The screening guidelines are divided into three categories and should be applied in the following order to applicants for continued SSDI benefits and SSI disability/blindness payments:

• •

  Screen-Out Criteria -- Designed to identify certain cases which clearly are not suitable for VR services;

• •

  Screen-In (Referral) Criteria -- Designed to identify certain cases that clearly warrant consideration for VR services;

• •

  Applicant Profile -- Designed to provide basic factors which, in the light of possible VR services, should be considered in deciding whether to refer a particular case that does not meet the screen-out or screen-in criteria.

Any disability/blindness applicant, other than one with a visual impairment, who meets any of the following criteria should not be referred. Follow guidelines in DI 28087.045 for those cases.

1. 1. 

   Illness in terminal stage--irreversible or irremediable; or

2. 2. 

   Severe or rapidly progressive physical or mental impairment not responding to treatment so that training or employment would be precluded; or

3. 3. 

   No demonstrated mental or physical impairment (for not severe impairment, see Screen-In); or

4. 4. 

   Acute medical or post-surgical condition which is expected to improve so that return to usual work may be anticipated; or

5. 5. 

   Organ or system impairment so severe that when considering non-medical factors, potential to do sustained work is doubtful; or

6. 6. 

   The presence of a significant impairment and either a sparse work record or a record of performing arduous unskilled labor for 35 years or more and having no more than a marginal education and no transferable skills; or

7. 7. 

   Applicant under age 15 unless the individual circumstances indicate a special readiness for beginning VR services.

If screen-out criteria are not met, proceed to DI 28087.020C.

See DI 28087.010B.2. for basis of referral of title XVI child applicants.

The applicant age 15 or over who meets any of the following screen-in criteria should be referred to a State VR agency (see DI 28087.030).

1. 1. 

   All applicants, except those who are terminally ill, whose primary impairment is a limited central visual acuity of 20/70 or less in the better eye with best correction, or an equivalent loss of either field of vision or visual efficiency, or visual problem so severe as to limit ability to engage in vocational or other daily activity; and all applicants whose impairment meets, or may lead to meeting, the definition of statutory blindness as defined in section 216(i)(1)(B) or 1614(a)(2) of the Social Security Act; or

2. 2. 

   File reflects applicant's desire to work or working despite impairment and obviously underemployed; or

3. 3. 

   Impairment can be corrected or substantially reduced with the aid of physical restoration or other medical treatment; or

4. 4. 

   File contains definitive evidence that applicant can benefit from vocational rehabilitation services (e.g., statement from physician or consultant); or

5. 5. 

   File indicates an SSI applicant has a plan for achieving self-support.

Proceed to DI 28087.020D. if screen-in criteria are not met.