Skip to main content


U.S. flag
      An official website of the United States government
              Here’s how you know
        Here’s how you knowDot gov**Official websites use .gov**
                 A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
                  HTTPS**Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                 A **lock** (A locked padlock) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
  Menu Close
          Enter the terms you wish to search for.
    Search
        








  
  
    

  
      

                                      About HHS
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Programs & Services
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Grants & Contracts
    
                        
                              
      
      
      Laws & Regulations Breadcrumb
    Home
                              About
                              Agencies
                              ASA
                              Office of Equal Employment Opportunity, Diversity & Inclusion
                              Personal Assistant Services (PAS) Accommodation
 Navigate to:
  Assistant Secretary for Administration (ASA)
    
                                    
                                            
            
      
      
      
      HHS COVID-19 Workplace Safety Plan
    
                                    
                              
            
      
      
      
      About ASA
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      EEO, Diversity & Inclusion
                                            
            
            About EEO
                          
            
            No Fear
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Programs & Offices
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Contact Reasonable Accommodation Coordinators
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Personal Assistant Services
    
                                                  
                              
            
      
      
      
      EEO Policy Statement
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Office of Organizational Management (OOM)
                                            
            
            About OOM
    
                                                  
                              
            
      
      
      
      Consulting Services
    
                                                  
                              
            
      
      
      
      Fair Act Inventory
    
                                                  
                              
            
      
      
      
      Contact Us
    
                                                  
                                                    
            
      
      
      
      Office of Human Resources (OHR)
                                            
            
            About OHR
                          
            
            OHR Divisions
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Mission and Vision
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Leadership
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Contact Us
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Begin Your Career at HHS
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      New Employee Orientation
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      HR Policy Library
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO)
                                            
            
            About OCIO
                          
            
            What We Do
    
                                                  
                              
            
      
      
      
      Our Mission
    
                                                  
                              
            
      
      
      
      Plans & Reports
    
                                                  
                              
            
      
      
      
      Contact Us
    
                                                                
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Artificial Intelligence (AI)
                          
            
            About Us
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      AI Strategy and Goals
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      AI Statutes and Authorities
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      AI Use Cases
    
                                                                
                                                    
            
      
      
      
      Cybersecurity
                          
            
            HC3 Home Page
    
                                                  
                              
            
      
      
      
      HC3 About Us
    
                                                  
                              
            
      
      
      
      HC3 FAQ
    
                                                  
                              
            
      
      
      
      HC3 Products
    
                                                  
                              
            
      
      
      
      HC3 Victim Notification
    
                                                  
                              
            
      
      
      
      HC3 Contact Us
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      HHS IT Management Jobs
    
                                                  
                                                    
            
      
      
      
      Program Support Center (PSC)
                                            
            
            Accounting
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Board for Correction
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Building Operations
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Debt Collection
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Federal Real Property Assistance Program (FRPAP)
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      FedResponse Contact Center
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Financial Reporting Services
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Grants Management
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Indirect Cost Negotiations
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Intake, Suitability, and Badging
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Mail and Publishing
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Physical Security, Emergency Management, and Safety
    
                                                  
                                            
            
      
      
      
      Real Property Policy and Strategy
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Space Design and Construction
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Supply Chain Management
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Transportation Services
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      PSC Federal Occupational Health (FOH)
                                            
            
            Office of the Director
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Behavioral Health Services
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Clinical Health Services
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Environmental Health and Safety Services
    
                                                  
                                                                  
            
      
      
      
      Wellness and Health Promotion ServicesText resize icon

                    




Personal Assistant Services (PAS) Accommodation








  
  
    

  
      



Agency PAS Requirement, Employee Qualifications, and Service Delivery

Effective January 3, 2018, amendment to regulations implementing Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, require the provision of Personal Assistant Services or PAS to certain employees with targeted disabilities who request and require non-medical and non-work task personal assistance, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the agency. HHS anti-discrimination policies apply to this new affirmative action requirement, and no employee should be discriminated against based on need for PAS.

The following information defines PAS and qualifying factors to receive PAS support; how to request PAS, and the Agency’s PAS support delivery options:

What are Personal Assistance Services (PAS)?

Personal Assistance Services are defined as "assistance with performing activities of daily living that an individual would typically perform if he or she did not have a disability, and that is not otherwise required as a reasonable accommodation; examples include, assistance with removing and putting on clothing, eating, using the restroom, and pushing a wheelchair or assistance with getting into or out of a vehicle at the worksite.” These examples are non-exhaustive, and serve to identify self-care type activities for which a PAS may be employed.

PAS do not include, performing medical procedures (e.g., administering shots) or medical monitoring (e.g., monitoring blood pressure).
	PAS do not help individuals with disabilities perform their specific job functions, such as reviewing documents or answering calls; and differ from services that assist an individual to perform job-related tasks, such as sign language interpreters. Employees or applicants needing medically based reasonable accommodations (RA) to assist them in the workplace, or to apply for employment, may request reasonable accommodation through the Agency’s RA procedures.Qualifying factors to receive PAS

The individual is an employee of the agency;
	The individual has a targeted disability; a list of targeted disabilities is located on OPM form 256.
	The individual requires the services because of his or her targeted disability;
	The individual will be able to perform the essential functions of the job, without posing a direct threat to safety once PAS and any required reasonable accommodations are provided; and
	Providing PAS will not impose undue hardship on the agency.Making a Request for PAS

As with reasonable accommodation, an employee may request PAS by informing a supervisor, the Reasonable Accommodations program office, or other appropriate management official that he or she needs assistance with daily life activities because of a medical condition. The individual does not need to mention Section 501 or use specific terms such as "PAS", "affirmative action", or “Reasonable Accommodation” to trigger the agency's obligation to consider the request. Typically, the targeted disability and need for PAS will be obvious, such as with missing limbs or paralysis, and medical support may not be required. Where there is a requirement to clarify qualification of need and nature of PAS assistance, the reasonable accommodation (RA) interactive process should be engaged and a request for medically supporting information may be requested. For more information on the HHS RA procedures, contact the RA program office at EEOSC.Accommodations@hhs.gov, or at (202) 619-1564.

HHS PAS Delivery Options

The agency may use an existing employee who already performs similar service as part of his or her regular job or hire federal employees, independent contractors, or a combination of employees and contractors to perform personal assistance services.
	If hiring PAS, and it is deemed reasonable, the agency may give an employee’s PAS preference primary consideration to the extent permitted by law, provided PAS qualifications are met; and
	An employee who already uses a PAS provider in their personal non-work environment may request permission to bring his or her own PAS provider to work as a reasonable accommodation, if the employee does not request that the agency assume the cost of providing the services.For more information on PAS or to make a request for reasonable accommodation, contact the Agency’s RA program office at EEOSC.Accommodations@hhs.gov, or at (202) 619-1564.

                    
  


Content created by Assistant Secretary for Administration (ASA) Content last reviewed February 23, 2021 Back to top
    Contact HHS
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Careers
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      HHS FAQs
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Nondiscrimination NoticeHHS Archive
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Accessibility Statement
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Privacy Policy
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Viewers & PlayersBudget/Performance
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Inspector General
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Web Site Disclaimers
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      EEO/No Fear ActFOIA
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      The White House
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      USA.gov
    
                        
                                            
      
      
      Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
        Sign Up for Email Updates

Receive the latest updates from the Secretary, Blogs, and News Releases.

Sign Up
  HHS Headquarters
          200 Independence Avenue, S.W.
                  Washington, D.C. 20201
                  Toll Free Call Center: 1-877-696-6775​