Re: DHS/DRS Home Services Program Info

March 30, 2011

Laurie, I first heard about this from my PAS agency (PACT). When I first

applied for help, they sent over a social worker to interview us for the

personal assistant (Angel was under 18, so they go by the parents assets, we

would have had to liquidate my IRA to qualify, and the parent couldn't be the

worker) plus we were contacted by Clearbrook.

This is great info for those on a wait list.

>

> Can't stress this enough. If your son/daughter is 18 or older, is receiving

SSI and is deemed Medicaid eligible, AND IF YOU ARE ON THE WAITING LIST FOR THE

DD Home & Community Based Support Waiver, pls read on.

>

> There is another Medicaid Waiver in Illinois that could help you. It's a DHS

Waiver, but this one is administered thru the Dept of Rehab Services, not

Division of DD. So you don't go to your PAS agency, you go to your local DRS

office for this.

>

> It's called the Home Services Program, and what it may entitle your son or

daughter to are what's known as Personal Assistant or Attendant Care Services,

in your home. Eligibility depends on how you score on a Determination of Needs

Assessment Scale, or DON. They basically ask you a lot of questions having to

do with Activities of Daily Living (can the individual use the phone, take

medication safely, get out of the house safely if there's an emergency, can they

bathe/shower/groom/dress/etc completely independently, can they get ready to go

somewhere independently, can they safely cook a meal for themselves, use sharp

knives to cut or prepare food, stay at home alone safely etc etc. Lots of

adults with developmental disabilities struggle with these activities of daily

living.

>

> THERE IS NO WAITING LIST FOR THIS WAIVER. If you are deemed eligible, and you

meet the SSI/Medicaid standards, you are approved for funding, different amounts

based on how your individual scores on the DON assessment. My daughter scored a

54 (29 is the minimum) and she was approved for an allotment worth about

$22,000/year.

>

> HERE'S THE " CATCH " : Your individual can only use the money to pay for

services provided to them in their home, and it has to be necessary to prevent

or delay nursing home or institutional care.

>

> HERE'S THE MAGIC: After age 18, your individual can choose to pay a family

member, including one of the parents, as caregiver. So that means the mom or

dad who does the majority of the caregiving signs up as your son/daughter's

employee, and then mom or dad send in timesheets to the state of IL and get

paid. Every two weeks. OR you can hire someone of your choosing to do the work,

too. Up to you and your son/daughter.

>

> Is it as flexible as the DD Medicaid Waiver? No, in that you can't, for

example, set up an automatic payment system for, say, a day program, or for a

PSW to go out into the community with your individual. However, once you get

your paychecks, and have your taxes withheld on that income, you are free to

spend that money however you wish, right? So if some of it went to help

privately pay for community helpers, or respite workers, etc. that's your

business. (I think - lord help us if the attornies jump in here and tell me what

we did was illegal somehow!)

>

> I recently looked up our two local offices for DRS. If you live in a county

other than Will or Dupage, you'd need to go to your local DRS office. Again, do

not call your PAS agency, they may not know about this Waiver.

>

> Dupage County/Downers Grove DRS Office

> 2901 Finley Road, Downers Grove

> (630) 495-0500

>

> Will County/Joliet DRS Office

> 1617 W. Jefferson St.

> Joliet

> (815) 730-4200

>

> If you need more information about what to say, let me know.

>

> The reason I share this is because I have a sinking feeling that when this

Waiver comes up for renewal (2012 I believe) Illinois could re-write the

eligibility criteria to say 'when funding is available' just like the DD Waiver

is written. And then there goes that idea. Right now they still have to fund

you if you're deemed eligible.

>

> Check it out.

> www.dhs.state.il.us/page/aspx?item=29738

>

March 31, 2011

Good to know. My PAS agency (Will County) never said a peep about it. It was a

well-kept secret, at least from me.

From: cmfinato

Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 9:55 PM

IPADDUnite

Subject: Re: DHS/DRS Home Services Program Info

Laurie, I first heard about this from my PAS agency (PACT). When I first applied

for help, they sent over a social worker to interview us for the personal

assistant (Angel was under 18, so they go by the parents assets, we would have

had to liquidate my IRA to qualify, and the parent couldn't be the worker) plus

we were contacted by Clearbrook.

This is great info for those on a wait list.

>

> Can't stress this enough. If your son/daughter is 18 or older, is receiving

SSI and is deemed Medicaid eligible, AND IF YOU ARE ON THE WAITING LIST FOR THE

DD Home & Community Based Support Waiver, pls read on.

>

> There is another Medicaid Waiver in Illinois that could help you. It's a DHS

Waiver, but this one is administered thru the Dept of Rehab Services, not

Division of DD. So you don't go to your PAS agency, you go to your local DRS

office for this.

>

> It's called the Home Services Program, and what it may entitle your son or

daughter to are what's known as Personal Assistant or Attendant Care Services,

in your home. Eligibility depends on how you score on a Determination of Needs

Assessment Scale, or DON. They basically ask you a lot of questions having to do

with Activities of Daily Living (can the individual use the phone, take

medication safely, get out of the house safely if there's an emergency, can they

bathe/shower/groom/dress/etc completely independently, can they get ready to go

somewhere independently, can they safely cook a meal for themselves, use sharp

knives to cut or prepare food, stay at home alone safely etc etc. Lots of adults

with developmental disabilities struggle with these activities of daily living.

>

> THERE IS NO WAITING LIST FOR THIS WAIVER. If you are deemed eligible, and you

meet the SSI/Medicaid standards, you are approved for funding, different amounts

based on how your individual scores on the DON assessment. My daughter scored a

54 (29 is the minimum) and she was approved for an allotment worth about

$22,000/year.

>

> HERE'S THE " CATCH " : Your individual can only use the money to pay for services

provided to them in their home, and it has to be necessary to prevent or delay

nursing home or institutional care.

>

> HERE'S THE MAGIC: After age 18, your individual can choose to pay a family

member, including one of the parents, as caregiver. So that means the mom or dad

who does the majority of the caregiving signs up as your son/daughter's

employee, and then mom or dad send in timesheets to the state of IL and get

paid. Every two weeks. OR you can hire someone of your choosing to do the work,

too. Up to you and your son/daughter.

>

> Is it as flexible as the DD Medicaid Waiver? No, in that you can't, for

example, set up an automatic payment system for, say, a day program, or for a

PSW to go out into the community with your individual. However, once you get

your paychecks, and have your taxes withheld on that income, you are free to

spend that money however you wish, right? So if some of it went to help

privately pay for community helpers, or respite workers, etc. that's your

business. (I think - lord help us if the attornies jump in here and tell me what

we did was illegal somehow!)

>

> I recently looked up our two local offices for DRS. If you live in a county

other than Will or Dupage, you'd need to go to your local DRS office. Again, do

not call your PAS agency, they may not know about this Waiver.

>

> Dupage County/Downers Grove DRS Office

> 2901 Finley Road, Downers Grove

> (630) 495-0500

>

> Will County/Joliet DRS Office

> 1617 W. Jefferson St.

> Joliet

> (815) 730-4200

>

> If you need more information about what to say, let me know.

>

> The reason I share this is because I have a sinking feeling that when this

Waiver comes up for renewal (2012 I believe) Illinois could re-write the

eligibility criteria to say 'when funding is available' just like the DD Waiver

is written. And then there goes that idea. Right now they still have to fund you

if you're deemed eligible.

>

> Check it out.

> www.dhs.state.il.us/page/aspx?item=29738

>

March 31, 2011

SSTÂ is a new initiative advocated for by the Institute on Public Policy for

People with Disabilities.Â The Institute created a voluntary crisis

intervention

project that Larry Markin was a big contributor to in terms of his volunteer

time.Â It was a team of professional and advocates who would come in to look at

potential crisis situations and offer technicalÂ assistance.Â Thanks to Lilia

Tenity this has been replaced with SST. I am attaching a fact sheet in hopes

that Laurie can attach it for everyone.Â This is an amazing resource available

statewide.

Note on Laurie's excellent resource on DRS attendant care waiver.Â Just to make

sure everyone is aware

you can no longer be on 2 waivers at the same time effective now.Â Some people

were grandfathered in.Â If you get Home Base,Â DHSÂ says you cannot also get

the

DRS waiver too.

Charlotte,Â Be well darling.Â I feel your pain. Please rest.Â Let us know if

we

can help in any way.Â have Mike bring you flowers and chocolate.Â I heard it

is

better than meds.

Terrill

Â Ficker Terrill, CEO

Institute on Public Policy

cathyfickerterrill@...

630-202-6701

________________________________

From: Jerue Family <jeruefamily@...>

IPADDUnite

Sent: Thu, March 31, 2011 8:05:59 AM

Subject: Re: Re: DHS/DRS Home Services Program Info

Â

Good to know. My PAS agency (Will County) never said a peep about it. It was a

well-kept secret, at least from me.

From: cmfinato

Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 9:55 PM

IPADDUnite

Subject: Re: DHS/DRS Home Services Program Info

Laurie, I first heard about this from my PAS agency (PACT). When I first applied

for help, they sent over a social worker to interview us for the personal

assistant (Angel was under 18, so they go by the parents assets, we would have

had to liquidate my IRA to qualify, and the parent couldn't be the worker) plus

we were contacted by Clearbrook.

This is great info for those on a wait list.

>

> Can't stress this enough. If your son/daughter is 18 or older, is receiving

SSI

>and is deemed Medicaid eligible, AND IF YOU ARE ON THE WAITING LIST FOR THE DD

>Home & Community Based Support Waiver, pls read on.

>

> There is another Medicaid Waiver in Illinois that could help you. It's a DHS

>Waiver, but this one is administered thru the Dept of Rehab Services, not

>Division of DD. So you don't go to your PAS agency, you go to your local DRS

>office for this.

>

> It's called the Home Services Program, and what it may entitle your son or

>daughter to are what's known as Personal Assistant or Attendant Care Services,

>in your home. Eligibility depends on how you score on a Determination of Needs

>Assessment Scale, or DON. They basically ask you a lot of questions having to

do

>with Activities of Daily Living (can the individual use the phone, take

>medication safely, get out of the house safely if there's an emergency, can

they

>bathe/shower/groom/dress/etc completely independently, can they get ready to go

>somewhere independently, can they safely cook a meal for themselves, use sharp

>knives to cut or prepare food, stay at home alone safely etc etc. Lots of

adults

>with developmental disabilities struggle with these activities of daily living.

>

> THERE IS NO WAITING LIST FOR THIS WAIVER. If you are deemed eligible, and you

>meet the SSI/Medicaid standards, you are approved for funding, different

amounts

>based on how your individual scores on the DON assessment. My daughter scored a

>54 (29 is the minimum) and she was approved for an allotment worth about

>$22,000/year.

>

> HERE'S THE " CATCH " : Your individual can only use the money to pay for services

>provided to them in their home, and it has to be necessary to prevent or delay

>nursing home or institutional care.

>

> HERE'S THE MAGIC: After age 18, your individual can choose to pay a family

>member, including one of the parents, as caregiver. So that means the mom or

dad

>who does the majority of the caregiving signs up as your son/daughter's

>employee, and then mom or dad send in timesheets to the state of IL and get

>paid. Every two weeks. OR you can hire someone of your choosing to do the work,

>too. Up to you and your son/daughter.

>

> Is it as flexible as the DD Medicaid Waiver? No, in that you can't, for

>example, set up an automatic payment system for, say, a day program, or for a

>PSW to go out into the community with your individual. However, once you get

>your paychecks, and have your taxes withheld on that income, you are free to

>spend that money however you wish, right? So if some of it went to help

>privately pay for community helpers, or respite workers, etc. that's your

>business. (I think - lord help us if the attornies jump in here and tell me

what

>we did was illegal somehow!)

>

> I recently looked up our two local offices for DRS. If you live in a county

>other than Will or Dupage, you'd need to go to your local DRS office. Again, do

>not call your PAS agency, they may not know about this Waiver.

>

> Dupage County/Downers Grove DRS Office

> 2901 Finley Road, Downers Grove

> (630) 495-0500

>

> Will County/Joliet DRS Office

> 1617 W. Jefferson St.

> Joliet

> (815) 730-4200

>

> If you need more information about what to say, let me know.

>

> The reason I share this is because I have a sinking feeling that when this

>Waiver comes up for renewal (2012 I believe) Illinois could re-write the

>eligibility criteria to say 'when funding is available' just like the DD Waiver

>is written. And then there goes that idea. Right now they still have to fund

you

>if you're deemed eligible.

>

> Check it out.

> www.dhs.state.il.us/page/aspx?item=29738

>

March 31, 2011

Application for the Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS) Home Services

program is through your regional DORS office. You can identify yours on the

DHS homepage: http://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?. Scroll to the bottom

to the " office locator " . Then select Rehabilitative Offices and your county

in the drop down boxes. Your local Center for Independent Living can be of

great help. They'll know about the " personality " of you local office and may

be able to offer suggestions before you apply. They also often keep lists of

personal support workers if that is helpful to you.

Charlotte

From: IPADDUnite [mailto:IPADDUnite ] On

Behalf Of Jerue Family

Sent: Thursday, March 31, 2011 8:06 AM

IPADDUnite

Subject: Re: Re: DHS/DRS Home Services Program Info

Good to know. My PAS agency (Will County) never said a peep about it. It was

a well-kept secret, at least from me.

From: cmfinato

Sent: Wednesday, March 30, 2011 9:55 PM

IPADDUnite <mailto:IPADDUnite%40>

Subject: Re: DHS/DRS Home Services Program Info

Laurie, I first heard about this from my PAS agency (PACT). When I first

applied for help, they sent over a social worker to interview us for the

personal assistant (Angel was under 18, so they go by the parents assets, we

would have had to liquidate my IRA to qualify, and the parent couldn't be

the worker) plus we were contacted by Clearbrook.

This is great info for those on a wait list.

>

> Can't stress this enough. If your son/daughter is 18 or older, is

receiving SSI and is deemed Medicaid eligible, AND IF YOU ARE ON THE WAITING

LIST FOR THE DD Home & Community Based Support Waiver, pls read on.

>

> There is another Medicaid Waiver in Illinois that could help you. It's a

DHS Waiver, but this one is administered thru the Dept of Rehab Services,

not Division of DD. So you don't go to your PAS agency, you go to your local

DRS office for this.

>

> It's called the Home Services Program, and what it may entitle your son or

daughter to are what's known as Personal Assistant or Attendant Care

Services, in your home. Eligibility depends on how you score on a

Determination of Needs Assessment Scale, or DON. They basically ask you a

lot of questions having to do with Activities of Daily Living (can the

individual use the phone, take medication safely, get out of the house

safely if there's an emergency, can they bathe/shower/groom/dress/etc

completely independently, can they get ready to go somewhere independently,

can they safely cook a meal for themselves, use sharp knives to cut or

prepare food, stay at home alone safely etc etc. Lots of adults with

developmental disabilities struggle with these activities of daily living.

>

> THERE IS NO WAITING LIST FOR THIS WAIVER. If you are deemed eligible, and

you meet the SSI/Medicaid standards, you are approved for funding, different

amounts based on how your individual scores on the DON assessment. My

daughter scored a 54 (29 is the minimum) and she was approved for an

allotment worth about $22,000/year.

>

> HERE'S THE " CATCH " : Your individual can only use the money to pay for

services provided to them in their home, and it has to be necessary to

prevent or delay nursing home or institutional care.

>

> HERE'S THE MAGIC: After age 18, your individual can choose to pay a family

member, including one of the parents, as caregiver. So that means the mom or

dad who does the majority of the caregiving signs up as your son/daughter's

employee, and then mom or dad send in timesheets to the state of IL and get

paid. Every two weeks. OR you can hire someone of your choosing to do the

work, too. Up to you and your son/daughter.

>

> Is it as flexible as the DD Medicaid Waiver? No, in that you can't, for

example, set up an automatic payment system for, say, a day program, or for

a PSW to go out into the community with your individual. However, once you

get your paychecks, and have your taxes withheld on that income, you are

free to spend that money however you wish, right? So if some of it went to

help privately pay for community helpers, or respite workers, etc. that's

your business. (I think - lord help us if the attornies jump in here and

tell me what we did was illegal somehow!)

>

> I recently looked up our two local offices for DRS. If you live in a

county other than Will or Dupage, you'd need to go to your local DRS office.

Again, do not call your PAS agency, they may not know about this Waiver.

>

> Dupage County/Downers Grove DRS Office

> 2901 Finley Road, Downers Grove

> (630) 495-0500

>

> Will County/Joliet DRS Office

> 1617 W. Jefferson St.

> Joliet

> (815) 730-4200

>

> If you need more information about what to say, let me know.

>

> The reason I share this is because I have a sinking feeling that when this

Waiver comes up for renewal (2012 I believe) Illinois could re-write the

eligibility criteria to say 'when funding is available' just like the DD

Waiver is written. And then there goes that idea. Right now they still have

to fund you if you're deemed eligible.

>

> Check it out.

> www.dhs.state.il.us/page/aspx?item=29738

>

April 1, 2011

Hi all. Please note thatthe address for PACT, inc., the Dupage County PAS

agency has CHANGED. It is no longer located on Filey Rd in Lombard.

The new address is:

750 Warrenville Road

Suite 300

Lisle IL 60532-0902

Phone number is: (630) 960-9700 (voice)

(331) 481-4347 (TDD)

email is www.pact@...

Diane S.

> >

> > Can't stress this enough. If your son/daughter is 18 or older, is receiving

SSI

> >and is deemed Medicaid eligible, AND IF YOU ARE ON THE WAITING LIST FOR THE

DD

> >Home & Community Based Support Waiver, pls read on.

> >

> > There is another Medicaid Waiver in Illinois that could help you. It's a DHS

> >Waiver, but this one is administered thru the Dept of Rehab Services, not

> >Division of DD. So you don't go to your PAS agency, you go to your local DRS

> >office for this.

> >

> > It's called the Home Services Program, and what it may entitle your son or

> >daughter to are what's known as Personal Assistant or Attendant Care

Services,

> >in your home. Eligibility depends on how you score on a Determination of

Needs

> >Assessment Scale, or DON. They basically ask you a lot of questions having to

do

> >with Activities of Daily Living (can the individual use the phone, take

> >medication safely, get out of the house safely if there's an emergency, can

they

> >bathe/shower/groom/dress/etc completely independently, can they get ready to

go

> >somewhere independently, can they safely cook a meal for themselves, use

sharp

> >knives to cut or prepare food, stay at home alone safely etc etc. Lots of

adults

> >with developmental disabilities struggle with these activities of daily

living.

> >

> > THERE IS NO WAITING LIST FOR THIS WAIVER. If you are deemed eligible, and

you

> >meet the SSI/Medicaid standards, you are approved for funding, different

amounts

> >based on how your individual scores on the DON assessment. My daughter scored

a

> >54 (29 is the minimum) and she was approved for an allotment worth about

> >$22,000/year.

> >

> > HERE'S THE " CATCH " : Your individual can only use the money to pay for

services

> >provided to them in their home, and it has to be necessary to prevent or

delay

> >nursing home or institutional care.

> >

> > HERE'S THE MAGIC: After age 18, your individual can choose to pay a family

> >member, including one of the parents, as caregiver. So that means the mom or

dad

> >who does the majority of the caregiving signs up as your son/daughter's

> >employee, and then mom or dad send in timesheets to the state of IL and get

> >paid. Every two weeks. OR you can hire someone of your choosing to do the

work,

> >too. Up to you and your son/daughter.

> >

> > Is it as flexible as the DD Medicaid Waiver? No, in that you can't, for

> >example, set up an automatic payment system for, say, a day program, or for a

> >PSW to go out into the community with your individual. However, once you get

> >your paychecks, and have your taxes withheld on that income, you are free to

> >spend that money however you wish, right? So if some of it went to help

> >privately pay for community helpers, or respite workers, etc. that's your

> >business. (I think - lord help us if the attornies jump in here and tell me

what

> >we did was illegal somehow!)

> >

> > I recently looked up our two local offices for DRS. If you live in a county

> >other than Will or Dupage, you'd need to go to your local DRS office. Again,

do

> >not call your PAS agency, they may not know about this Waiver.

> >

> > Dupage County/Downers Grove DRS Office

> > 2901 Finley Road, Downers Grove

> > (630) 495-0500

> >

> > Will County/Joliet DRS Office

> > 1617 W. Jefferson St.

> > Joliet

> > (815) 730-4200

> >

> > If you need more information about what to say, let me know.

> >

> > The reason I share this is because I have a sinking feeling that when this

> >Waiver comes up for renewal (2012 I believe) Illinois could re-write the

> >eligibility criteria to say 'when funding is available' just like the DD

Waiver

> >is written. And then there goes that idea. Right now they still have to fund

you

> >if you're deemed eligible.

> >

> > Check it out.

> > www.dhs.state.il.us/page/aspx?item=29738

> >

>

April 1, 2011

Oh oh. Miss smarty pants here didnt read good enough. Sorry the PAS agency is

as I stated, but the DHS agency address was correct.

Sorry listmates. I goofed.

Diane S