New Jersey DVRS: Vocational Rehabilitation Services for Adults with Disabilities

The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services is one of the most underused resources in New Jersey's disability system. DVRS provides employment-focused services — job training, supported employment, assistive technology, and job placement — to eligible individuals. It operates separately from DDD and SSA, and many families don't know it exists until well past the point when they should have applied.

What DVRS Does

DVRS helps individuals with disabilities prepare for, find, and maintain employment. Services include:

• Vocational assessment and career counseling — identifying skills, interests, and realistic employment goals
• Job training and education — funding for vocational programs, certifications, or college coursework that leads to employment
• Supported employment — job coaching and on-the-job support for individuals who need ongoing assistance in the workplace
• Assistive technology — equipment, software, or devices that enable the individual to perform job functions
• Job placement services — direct assistance finding and applying for positions
• Transportation assistance — help with travel to and from work during the transition period

DVRS develops an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) with each client, setting specific employment goals and the services needed to reach them.

Who Is Eligible

To qualify for DVRS services, the individual must:

• Have a physical or mental impairment that constitutes a substantial impediment to employment
• Be able to benefit from vocational rehabilitation services in terms of an employment outcome
• Require DVRS services to prepare for, secure, retain, or regain employment

The eligibility standard is broader than many families expect. You don't need to be on SSI or have a DDD determination — DVRS has its own disability evaluation process. Individuals with learning disabilities, mental health conditions, physical disabilities, and intellectual/developmental disabilities all qualify if the impairment affects their ability to work.

Pre-Employment Transition Services (Pre-ETS)

For students ages 14–21 who have a disability and are still in school, DVRS offers Pre-Employment Transition Services. Pre-ETS are available regardless of whether the student has applied for full DVRS services and include:

• Job exploration counseling — learning about different career paths
• Work-based learning experiences — internships, job shadowing, and supported work trials
• Counseling on post-secondary education — understanding college, trade school, and certification options
• Workplace readiness training — soft skills, resume building, and interview preparation
• Self-advocacy instruction — learning to communicate needs and request accommodations in the workplace

Pre-ETS referrals typically come through the school's transition coordinator and should be requested as early as age 14 when transition planning enters the IEP. These services continue through age 21 for students enrolled in 18–21 transition programs.

When to Apply

The ideal timing depends on the individual's situation:

Students still in school (ages 16–21): Apply at least two years before the expected exit date. This gives DVRS time to complete eligibility determination, develop the IPE, and begin services while the student still has school-based supports as a backup.

Adults post-school: Apply as soon as employment is a goal. There is no age cap for DVRS services; the eligibility determination must be completed within 60 days unless an extension is agreed upon.

Coordination with DDD: If the individual is also receiving DDD services, DVRS and DDD can work together. DDD's Supports Program funds day habilitation and supported employment through DDD-approved providers, while DVRS can fund additional job training, technology, and placement services. The programs complement each other — they're not either/or.

The Application Process

1. Contact your local DVRS office. Find yours at nj.gov/labor/career-services/special-services/vocational-rehabilitation-services.
2. Complete the application. DVRS will schedule an initial interview to discuss your disability, work history, and employment goals.
3. Eligibility determination. DVRS reviews medical documentation and may request additional evaluations. The determination must be completed within 60 days unless an extension is agreed upon.
4. IPE development. Once eligible, you and your DVRS counselor jointly develop the Individualized Plan for Employment, which outlines your employment goal and the specific services DVRS will provide.
5. Service delivery. Services begin according to the IPE timeline.

How DVRS Interacts with SSI

Working while receiving SSI raises legitimate concerns about benefit reductions. DVRS counselors understand the interaction between earned income and SSI, and they should be coordinating with a Work Incentives Planning & Assistance (WIPA) counselor to ensure the individual understands:

• The Student Earned Income Exclusion (up to $2,410/month in 2026 for students under 22)
• Substantial Gainful Activity thresholds ($1,690/month for non-blind individuals in 2026)
• How ABLE accounts can shelter earned income from the SSI resource limit
• Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) — a program that lets SSI recipients set aside income toward an employment goal without reducing their SSI payment

DVRS services themselves do not count as income and do not affect SSI eligibility.

Getting the Most from DVRS

DVRS is a federally funded, state-administered program that exists specifically to help people with disabilities work. It's separate from the benefits system, separate from DDD, and has its own budget and counselors. Our New Jersey SSI at 18 & Adult Disability Benefits Guide maps the DVRS application into the full transition timeline alongside SSI, Medicaid, and DDD steps, so nothing falls through the cracks during the school-to-adult handoff.

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