An individual is considered to have submitted an application when the individual, or as appropriate, the individual's parent, family member, guardian, advocate or authorized representative, has signed an agency application form or has otherwise submitted a signed, written request for services, or has otherwise requested services and has provided information necessary to initiate an assessment for determining eligibility and priority of services, and the individual is available to complete the assessment process.

At the time of application, an individual should have a thorough understanding of what services and outcomes he/she might anticipate. An individual should also understand the choices he/she will need to make as well as his/her rights and responsibilities. He/she must be made fully aware of the availability of the Client Assistance Program. The individual or, as appropriate, the individual's designee, should sign the application. If the individual or his/her representative does not wish to sign the application, this should be documented on the application form and if a reason is given, this too should be documented. Services may be provided in spite of this refusal to sign. Once the application process has been completed, funds may be authorized to cover expenses related to assessing the individual's eligibility for services.

During this process and throughout the vocational rehabilitation process, thorough demographic information, including information about secondary disabilities, must be obtained to ensure appropriate reporting of data in federal reports.