Re: HBWD PUNS PACT

[Guest guest]

I did a puns for my son through Pact Inc three years ago. A u\year ago I went to Pact and we submitted a request for 72D funding which they helped me get. We were funded on August 1st. Although I have not yet received anything as I must have my son signed up and approved through medicaid first which Pact will be applying for after I complete the paperwork tomorrow at their office. PAct is a Pas agency for DuPage county. They help you find services for your disbled son or daughter. Unless a child is in crisis they don't really do anything. But once my son was considered in crisis at which time they helped through the process of finding funding. My hope is we will soon be getting services. My fingers are crossed and I'm praying constantly. My case manager at Pact said they handle getting my son approved for medic aid. I would suggest you contact them and ask alot of questions. I needed to talk to them several times before I figured out how they could help me.

--mar

-------------- Original message -------------- From: "momofchris2007" <slpanda2@...>

Is anyone familiar with PACT, HBWD and/or PUNS? I have so many questions. I want to plan for my sons future should anything happen to myself and his stepfather. It seems if I want PACT to help us we have to have on Medicaid. To get him on Medicaid I could apply to HBWD but then he has to pay $69.00 a month if he gets that. He already has Medicare A and B and my insurance and prescription plan and gets SSD and works about 20 hours a week. Anyone sign up with PUNS? Any help would be appreciated. I did speak to Marsie Frawley and she did answer some of my questions but I have so many. Anyone in Dupage County that may have experience with any of these things? Thanks!

[Guest guest]

What is 72D funding? My son is not in crisis but if something happens to myself and his stepfather he could need services. I just have a hard time making him spend $69.00 a month for who knows how many years for nothing. I applied twice to Pact. I also applied to Medicaid like they wanted me to and he was denied. They agreed to file the paperwork anyway and I filled all the paperwork out ant took him for a physical and came in for the interview and then waited and waited and when I called to see what was going on my caseworker was no longer there and they could not find Chris's paperwork and they wanted me to start all over and by the way this time they could not help me without him being on Medicaid. I gave up but now I am ready again to seek help. Thank you for responding.marjanca@... wrote: I did a puns for my son through Pact Inc three years ago. A u\year ago I went to Pact and we submitted a request for 72D funding which they helped me get. We were funded on August 1st. Although I have not yet received anything as I must have my son signed up and approved through medicaid first which Pact will be applying for after I complete the paperwork tomorrow at their office. PAct is a Pas agency for DuPage county. They help you find services for your disbled son or daughter. Unless a child is in crisis they don't really do anything. But once my son was considered in crisis at which time they helped through the process of finding funding. My hope is we

will soon be getting services. My fingers are crossed and I'm praying constantly. My case manager at Pact said they handle getting my son approved for medic aid. I would suggest you contact them and ask alot of questions. I needed to talk to them several times before I figured out how they could help me. --mar -------------- Original message -------------- From: "momofchris2007" <slpanda2sbcglobal (DOT) net> Is anyone familiar with PACT, HBWD and/or PUNS? I have so many questions. I want to plan for my sons future should anything happen to myself and his stepfather. It seems if I want PACT to help us we have to have on Medicaid. To get him on Medicaid I could apply to HBWD but then he has to pay $69.00 a month if he gets that. He already has Medicare A and B

and my insurance and prescription plan and gets SSD and works about 20 hours a week. Anyone sign up with PUNS? Any help would be appreciated. I did speak to Marsie Frawley and she did answer some of my questions but I have so many. Anyone in Dupage County that may have experience with any of these things? Thanks!

[Guest guest]

I'm in the midst of negotiating this myself, so let me share what I've learned. If anyone knows that what I've said is not right, please post!PUNS is a survey of what a disabled person might need in the way of supports to negotiate daily living, etc. It's a tool used by various agencies to assess what's needed.My school dist high school staff and transition program people urge parents to get connected with PACT, saying "Even if you know you won't need residential arrangements in the near future, get this done now."Neal is 21, done with transition, working full time. I just did his intake interview at PACT in August.I'm still not clear on all of PACT's offerings, except to know that Neal will not need most of them. The intake interview focused on some questions and a PUNS-like survey of what Neal can do for himself, what he needs help with, and what he might need to have done for him.The time-consuming

part of PACT is what you need to do BEFORE you do an intake interview. They want you to bring in a LOT of paperwork, including recent private evals, IEP (if there's a recent one), guardianship paperwork, and a very recent MD visit (w/in 30 days--do that once you've got everything else ready).They also insist on a Medicaid card. I had to go through the paperwork, which is always an aggravation. There was no fee to obtain the card, so I don't understand what costs you refer to. It did irk me to go through the process just to get a PACT interview, because Neal is on his father's insurance as a disabled adult dependent (at least until his own job's insurance kicks in). Of course, we don't use the Medicaid card, and probably never will.I really wish that SSI and Medicaid had a procedure for getting certified as "disabled but not requesting assistance". I can't believe how much paperwork and money is being spent on

middle-class folks like my son, who doesn't need their money, but nneds all this in place just to be "certified" as disabled and qualify for a job coach and a slot on a residential waiting list!-Gail

oneSearch: Finally, mobile search that gives answers, not web links.

[Guest guest]

Gail, first thing is when I did try to apply to Pact they told me there are no longer residential waiting lists. It is on a needs basis. You will be in the data base but they will place anyone who has an emergency need first. Since lives with us and there is no emergency he wont be considered until an emergency arrives or they run out of emergency placements. When I went on the HBWD website when you consider what gets in SSD and what he makes at his job he would have to pay $69.00 a month if he is considered the only one but it says family size income and that would be even higher. doesn't need medical, dental or prescriptions as he has Medicare A and B and is covered by my insurance and prescription plans. Chris's High School also urged us to sign up with Pact. As I said we did try that several times but they lost all our paperwork and

wanted us to start over. We were denied Medicaid so they could not help us until we can get him on Medicaid and then I was not sure what they could do for us unless there is an emergency. At that point I would be dead and so would his stepfather or we would be so old or sick we could no longer care for Chris. I wanted to try to seek options for as far as living situations ahead of time. I did not know what else to do so I put it on the back burner. I am sure everyone's situation is unique so there can not be any cut and dry answers but the more I ask the more confused I get. Thank you for your input. Shirley G Mrozak <mrsovaltine@...> wrote: I'm in the midst of negotiating this myself, so let me share what I've learned. If anyone knows that what I've said is not right, please post!PUNS is a survey of what a disabled person might need in the way of supports to negotiate daily living, etc. It's a tool used by various agencies to assess what's needed.My school dist high school staff and transition program people urge parents to get connected with PACT, saying "Even if you know you won't need residential arrangements in the near future, get this done now."Neal is 21, done with transition, working full time. I just did his intake interview at PACT in August.I'm

still not clear on all of PACT's offerings, except to know that Neal will not need most of them. The intake interview focused on some questions and a PUNS-like survey of what Neal can do for himself, what he needs help with, and what he might need to have done for him.The time-consuming part of PACT is what you need to do BEFORE you do an intake interview. They want you to bring in a LOT of paperwork, including recent private evals, IEP (if there's a recent one), guardianship paperwork, and a very recent MD visit (w/in 30 days--do that once you've got everything else ready).They also insist on a Medicaid card. I had to go through the paperwork, which is always an aggravation. There was no fee to obtain the card, so I don't understand what costs you refer to. It did irk me to go through the process just to get a PACT interview, because Neal is on his father's insurance as a disabled adult dependent (at least until his own

job's insurance kicks in). Of course, we don't use the Medicaid card, and probably never will.I really wish that SSI and Medicaid had a procedure for getting certified as "disabled but not requesting assistance". I can't believe how much paperwork and money is being spent on middle-class folks like my son, who doesn't need their money, but nneds all this in place just to be "certified" as disabled and qualify for a job coach and a slot on a residential waiting list!-Gail oneSearch: Finally, mobile search that gives answers, not web links.

[Guest guest]

You are so right, Gail. But congratulations on putting all the pieces together to get the support your son needs to be successful.

It is very time consuming and we know that many hundreds (probably thousands) of individuals go unserved because families either cannot take the time from work to do all that is required to receive supports and services or they do not understand what to do or how to do it.

How do we reach more people and how do we make the system more user friendly?

Relevant and perturbing questions...especially on LABOR Day weekend!

Ellen

Ellen Garber Bronfeldegskb@...

Re: HBWD PUNS PACT

I'm in the midst of negotiating this myself, so let me share what I've learned. If anyone knows that what I've said is not right, please post!PUNS is a survey of what a disabled person might need in the way of supports to negotiate daily living, etc. It's a tool used by various agencies to assess what's needed.My school dist high school staff and transition program people urge parents to get connected with PACT, saying "Even if you know you won't need residential arrangements in the near future, get this done now."Neal is 21, done with transition, working full time. I just did his intake interview at PACT in August.I'm still not clear on all of PACT's offerings, except to know that Neal will not need most of them. The intake interview focused on some questions and a PUNS-like survey of what Neal can do for himself, what he needs help with, and what he might need to have done for him.The time-consuming part of PACT is what you need to do BEFORE you do an intake interview. They want you to bring in a LOT of paperwork, including recent private evals, IEP (if there's a recent one), guardianship paperwork, and a very recent MD visit (w/in 30 days--do that once you've got everything else ready).They also insist on a Medicaid card. I had to go through the paperwork, which is always an aggravation. There was no fee to obtain the card, so I don't understand what costs you refer to. It did irk me to go through the process just to get a PACT interview, because Neal is on his father's insurance as a disabled adult dependent (at least until his own job's insurance kicks in). Of course, we don't use the Medicaid card, and probably never will.I really wish that SSI and Medicaid had a procedure for getting certified as "disabled but not requesting assistance". I can't believe how much paperwork and money is being spent on middle-class folks like my son, who doesn't need their money, but nneds all this in place just to be "certified" as disabled and qualify for a job coach and a slot on a residential waiting list!-Gail

oneSearch: Finally, mobile search that gives answers, not web links.

[Guest guest]

Sorry if I was not clear about residential issues. What I meant was it's frustrating to go through ridiculous amounts of paperwork and aggravation in order to be considered "officially" disabled...more and more programs don't want to be the ones determining who's disabled and who isn't, so they decide to let Social Security do the screening for them. "Does he receive SSI?" Yes, and he's qualified for various programs. No, and he's not, regardless of years of private therapy and IEPs.I think the various agencies just don't want to spend their time determining who's qualified, and possibly ending up in court defending themselves. So they let Social Security be the bad guy. But Social Security is not there to determine who is disabled, they are there to determine who is disabled enough to not be likely to work for much pay. It seems to me that PACT didn't used to require Medicaid coverage for folks, but

I'll bet they had a reason for making the change. If continues to be covered under your insurance plan, then I'm not sure why HBWD would be useful to him, unless the insurance plan refused to cover him past a certain age.-GailShirley Linden <slpanda2@...> wrote: Gail, first thing is when I did try to apply to Pact they told me there are no longer residential waiting lists. It is on a needs basis. You will be in the data base but they will place anyone who has an emergency need first. Since

lives with us and there is no emergency he wont be considered until an emergency arrives or they run out of emergency placements. When I went on the HBWD website when you consider what gets in SSD and what he makes at his job he would have to pay $69.00 a month if he is considered the only one but it says family size income and that would be even higher. doesn't need medical, dental or prescriptions as he has Medicare A and B and is covered by my insurance and prescription plans. Chris's High School also urged us to sign up with Pact. As I said we did try that several times but they lost all our paperwork and wanted us to start over. We were denied Medicaid so they could not help us until we can get him on Medicaid and then I was not sure what they could do for us unless there is an emergency. At that point I would be dead and so would his

stepfather or we would be so old or sick we could no longer care for Chris. I wanted to try to seek options for as far as living situations ahead of time. I did not know what else to do so I put it on the back burner. I am sure everyone's situation is unique so there can not be any cut and dry answers but the more I ask the more confused I get. Thank you for your input. Shirley

Building a website is a piece of cake. Small Business gives you all the tools to get online.

[Guest guest]

Gail, the only reason I would apply for HBWD is to get him Medicaid. When I applied directly to Medicaid he was denied. They said he makes too much money with his job and SSD. If he gets Medicaid then Pact will accept him. PACT will then help him with residential living. But only if an emergency comes up. It is very confusing. My only concern is in the future when I get to old or die and needs somewhere to live. I agree nothing is easy and there is a never ending mound of paperwork, phone calls and follow ups. NOTHING is easy.G Mrozak <mrsovaltine@...> wrote: Sorry if I was not clear about residential issues. What I meant was it's frustrating to go through ridiculous amounts of paperwork and aggravation in order to be considered "officially" disabled...more and more programs don't want to be the ones determining who's disabled and who isn't, so they decide to let Social Security do the screening for them. "Does he receive SSI?" Yes, and he's qualified for various programs. No, and he's not, regardless of years of private therapy and IEPs.I think the various agencies just don't want to spend their time determining who's qualified, and possibly ending up in court defending themselves. So they let Social Security be the bad guy. But Social Security is not there to determine who is disabled, they are there to determine who is disabled enough to not be likely to work for

much pay. It seems to me that PACT didn't used to require Medicaid coverage for folks, but I'll bet they had a reason for making the change. If continues to be covered under your insurance plan, then I'm not sure why HBWD would be useful to him, unless the insurance plan refused to cover him past a certain age.-GailShirley Linden <slpanda2sbcglobal (DOT) net> wrote: Gail, first thing is when I did try to apply to Pact they told me there are no longer residential waiting lists. It is on a needs basis. You will be in the data base but they will place anyone who has an emergency need first. Since lives with us and there is no emergency he wont be considered until an emergency arrives or they run out of emergency placements. When I went on the HBWD website when you consider what gets in SSD and what he makes at his job he would have to pay $69.00 a month if he is considered the only one but it says family size income and that would be even higher. doesn't need medical, dental or prescriptions as he has Medicare A and B and is covered by my insurance and prescription plans. Chris's High School also urged us to sign up with Pact. As I said we did try that several times but they lost all our paperwork and wanted us to start over. We were denied Medicaid so they could not help us until we can get him on Medicaid and then I was not sure what they could do for us unless there is an emergency. At that point I would be dead and so would his stepfather or we would be so old or sick we could no longer care for Chris. I wanted to try to seek options for as far as living situations ahead of

time. I did not know what else to do so I put it on the back burner. I am sure everyone's situation is unique so there can not be any cut and dry answers but the more I ask the more confused I get. Thank you for your input. Shirley Building a website is a piece of cake. Small Business gives you all the tools to get online.

[Guest guest]

The way it was described to me is that Medicaid pays for any services

PACT arranges, so it's quicker and easier to get your Medicaid card

first.

>

> I'm in the midst of negotiating this myself, so let me share what

I've learned. If anyone knows that what I've said is not right,

please post!

>

> PUNS is a survey of what a disabled person might need in the way of

supports to negotiate daily living, etc. It's a tool used by various

agencies to assess what's needed.

>

> My school dist high school staff and transition program people

urge parents to get connected with PACT, saying " Even if you know you

won't need residential arrangements in the near future, get this done

now. "

>

> Neal is 21, done with transition, working full time. I just did

his intake interview at PACT in August.

>

> I'm still not clear on all of PACT's offerings, except to know

that Neal will not need most of them. The intake interview focused

on some questions and a PUNS-like survey of what Neal can do for

himself, what he needs help with, and what he might need to have done

for him.

>

> The time-consuming part of PACT is what you need to do BEFORE you

do an intake interview. They want you to bring in a LOT of

paperwork, including recent private evals, IEP (if there's a recent

one), guardianship paperwork, and a very recent MD visit (w/in 30

days--do that once you've got everything else ready).

>

> They also insist on a Medicaid card. I had to go through the

paperwork, which is always an aggravation. There was no fee to

obtain the card, so I don't understand what costs you refer to. It

did irk me to go through the process just to get a PACT interview,

because Neal is on his father's insurance as a disabled adult

dependent (at least until his own job's insurance kicks in). Of

course, we don't use the Medicaid card, and probably never will.

>

> I really wish that SSI and Medicaid had a procedure for getting

certified as " disabled but not requesting assistance " . I can't

believe how much paperwork and money is being spent on middle-class

folks like my son, who doesn't need their money, but nneds all this

in place just to be " certified " as disabled and qualify for a job

coach and a slot on a residential waiting list!

>

> -Gail

>

>

>

> ---------------------------------

> oneSearch: Finally, mobile search that gives answers, not

web links.

>