I am in a great program that gives people with disabilities and chronic illnesses help in their home with shopping, cleaning, cooking, doctor's appointments, eating, dressing, bathing, etc.
This program has been really life-saving for me. I always want to share this info with other people who are disabled, since it has made such a difference in my life and I know most people do not know it exists.
I am in the U.S. I don't know how this works in other countries. I just looked it up and see a similar program seems to exist in Canada, England, and the Netherlands. I also read a post by someone in a similar program in Australia. The article I am looking at says in Germany and Austria they just give you cash no-strings attached! This article is a few years old, though. I don't know where else this exists. I would be interested to hear from anyone in this program in other countries.
Here is what I know about the US program. Please feel free to ask questions. I am not an expert, but happy to share what I know. Please let me know if anyone has any more information or suggestions to improve this post.
If you are disabled and unable to care for yourself, this program will pay for someone to come help you in your home.
WHO CAN I HIRE TO BE MY CAREGIVER: Medicaid will allow you to select and hire the person of your choice -- you can hire anyone you want.
SOMEONE IS ALREADY HELPING ME: If someone is already helping care for you, then Medicaid will allow you to pay that person through this program. It can be someone you are living with, or someone who lives elsewhere.
CAN I HIRE A FAMILY MEMBER: Yes. Medicaid will allow you to hire your sister, brother, daughter, son or other family member. If you are an adult, Medicaid will allow you to pay your mother or father who is serving as your caretaker. In most states, you cannot hire your spouse. In California there is a special program that allows you to hire your spouse. I don't know if this exists in other states.
WHO PAYS THE SALARY: Medicaid does. The amount of hours vary. In many states it is 25-30 hours per week, but in some states it starts out at 5 hours per week.
WHAT KIND OF HELP CAN I GET: The program is designed for people who need help with personal care (bathing, eating, dressing, bathroom, mobility) but once you are in the program you can also get help with many other things (shopping, cleaning, cooking, errands, medication reminders, transportation, doctor's appointments, etc.)
I DON'T NEED HELP WITH PERSONAL CARE. CAN I GET OTHER KINDS OF HELP: Yes. There may be other programs you can apply for (but they may not be as wonderful as this program). See the bottom of this page.
DO I NEED TO BE ON MEDICAID: No... or maybe. If you have too much money to get on medicaid, in some states you may still be able to get in this program. See below.
DO I NEED TO BE ON SSI OR SSDI. No. You can get into this program any time. You can get into it while you are waiting for your decision on your disability case. If you are applying for disability, then the assessment paperwork from this program may be able to help your chances of being approved (but only if you collect the assessment paperwork and submit it to social security yourself -- if you don't do it yourself, social security will never see it).
IS IT HARD TO APPLY FOR: No! If you have applied in the past for disability, you are going to love applying for this program! It is approximately a thousand times easier, and the people who run the program are very supportive, in my experience.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I QUALIFY: The rules are different in every state. Medicaid will ask you and your doctor how much assistance you need with personal care. If you need assistance in all areas you will usually be eligible. If you need assistance in only some areas, you may or may not be eligible, depending on the state.
HOW DO I EXPLAIN MY LIMITATIONS: The medicaid representatives I have spoken to have all recommended to try to think of what kind of help you need on your worst days when your symptoms are really bad.
WHAT IF I ONLY NEED SOME HELP WITH PERSONAL CARE: In some states, Medicaid will allow you to qualify for this program even if you need only partial assistance in each area. It is very important to try to think of and explain any kind of assistance you need in each area, even if you are able to do some things on your own. For example, if you are able to dress yourself most of the way, but you are unable to bend down and put on shoes or pants, this may qualify as needing assistance with dressing. Or if you are able to brush your teeth some days, but on other days you need assistance to do this, this may qualify as needing assistance with bathing. Or if you are able to get to the bathroom most of the time, but sometimes need a bedpan or pee jar, this may qualify as needing assistance with bathroom care. Or if you are able to walk on your own, but need assistance to stand up out of bed, this may qualify as needing assistance with mobility. Or if you can sometimes eat on your own, but other times have difficulty holding glasses or silverware, this may qualify as needing assistance with eating.
WHAT IS THE PROGRAM: The program is called a medicaid waiver for care for people who are disabled or elderly, but it goes by different names in different states. You do not need to be a senior, you can be any age. This program is designed as a nursing home diversion. It is designed to keep people out of nursing homes and allow them to stay in their own homes.
FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS: The rules are different in every state. In some states the requirements are the same as Medicaid, in some states you can have more money and still qualify. In some states you can have income of $2,200/month and still qualify.
I HAVE TOO MUCH MONEY CAN I SPEND IT: Medicaid will allow you to buy a home or pay down your mortgage or buy a car -- you can own one car and one home. Medicaid will also allow you to spend your money in any way you wish for yourself, as long as you don't buy something with a significant value. If you own a home, please look into the rules for medicaid estate recovery.
I HAVE TOO MUCH MONEY CAN I GIVE IT AWAY: In most cases, if you give your money away, you will have to wait up to five years before you are eligible for medicaid waivers. There are two exceptions: Medicaid will also allow you to give money to your disabled child. In some states you may give some money to your spouse. Some states allow a spouse to keep $120,000.
I HAVE TOO MUCH MONEY CAN I PUT IT IN A TRUST: In most cases, if you put your money in a trust, you will still be able to keep your money for yourself, but you may have to wait up to five years before you are eligible for a medicaid waiver. If you are planning ahead, this can be a smart thing to do. These kinds of trusts are called pooled trusts or special needs trusts.
I HAVE TOO MUCH INCOME: In some states you can spend part of your income on your home care or medical care, and then qualify. This is called a "medicaid spend down." In other states you can put your income in a Miller Trust or Qualifying Trust and then you can apply.
TO APPLY - Medicaid Waiver programs can sometimes be tricky to find. They have different names in every state, and they are often changing. Try calling your local Adult Protective Services Department. Also, try calling your state agency on aging (even if you are young). If neither of those things work, try calling your local medicaid office and asking which agency oversees screening for "long term care services." You can learn more about services in your state here: https:// www.payingforseniorcare.com/ medicaid-waivers/home- care.html#title5
WATCH OUT - They may put you in a program that is not a medicaid waiver, or there may be more than one waiver program in your state. If you are put in a program where you are given very few hours, you can inquire about what other medicaid waivers are available. You can also ask if you can apply for "respite care" or if there is another way to request increased hours. If you are put in a program where they do not allow you to choose your own caregiver, you can request to be in a program where you can choose. This is sometimes called "consumer-directed care" or "participant-directed care." Some programs have waiting lists and some don't -- sometimes people start out in one program while they are waiting on the waiting list for a better one.
WHAT OTHER KINDS OF HELP CAN I GET:
1. If you need help in your house (shopping, cleaning, etc) but you don't need personal care, you won't qualify for a medicaid waiver. However in some areas you may be able to get into a simpler program that provides just household assistance. This kind of simpler program will be less hours and it probably won't let you choose your own home aide (they will just send someone from an agency). Also, it is not available in some places. To see what is available in your area, try calling your local Adult Protective Services Department. Also, try calling your state agency on aging -- even if you are young, still call here. It is best to call both places because different services may be available.
2. If you have a psychiatric condition, you may be able to get in a different medicaid program that provides mental health specialists. This person comes to your home and offers you support. They can also accompany you to your doctors or other life activities. They can help you meet your goals (whatever your goal is - a job, a class, a new skill, go to a new doctor, manage paperwork, feel less lonely, make friends, leave the house, etc). This service is called different things in different states and I am not certain if it is available in all areas. Try contacting behavioral health agencies in your area and asking how you can get mental health support in your home. You may have to contact several agencies before you find one that offers this service.
This program has been really life-saving for me. I always want to share this info with other people who are disabled, since it has made such a difference in my life and I know most people do not know it exists.
I am in the U.S. I don't know how this works in other countries. I just looked it up and see a similar program seems to exist in Canada, England, and the Netherlands. I also read a post by someone in a similar program in Australia. The article I am looking at says in Germany and Austria they just give you cash no-strings attached! This article is a few years old, though. I don't know where else this exists. I would be interested to hear from anyone in this program in other countries.
Here is what I know about the US program. Please feel free to ask questions. I am not an expert, but happy to share what I know. Please let me know if anyone has any more information or suggestions to improve this post.
If you are disabled and unable to care for yourself, this program will pay for someone to come help you in your home.
WHO CAN I HIRE TO BE MY CAREGIVER: Medicaid will allow you to select and hire the person of your choice -- you can hire anyone you want.
SOMEONE IS ALREADY HELPING ME: If someone is already helping care for you, then Medicaid will allow you to pay that person through this program. It can be someone you are living with, or someone who lives elsewhere.
CAN I HIRE A FAMILY MEMBER: Yes. Medicaid will allow you to hire your sister, brother, daughter, son or other family member. If you are an adult, Medicaid will allow you to pay your mother or father who is serving as your caretaker. In most states, you cannot hire your spouse. In California there is a special program that allows you to hire your spouse. I don't know if this exists in other states.
WHO PAYS THE SALARY: Medicaid does. The amount of hours vary. In many states it is 25-30 hours per week, but in some states it starts out at 5 hours per week.
WHAT KIND OF HELP CAN I GET: The program is designed for people who need help with personal care (bathing, eating, dressing, bathroom, mobility) but once you are in the program you can also get help with many other things (shopping, cleaning, cooking, errands, medication reminders, transportation, doctor's appointments, etc.)
I DON'T NEED HELP WITH PERSONAL CARE. CAN I GET OTHER KINDS OF HELP: Yes. There may be other programs you can apply for (but they may not be as wonderful as this program). See the bottom of this page.
DO I NEED TO BE ON MEDICAID: No... or maybe. If you have too much money to get on medicaid, in some states you may still be able to get in this program. See below.
DO I NEED TO BE ON SSI OR SSDI. No. You can get into this program any time. You can get into it while you are waiting for your decision on your disability case. If you are applying for disability, then the assessment paperwork from this program may be able to help your chances of being approved (but only if you collect the assessment paperwork and submit it to social security yourself -- if you don't do it yourself, social security will never see it).
IS IT HARD TO APPLY FOR: No! If you have applied in the past for disability, you are going to love applying for this program! It is approximately a thousand times easier, and the people who run the program are very supportive, in my experience.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I QUALIFY: The rules are different in every state. Medicaid will ask you and your doctor how much assistance you need with personal care. If you need assistance in all areas you will usually be eligible. If you need assistance in only some areas, you may or may not be eligible, depending on the state.
HOW DO I EXPLAIN MY LIMITATIONS: The medicaid representatives I have spoken to have all recommended to try to think of what kind of help you need on your worst days when your symptoms are really bad.
WHAT IF I ONLY NEED SOME HELP WITH PERSONAL CARE: In some states, Medicaid will allow you to qualify for this program even if you need only partial assistance in each area. It is very important to try to think of and explain any kind of assistance you need in each area, even if you are able to do some things on your own. For example, if you are able to dress yourself most of the way, but you are unable to bend down and put on shoes or pants, this may qualify as needing assistance with dressing. Or if you are able to brush your teeth some days, but on other days you need assistance to do this, this may qualify as needing assistance with bathing. Or if you are able to get to the bathroom most of the time, but sometimes need a bedpan or pee jar, this may qualify as needing assistance with bathroom care. Or if you are able to walk on your own, but need assistance to stand up out of bed, this may qualify as needing assistance with mobility. Or if you can sometimes eat on your own, but other times have difficulty holding glasses or silverware, this may qualify as needing assistance with eating.
WHAT IS THE PROGRAM: The program is called a medicaid waiver for care for people who are disabled or elderly, but it goes by different names in different states. You do not need to be a senior, you can be any age. This program is designed as a nursing home diversion. It is designed to keep people out of nursing homes and allow them to stay in their own homes.
FINANCIAL REQUIREMENTS: The rules are different in every state. In some states the requirements are the same as Medicaid, in some states you can have more money and still qualify. In some states you can have income of $2,200/month and still qualify.
I HAVE TOO MUCH MONEY CAN I SPEND IT: Medicaid will allow you to buy a home or pay down your mortgage or buy a car -- you can own one car and one home. Medicaid will also allow you to spend your money in any way you wish for yourself, as long as you don't buy something with a significant value. If you own a home, please look into the rules for medicaid estate recovery.
I HAVE TOO MUCH MONEY CAN I GIVE IT AWAY: In most cases, if you give your money away, you will have to wait up to five years before you are eligible for medicaid waivers. There are two exceptions: Medicaid will also allow you to give money to your disabled child. In some states you may give some money to your spouse. Some states allow a spouse to keep $120,000.
I HAVE TOO MUCH MONEY CAN I PUT IT IN A TRUST: In most cases, if you put your money in a trust, you will still be able to keep your money for yourself, but you may have to wait up to five years before you are eligible for a medicaid waiver. If you are planning ahead, this can be a smart thing to do. These kinds of trusts are called pooled trusts or special needs trusts.
I HAVE TOO MUCH INCOME: In some states you can spend part of your income on your home care or medical care, and then qualify. This is called a "medicaid spend down." In other states you can put your income in a Miller Trust or Qualifying Trust and then you can apply.
TO APPLY - Medicaid Waiver programs can sometimes be tricky to find. They have different names in every state, and they are often changing. Try calling your local Adult Protective Services Department. Also, try calling your state agency on aging (even if you are young). If neither of those things work, try calling your local medicaid office and asking which agency oversees screening for "long term care services." You can learn more about services in your state here: https:// www.payingforseniorcare.com/ medicaid-waivers/home- care.html#title5
WATCH OUT - They may put you in a program that is not a medicaid waiver, or there may be more than one waiver program in your state. If you are put in a program where you are given very few hours, you can inquire about what other medicaid waivers are available. You can also ask if you can apply for "respite care" or if there is another way to request increased hours. If you are put in a program where they do not allow you to choose your own caregiver, you can request to be in a program where you can choose. This is sometimes called "consumer-directed care" or "participant-directed care." Some programs have waiting lists and some don't -- sometimes people start out in one program while they are waiting on the waiting list for a better one.
WHAT OTHER KINDS OF HELP CAN I GET:
1. If you need help in your house (shopping, cleaning, etc) but you don't need personal care, you won't qualify for a medicaid waiver. However in some areas you may be able to get into a simpler program that provides just household assistance. This kind of simpler program will be less hours and it probably won't let you choose your own home aide (they will just send someone from an agency). Also, it is not available in some places. To see what is available in your area, try calling your local Adult Protective Services Department. Also, try calling your state agency on aging -- even if you are young, still call here. It is best to call both places because different services may be available.
2. If you have a psychiatric condition, you may be able to get in a different medicaid program that provides mental health specialists. This person comes to your home and offers you support. They can also accompany you to your doctors or other life activities. They can help you meet your goals (whatever your goal is - a job, a class, a new skill, go to a new doctor, manage paperwork, feel less lonely, make friends, leave the house, etc). This service is called different things in different states and I am not certain if it is available in all areas. Try contacting behavioral health agencies in your area and asking how you can get mental health support in your home. You may have to contact several agencies before you find one that offers this service.
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