Disability services through the state?

[shaylyn]

Anyone know if there is an income limit? If you make too much, will you not qualify?

This is the site I'm looking at: http://www.oregon.gov/DHS/dd/children/overview.shtml
but I can't find any info on income.

Anyone get help through the state? We are in a situation where our son, whom we adopted through foster care, is getting more and more out of control, and he is only 8 (with the mind of a 4yo).

I'm so afraid for his future and ours. I feel terrible for writing this, but Dh and I need help!

 

[cparsons1963]

I haven't been a member long enough to post a link yet - but go to SS.gov and find the SSI page for children - there is lots of info about applying for a disabled child.

Yes, to answer your question, your family/household income is part of the application. It isn't until your "child" reaches 18 that he or she can have an application done for them based solely on their income and resources. My DD has been disabled since birth and was only eligible for the SSI benefits while she was in the hospital as a newborn (since she had never been part of our household). After that, we had too much income to qualify.

Hope this helps - don't get the disability benefits that an injured or ill adult receives/qualifies for confused with a child's benefits, either. Those are Social Security Disability benefits and are based on how much a person has worked and contributed to the SS system.

 

[shaylyn]

Thanks for the info! We are not really looking for money, but we need help from some professionals who can help guide us and him. He has seen a psychiatrist. She prescribed ADHD meds and sent us on our way.

DS is getting more aggressive towards us and his sibilings. His behaviors are affecting the entire family and it's straining our 19 year marriage. We are getting ready to take a 2 week trip and I'm dreading dealing with his behaviors

Good to know that he will likely be able to get SSI when he turns 18, I had never thought of that! We are hopeful that he will be able to live in an assisted living facility when he gets old enough, but worried that we would need to drain our entire retirement to pay for it.

 

[cparsons1963]

Thanks for the info! We are not really looking for money, but we need help from some professionals who can help guide us and him. He has seen a psychiatrist. She prescribed ADHD meds and sent us on our way.

DS is getting more aggressive towards us and his sibilings. His behaviors are affecting the entire family and it's straining our 19 year marriage. We are getting ready to take a 2 week trip and I'm dreading dealing with his behaviors

Good to know that he will likely be able to get SSI when he turns 18, I had never thought of that! We are hopeful that he will be able to live in an assisted living facility when he gets old enough, but worried that we would need to drain our entire retirement to pay for it.

Oh sorry, I misunderstood what you were looking for (services vs. $$) although $$ can help with additional services your insurance can't or wont' pay for sometimes. As for additional resources, have you searched for services provided through local universities that are affiliated with medical schools? We have several here that provide evaluations for young children. Also, I was looking online and saw something called "Children's Intensive Services" in Washington County in Oregon. Not sure how far this is from you. Looks promising, you might want to google that - I am still unable to send links in my posts. Hope this helps.....

 

[LoveMickeyWaffles]

We receive help through the state and have since my son was about a year old. Up until he was 3 they provided in home therapy and once he was 3, he started receiving his services through our school district. He is 10 now (non verbal and mentally 5) and still receives PT, OT, Speech, Music Therapy, Auditory training and a behaviorist - weekly -at school.

We also receive Respite Care through a state organization called Disability Support Systems. They offfer free respite care 1 weekend a month and a particular location and will pay for respite in your home. I don't recall this being based on income, but we've been receiving it for sometime, I may have forgotten that it was but don't think so.
Check out www.oregon.gov/DHS/respite Often they may be able to point you in the direction of other resources that may be available to help you.

Does your son have an IEP in place at school? You might ask his teacher what additional services are available at school.

Hope this helps a bit!
Michelle

 

[TeddiBarra]

Each state varies ALOT in the services it has. CA has lots of different programs, OR has fewer.

I 2nd looking into the respite care. In my previous life, I did (in home) respite care for a few different families - and it is a tremendous help. There would be an application process that generally ends up giving you how many hours per week of respite care you could get.

A respite care provider isn't a nurse- so they don't do medical things like a nurse would, but can help with ADL's (activities of daily living) like bathing. One of the things I frequently did was "out of the house" trips- that gave the family time to be at home and have a break while I ran an errand or did a little "field trip" w/the affected child. OR sometimes it was vice versa- where they got to go do something and I would be at home with their child. Sometimes we were all at home, but it gave mom/dad a break as I was in care of their child.

Some respite programs are like what the PP mentioned- where you would TAKE your child to them for a night or two.

 

[my3apsons]

Here is NY the income level is not considered for services under the HCBS waiver. Check to see if your state has a home and community based wavier service.

The waiver covers in home services here in NY, as well as Medicaid service coordinators. If you qualify under the waiver, you can qualify for medicaid for the child. It does not work this way everywhere.

In home services here are

Respite
Community habilitation


There are some services that one does not need the waiver to access but it's based off eligibility. If your child would qualify for services but you are not seeking in home services, one can access services that aren't waiver based.

It's really complicated.