The Employment Personal Assistance Services (EPAS) is a critical Medicaid program in Utah designed to offer essential support to individuals with disabilities who are actively employed. This service plays a significant role in healthcare, fostering inclusivity and empowering people with physical, mental, cognitive, and developmental disabilities to work in integrated and competitive settings. By providing personal assistance for tasks directly linked to employment, EPAS enhances the opportunities for disabled individuals to participate in the workforce actively.
EPAS, also known as Employment Personal Assistance Services, aims to support individuals with a medical condition who are employed and require personal assistance to maintain their competitive employment status. The program recognizes the potential and abilities of people with physical, mental, cognitive, and developmental disabilities to participate in the workforce actively.
The primary purpose of EPAS is to provide personal assistance services that are directly related to employment tasks, ensuring that individuals with disabilities can work in integrated and competitive settings. By doing so, EPAS promotes inclusivity, independence, and self-sufficiency among its target population.
The program's eligibility criteria are designed to cater to a diverse range of disabilities and prioritize individuals determined to work and contribute to the workforce. The specific goals and objectives of EPAS are to break down barriers faced by disabled employees, enhance job retention, foster skill development, and facilitate career advancement opportunities. Through personal assistance, EPAS seeks to empower disabled individuals to lead fulfilling and productive lives while contributing positively to the workforce.
To qualify for EPAS services, individuals must meet specific eligibility criteria, ensuring that the program reaches those who genuinely need personal assistance to maintain their competitive employment status.
By adhering to these eligibility requirements, EPAS ensures that the proper support is directed toward employed care recipients who genuinely require personal assistance to thrive in the workforce and lead independent, productive lives.
The Employment Personal Assistance Services (EPAS) program offers a range of essential services and supports designed to assist individuals with disabilities in maintaining competitive employment. EPAS personal assistants provide assistance with activities of daily living (ADLs) and Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADLs) directly related to employment retention. The services are exclusively focused on supporting the EPAS participant and are unavailable for other household members.
Examples of services provided by a personal assistant may include:
Certain services may not be provided by a personal assistant under EPAS. These include job coaching, job training, medical transportation, and any other tasks not authorized on the EPAS participant's care plan. Additionally, EPAS may not be used for assistance related to completing job tasks, reasonable accommodations required by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), or tasks that an employer is obligated to provide under the ADA.
EPAS focuses on providing personalized assistance that enables employed individuals with disabilities to maintain their positions and excel in their chosen fields.
EPAS operates as a Self-Directed Services (SAS) program, which allows flexibility in selecting and hiring personal assistants. While the program compensates personal assistants for their services, it is essential to note that EPAS does not directly pay unpaid family caregivers, such as parents or legal guardians caring for a minor child.
If the EPAS participant is at least 18, parents can be considered personal assistants and may receive compensation for their support. Additionally, EPAS allows a broad range of individuals to serve as personal assistants, including family members, friends, neighbors, co-workers, or individuals hired through advertisements. It emphasizes the importance of personal choice in selecting individuals who can provide assistance to maintain employment successfully.
Through the self-directed option, EPAS empowers individuals to hire and compensate personal assistants, fostering a more personalized and supportive approach to maintaining employment while recognizing primary caregivers' valuable contributions to the overall support system for people with disabilities.
Caregivers are pivotal in supporting individuals with disabilities to remain employed and lead fulfilling lives. EPAS, with its self-directed services, acknowledges the significance of these unsung heroes. If you are a caregiving family caring for a disabled individual while they work, take action now. Fill out this form to determine your eligibility for caregiver compensation.
