Ask Mike - Can I get income for caring for my son

Dear Parent Curious About Waiver

Thanks for writing. Your son has autism and you have provided all of his care since birth without any other assistance, financial or otherwise. Someone told you that you could receive income for providing his care and you were told to look under "Medicaid Waiver". You would like further information.

The first thing you need to do is to determine whether your son is eligible for Medicaid Waiver services. If your son is an adult, this is quite likely. If he is still a minor, then your family income could be a barrier. The PAS Center Website can assist you with inquiring about eligibility for Medicaid Waiver services and with taking a look at what kind of Medicaid Waiver program may be available. The final Medicaid issue is whether you are going to be allowed to be paid to provide direct services and supports for your son.

Go to www.pascenter.org This will take you to the homepage. Click on "State Information" located at the top of left-hand menu. On the next page, click on "Contact Info and Descriptions for Medicaid Waivers" (second from the top). The next page will be a map of the USA. Click on your State. The next page should contain a list of available Medicaid Waivers in your State. Look for the program that seems to best fit your son. It is most likely to be "MR/DD" which stands for "mental retardation" / "developmental disability"; autism is typically labeled as a developmental disability in that it usually manifests before the age of 22. Use the contact information provided to ask about eligibility criteria and how to apply for services. You should also ask about being a paid caregiver. I also encourage you to point at "Caregivers and PAS Workers" on the top menu of any PAS Center web page and click on "Becoming a Paid Caregiver". This FAQ (Frequently Asked Question) information may prove useful to you.

Finally, it is unclear from your inquiry whether your son is currently receiving any Social Security benefits; SSI (Supplemental Security Income) or SSDI (Social Security Disability Income). If not, back arrow two times to the "State Information Page" and click on "Agencies Related to PAS" located just beneath "Contact Info and Descriptions for Medicaid Waivers" (see above). Next, click on your "State" on the USA map. On the next page, click on "Protection and Advocacy Agency", or P & A. P & A's often assist with obtaining Social Security benefits. You may also want to try "State Independent Living Council and Centers for Independent Living" from the same list as the P & A, above. Some Centers for Independent Living may also provide assistance with obtaining Social Security benefits.

Best wishes to you and your son!

Mike Oxford