2. Vocational Rehabilitation
3. Project SEARCH
4. PS Intern Maintenance Payment Process

Project SEARCH (PS) Intern Maintenance Payment Process

PS Intern Maintenance Payment Reminders:

• The Project SEARCH Intern Maintenance Payment is meant to assist interns with maintenance and other personal costs while participating in the rotation portion of Project SEARCH. This payment is not meant to cover items (typically authorized separately) like transportation and uniforms needed for the Project SEARCH program. When necessary, DVR should continue to assist with paying for Project SEARCH transportation and uniform costs in addition to the Project SEARCH Intern Maintenance payment.
• The Project SEARCH Intern Maintenance Payment is not an incentive payment, and it is not tied to performance. To be eligible for the payment, the intern will need to sign the monthly Project SEARCH Skills Training progress report each month during the rotation portion of the program. This signed report will be used to verify the monthly payment.
• This payment will be $1500 in total, starting in October and lasting until May. The intern will receive $187.50/month over the 30-weeks of rotations/work-based learning during the Project SEARCH program. The payment will be received after each month during intern rotations. Some sites may operate on a different schedule. The payment coincides with the rotation portion of the program. Please consult with the DVR Statewide Project SEARCH Coordinator if this occurs.
• If an intern finds a job through the program and has not graduated from the program, the PS Intern Maintenance payment can continue. Please consult with the DVR Statewide Project SEARCH Coordinator if this occurs.
• If an intern must exit the program, the PS Intern Maintenance payment will end. The intern will be compensated for the time spent in the program. Amount will be pro-rated. Please consult with DVR Statewide Project SEARCH Coordinator if this occurs.

PS Intern Maintenance Payment Process:

IPE Reminder

There should be a service entered on the IPE that shows that the consumer is involved in the Project SEARCH program receiving this maintenance payment.

• Example: A secondary service described as Project SEARCH Intern Maintenance Payment to support involvement in PS program.

Authorization for Services Case Note Entry

VRC/VRS should enter an Authorization for Services case note prior to the intern's first rotation, no later than Oct 1st.

• Example: Authorizing $1500.00 for 8 months (paid in monthly increments of $187.50) for the Project SEARCH Intern Maintenance Payment. Payment is to assist interns with maintenance and personal costs while participating in the rotation portion of Project SEARCH. 10/1/2023 – 5/31/2024. There are no comparable benefits.
  Codes to use: 027/5700.

Direct Payment Entry

VRC/VRS should also then enter all Direct Payments (DPs) under this authorization at the time the authorization is completed, to avoid the need for any exceptions in the future. This is 8 Direct Payments, 8 individual monthly direct payments per authorization.

* Depending on the PS site there could be a variation of the months that the rotations occur within.

• Example:
  Project SEARCH Maintenance Payment for month of October 2023.
  Amount: $187.50

After the DP is saved, you do NOT need to print or use the ERL. The monthly Project SEARCH Skills Training reports will now include a consumer signature that we will use for verification of participation during the month and for receiving on the payment.

Direct Payment Verification and Receiving

Check for the corresponding month's Project SEARCH Skills Training report signed by the consumer.Follow regular procedure to process the Direct Payment:

1. Under the Payment/Verification Info tab, Click "Service/Item Received"
2. In the Verification Information Area, enter explanation such as: "Attached PS report with consumer signature verifies participation and October Project SEARCH Intern Maintenance payment should be received."
3. Add Actual Service Dates (i.e., 10/1/23 – 10/31/23)
4. Under Related Attachments, go to Available Attachments dropdown, and click on the correct monthly Project SEARCH Skills Training report.
5. Go back up to tabs and click on "Status Info/Routing" tab. Under Change Status, select Route to CCP for Payment Approval.
6. Click Save at the bottom of the screen.