Last revised Jan. 2019

Personal Assistance Services (PAS) 

FACT SHEET

On January 3, 2017, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) amended the regulations implementing Section 501 of the 

Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 501), the law that prohibits the federal government from discriminating in employment on the basis of 

disability and requires it to engage in affirmative action for people with disabilities. As part of the Federal Agencies’ obligation to engage in 

affirmative action, Federal Agencies are required by the new regulation to provide Personal Assistance Services (PAS) to employees who 

need them because of certain disabilities. 29 C.F.R. 1614.203(d)(5). PAS may be provided to employees who, because of targeted 

disabilities, require assistance in order to be at work or participate in work-related travel. PAS are to be provided during work hours and 

job-related travel, absent undue hardship.

What are Personal Assistance Services (PAS)?

Personal Assistance Services (PAS) are services that 

help individuals who, because of targeted disabilities, 

require assistance to perform basic activities of daily 

living. PAS differ from medical services and services 

that are typically performed by someone who often has 

the job title of "personal assistant." PAS are non-medical 

services such as helping an individual take off and put 

on a coat, eat, and use the restroom.

Do personal assistance services include doing part 

of the person's job?

No. Personal assistance services only include 

assistance with basic human functions, and are only 

required if they enable the employee to do his or her job 

up to normal standards.

The Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS)

processes PAS requests under its Reasonable 

Accommodation Directive, Directive 5707. FMCS

cannot take adverse actions based on need for PAS.

What is a Targeted Disability?

Targeted disability means a disability that is designated 

as a “targeted disability or serious health condition” on 

the Office of Personnel Management Standard Form 256.

Why do Federal Agencies need to provide PAS?

Some individuals with targeted disabilities cannot work 

unless PAS are provided to them in the workplace. The 

services will allow such individuals to enjoy the 

opportunity and independence offered by paid 

employment. Providing PAS also will reduce the amount 

of taxpayer funds spent on public disability benefits by 

allowing such individuals to receive paid jobs in the 

competitive workplace.

How does an individual request PAS?

An individual may request a PAS by informing his/her 

immediate supervisor, a supervisor or manager in 

his/her immediate chain of command, the Disability 

Manager or the FMCS EEO Director that they need 

assistance with daily life activities because of a targeted 

disability. For a PAS request in connection with the 

application process, the applicant could inform any

agency employee with whom the applicant has contact.

Agencies are only required to provide PAS to an 

individual if:

• the individual is an employee of the agency;

• the individual has a targeted disability;

• 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 have been provided;

• the individual is working, including on work-related 

travel; and,

• providing PAS will not impose undue hardship on the 

agency.

Choosing a PAS Provider:

Supervisors should coordinate with the Office of 

Human Resources and the Disability Program 

Manager to explore provider options. Funding for PAS 

will follow the same process as funding for Reasonable 

Accommodations.

Undue Hardship Determinations:

The process of determining whether providing personal 

assistance services is an undue hardship is the same 

process used to determine whether a reasonable 

accommodation poses an undue hardship.

For questions, contact:

Natalie C. Samuels

Disability Program Manager

(202) 606-5465

nsamuels@fmcs.gov

Additional Resources:

EEOC Personal Assistance Services Q & A

EEOC Section 501 of the Rehabilitation Act Q & A

This document will be made available in alternative 

format upon request.