1. Who is the employer?
   You, as the program participant, or your conservator, are the employer.
   Although Allied will be doing the payroll for you and cutting the checks to the employees, you, or your conservator, are the employer for all purposes under applicable laws.
    
2. Who determines who can be on this waiver program?
   The State agency of the State in which you reside determines if you are eligible. That could be the Connecticut Departments of Social Services or Developmental Disabilities, or the Alabama Department of Senior Services.
    
3. How do I get started?
   In Connecticut, Allied Community Resources will contact you to set up an employer training visit. At this visit all the details are explained to you by trained staff. In Alabama, the WARC Counselor helps you with enrollment during visits to your home.
    
4. How do I find people to work for me in my home?
   Allied Community Resources maintains a “Provider Directory” of individuals who have completed applications and met the minimum requirements for providing services for the ABI and PCA Medicaid Waiver Program and/or the Elder PCA Pilot Program. This Directory is available to participants of those programs by simply calling Allied and requesting a copy.
   
   You can also advertise in your local paper, network with friends and families, or use an on-line resource such as RewardingWork.org.
    
5. Who decides whether the employee is competent, reliable and trustworthy?
   You, as the employer, need to make the final determination regarding applicants.
   Allied will arrange for a required screening which includes a verification of citizenship, social security verification and a criminal background check. With that information, and an interview, you must decide whether you want this individual to work for you. Allied Community Resources cannot recommend any particular individual and has no information about these individuals other than their name and contact information and the fact that they are on the Directory and have expressed a desire to do this work.. Allied cannot be responsible if the employee turns out to be unsatisfactory.
    
6. How many hours can my employees work for me?
   The number of hours your employees may work is based on your approved plan. The plan is developed for you by the State Department or Agency administering the program you are participating in. Your Social Worker can tell you exactly how many hours are allowed by your individual plan. However, in Connecticut, any employee working more than 25.75 hours for you in any given week must be insured by a Workers Compensation policy you will be required to maintain at your expense.
    
7. When can my employee begin working for me?
   Allied must issue you a “start date” before your employee may begin working for you in your home. This allows Allied time to arrange for the required screening before any employee works for you. The start date will be issued to you after the screening process is completed. The employee can then begin on the start date.
    
8. Does having a positive criminal background check prevent a potential employee from working for me?
   It depends on your program and the offense. Allied will notify you of any and all guilty findings discovered when they conduct a criminal background check. There are some offenses which automatically preclude you from hiring the employee – examples of this are assault and battery, arson, or theft. There are some offenses in some waiver programs that you may have the ability to “waive”. Some examples are: criminal mischief and drunk and disorderly.
   
   However, you should always be aware that the criminal background check may not reveal all the criminal background information on a particular individual such as information from other states and foreign countries, or information under an alias (fictitious name) or stolen identity adopted by an individual. Allied cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any background check.

EMPLOYEE AND PROVIDER QUESTIONS

1. Will Allied get me a job?
   Allied is not an employment agency. We do not place Personal Care Assistants and other service providers in positions, conduct job interviews, endorse, provide references for or recommend Personal Care Assistants to anyone.
    
2. What can I do about problems with my Employer?
   You should set aside time to meet and discuss this with your employer. Communication is the key to any working relationship.
    
3. Why can I work only 25.75 hours?
   Under the Waiver programs, hours are limited by the employer’s plan and most plans do not allow individual providers to work more than 25.75 hours per week.
    
4. How do I get more hours?
   You may speak with your employer to see if there are any more hours available or you may look for additional hours by working for another Employer. Allied’s Directory is one way to allow other employers to know you are available and seeking additional hours.
    
5. How can I find other employers?
   You may list your name and contact information in Allied’s Provider Directory.
    
6. Can I work as a private provider and through an agency?
   You may work as a private provider and through an agency only if it is not a conflict of interest with the agency. We recommend you speak with the Agency through which you work to be certain this is not the case.
    
7. Do I get paid for holidays or sick time?
   Not through the programs. Household employees do not receive wages for Holidays or sick time.
    
8. When is my money coming?
   Under customary circumstances, if you have direct deposit, funds will be in your account by 5:00 pm on Friday of the pay week, as long as timesheets have been received on time and it is not a holiday week. If you do not choose direct deposit, we will send your paycheck directly to your Employer’s home. Paychecks are mailed on Thursdays.
    
9. Why does my check have to go to my Employer instead of me?
   As your employer; they are responsible for the distribution of their employees’ paychecks.
    
10. How long does it take for my direct deposit to be in effect?
    Direct deposit takes 2 to 4 weeks to be established. Direct deposit funds are deposited by the Friday of your pay cycle. Actual availability may depend on your bank or credit union.
     
11. Why can’t I work when my Employer is in the hospital?
    Medicaid does not allow for payment of Homecare and Hospitalization simultaneously.