

Vocational rehabilitation is a good option if you don’t have a job and want to get one or if you want to get additional training and education to get a job. It’s especially good if you are on SSI or SSDI benefits, because you will be guaranteed services without having to get on a waiting list.

Learn more about VR services and how to get started.

Missouri Job Centers

A Missouri Job Center can help you with your job search or career planning.

What they offer

Missouri Job Centers are places where you can get various things, including:

• Advice about local employers who are hiring
• The basics of how to do a job search
• Help with your resume
• Training on how to interview, network, and apply for jobs
• Instruction on how to use online jobs websites like the statewide jobs.mo.gov.
• Help finding out about jobs and career fairs

Missouri Job Centers also have assistive technology to help people with disabilities use their services and resources. You can also just stop by if you want to try out these technologies.

How you get their services

To get help, call 1-888-728-5627 (1-888-728-JOBS) or contact your local Missouri Job Center.

When they are a good option

Missouri Job Centers supply these services to all jobseekers, whether or not you have a disability. This means that if you don’t qualify for Vocational Rehabilitation or if VR puts you on a waiting list, you can still get a lot of good services that can help you get a job.

Read more about the services you can get at a Missouri Job Center.