New Hampshire Vocational Rehabilitation: Services, Eligibility, and How to Apply

What NHVR Actually Does

New Hampshire Vocational Rehabilitation sits within the Department of Education, not DHHS, which confuses families who assume all disability services run through the same agency. NHVR's job is straightforward: help people with disabilities prepare for, find, and keep competitive integrated employment. That means real jobs at real wages alongside non-disabled coworkers — not sheltered workshops or volunteer placements.

The agency serves anyone with a documented disability that creates a barrier to employment. There's no minimum age for referral, and eligibility extends through adulthood. For transition-aged youth, NHVR becomes relevant far earlier than most families realize.

Pre-Employment Transition Services Start at 14

NHVR offers Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS) beginning during the school year a student turns 14. These services don't require a full VR case opening — the school's transition coordinator can refer students directly.

Pre-ETS covers five activity areas:

• Job exploration counseling — career interest inventories, informational interviews, job-site visits
• Work-based learning experiences — internships, job shadows, and paid work trials arranged through the school
• Counseling on postsecondary education — evaluating whether community college, certificate programs, or trade schools fit the student's goals
• Workplace readiness training — soft skills, time management, workplace communication, and self-advocacy
• Self-advocacy instruction — understanding rights under the ADA, requesting accommodations, and explaining disability-related needs to employers

These services run parallel to the IEP, and the transition coordinator should document NHVR involvement in the IEP's transition plan. If your school hasn't mentioned Pre-ETS by the time your child turns 15, ask the transition coordinator to submit a referral.

Opening a Full VR Case

When a student turns 16 and the IEP adds active transition services, families should open a formal VR case with NHVR. The process starts with a referral — either from the school, a parent, or the individual themselves.

After referral, NHVR assigns a counselor who conducts a comprehensive assessment of the individual's vocational strengths, functional limitations, and support needs. This assessment draws on existing IEP evaluations, medical records, and any Pre-ETS documentation already on file.

If NHVR determines the individual is eligible (which requires a documented disability that creates a barrier to employment), the counselor and client develop an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE). The IPE spells out the employment goal, the services NHVR will fund, and the timeline.

NHVR can fund:

• Vocational assessments and situational evaluations
• Job coaching and supported employment
• Assistive technology evaluations and equipment
• Transportation to work or training
• Tuition for vocational training or community college programs
• Resume development and job placement assistance

NHVR-funded services are not universally free. The bureau assesses financial need and may require a participant contribution for some services; ask the counselor what applies to the IPE.

Coordinating VR with SSI and Medicaid

Here's where families need to pay close attention. NHVR services are designed to move a person toward employment, which means the individual will eventually earn income. That income interacts with SSI, Medicaid, and BDS waiver eligibility in specific ways.

A person receiving SSI can work and still keep benefits through several federal work incentives. Earned income is treated more favorably than unearned income — SSI disregards the first $65 of earned income plus half of everything above that. So someone earning $1,000 per month doesn't lose $1,000 in SSI. They lose roughly $468 after the disregards.

More critically, Section 1619(b) allows a person whose earnings disqualify them from SSI cash payments to keep their Medicaid coverage as long as they need it and their earnings stay below their state's threshold. In New Hampshire, the 2026 threshold is $50,485 annually for disabled beneficiaries, although SSA can calculate an individualized threshold in some cases.

For individuals on DD Waivers through the Bureau of Developmental Services, employment doesn't disqualify them from waiver services. The MEAD program (Medicaid for Employed Adults with Disabilities) specifically preserves full Medicaid eligibility — including waiver services — for working adults with disabilities earning up to 450% of the federal poverty level.

NHVR counselors should coordinate with the individual's BDS Service Coordinator and, if available, a Community Work Incentives Coordinator (CWIC) through Granite State Independent Living. Getting all three professionals aligned before the individual starts working prevents the kind of accidental benefit loss that derails employment outcomes.

Section 301: Keeping SSI During VR Participation

If a young adult's SSI stops after a failed age-18 redetermination, Section 301 can keep payments flowing. Under this provision, SSI benefits continue uninterrupted as long as the individual is actively participating in an approved vocational rehabilitation program that began before their disability cessation determination.

The critical requirement: the VR program must have been in place before the cessation notice. Families should open the NHVR case and have an active IPE well before the age-18 redetermination begins. Waiting until after a denial to start VR participation means Section 301 won't apply.

NHVR Offices and Contact

NHVR operates regional offices across the state. The main administrative office is in Concord, but counselors serve clients at satellite locations and through school-based visits. Referrals can be submitted online through the NHVR intake portal on the Department of Education website or by contacting the nearest regional office directly.

Processing times vary by region and caseload. Ask NHVR for the current eligibility and IPE timelines for your case.

When to Involve NHVR in Your Transition Plan

The earlier, the better — but there are specific milestones that should trigger action:

• Age 14: Request a Pre-ETS referral through the school transition coordinator
• Age 16: Open a formal VR case and begin IPE development
• Age 17: Ensure the IPE is active and documented before the age-18 SSI redetermination
• Age 18–22: NHVR works alongside the school's transition services, with NHVR taking over fully when FAPE ends at 22

If you're coordinating NHVR services alongside SSI, Medicaid, and BDS waiver applications, the New Hampshire SSI at 18 & Adult Disability Benefits Guide walks through the sequencing of all four systems with timeline trackers and agency contact worksheets.

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