Get Financial Help If You Are a Single Parent Raising a Child with Autism

If you are a parent who has a child with autism who requires constant supervision, it’s difficult to juggle his or her needs along with a full-time job. You must work and pay the bills, but your child needs 24-hour care. How do you handle all the responsibilities alone? Fortunately, in the state of California, you can apply for financial help if you are a single parent raising a child with autism.

Financial Help in California

Many parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) can get support from programs funded through their state or county. Some examples are financial help, education support, medical care, job skills training, and residential or living services. These resources are available to all children because of federal laws such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Other benefits, such as financial help, are based on need or how serious the disability is. Many children with autism can qualify for these benefits.

In some cases, you can receive payments from county, state, or federal agencies for being the caregiver of your child. You may also be eligible for other services, like food, housing, and medical care.

Bottom line, you need to know about IHSS. In Home Supportive Services is a program in California that provides funds to either hire a caregiver or receive payment as the caregiver for your child.

It can help you financially to stay home and take care of your child with autism—so you can go to all the doctor appointments and therapies, you personally can supervise the services, and you can monitor what your child receives.

The IHSS Program

There are three different IHSS programs: The Medi–Cal Personal Care Services Program (PCSP), The IHSS Independence Plus Waiver Program (IPWP) and The Original or Residual IHSS Program (IHSS–R). The PCSP and IPWP programs are funded with federal, state and county dollars, while the IHSS–R program is funded with state and county dollars only. Each of these programs provides the same services but have different eligibility criteria.

• PCSP: Recipients are eligible because they have qualified for Medi–Cal on basis of age, blindness, or disability. Most IHSS recipients are part of the PCSP program.
• IPWP: Recipients are eligible because they have qualified for Medi–Cal and are also part of one of the following groups: parent provider for a minor child, spouse providers, advance pay cases and meal allowance cases.
• IHSS–R: Recipients do not meet PCSP or IPWP requirements and usually have Satisfactory Immigration Status, which denies them federal reimbursement.

Services IHSS Provides

• Protective Supervision: safeguard from injury for persons with mental impairments
• Domestic: meal preparation, cleaning, laundry, and taking out the garbage
• Transportation: driving to medical appointments and accompaniment
• Personal Care/Non-Medical: bathing, feeding, and toileting
• Paramedical Tasks: assistance with medications, bowel and bladder care

Eligibility for IHSS

If you are a California resident and receive Medi-Cal benefits, you may be eligible for IHSS. Eligibility is assessed with an evaluation regarding whether your child needs the services it provides to stay safely in your own home as an alternative to out-of-home placement. 

How to apply for IHSS 

You must complete an IHSS application. As part of the application process, there are many pieces of documentation that will need to be submitted accurately, such as a medical certification form and similar forms.

Once IHSS receives your application, a caseworker will be assigned to conduct a needs assessment. During the needs assessment, the caseworker will come into your home and ask you questions about your child’s physical and mental capacity in order to determine what he or she can and cannot do. Your living situation will also be evaluated. After the needs assessment, the IHSS caseworker will contact you and let you know if you have been approved or denied the service.

If you feel overwhelmed and you need help, please contact us.

American Advocacy Group is on the front lines every day, making positive change happen for people diagnosed with Autism, Down syndrome and a range of diagnoses across the continuum. As a leading advocate for all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families, and the premier provider of the support and services people want and need, we understand the system and know how to take action in regard to your best interests.

CONTACT US FOR HELP.

Dial (877) 762-0702 or email us at [email protected].