Ask Mike - Disabled and would like to move to Arizona

Dear Mike,

I live in the state of Illinois where I have a personal assistant as I am disabled. I would like to move to Arizona where I have family and the winters would be easier on me. Can you please give me guidance?

Thank you,

Warm Weather Seeker

Dear Warm Weather Seeker,

Thank you for writing. You write that you live in Illinois and you use attendant services there. You would like to move to Arizona where the weather is milder (you got that right!!). You ask for guidance.

On the Help in My State page of this website, you can find some helpful information for Arizona.

I caution you to definitely contact both the CIL and the state Medicaid agency before you move. The SILC may also have some very useful information and may be able to help with referrals. Services, financial issues and rules and eligibility rules for PAS programs are very different from state to state. There are likely to be significant differences between Arizona and Illinois when it comes to these critical factors:

  • What services are available?
  • To whom are the services available to?
  • What limitations to services exist?
  • What are the financial eligibility rules for services?
  • Are there PAS services, housing, transportation, etc. available in the specific are where I want to move?
  • Are there waiting lists?
  • What levels and types of self-direction, self determination/sconsumer control are available?

Differences are neither necessarily good nor bad. You will just need to know what's up so you can plan appropriately and make informed decisions.

Good luck to you with your planned move. I hope you find the warm sunny clime you desire.

Best of luck to you.

Mike Oxford

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