Pays disability benefits to children and adults who have disabilities and have low income. SSI recipients also get Medicaid.  SSI Fact Sheet

Katie Beckett Nutshell Video by Georgia Fru (4:41)

The Katie Beckett Deeming Waiver is a way to get Medicaid benefits even if you don't qualify for Medicaid. It "waives" the financial requirement and is based on the level of care that is required to take care of a child with significant disabilities and/or healthcare needs that is under age 18. Watch the video for a brief explanation and see the links below for more information.  Application on the Georgia Medicaid Website

Champions For Children Nutshell Video by Georgia Fru (2:00)

Champions is an Easter Seals program that provides funding for children with disabilities up to age 18. The expenses have to have therapeutic benefit. In order to qualify, the child must have been denied Katie Beckett based on not meeting the required level of care. 

Family Support Funding Nutshell Video by Georgia Fru (3:06)

Pays for disability-specific services based on individual and family’s unique needs. Eligibility includes having a diagnosis of developmental disability and not receiving other funding. Family Support Services info on the DBHDD Website

New Options Waiver/Comprehensive Supports Waiver Nutshell Video by Georgia Fru (5:54)

Also known as "NOW/COMP Waiver" or "the Waiver." Offers home and community-based services to individuals with developmental disabilities and intellectual disabilities. Eligibility includes meeting the level of care that would be required in an intermediate-care facility. May apply at any age, but more likely to be funded after age out of school. Funding is based on need and there are waiting lists. Application for Developmental Disabilities Services

Georgia Crisis Access Line (GCAL) by Georgia Fru (2:12)

Call GCAL at 1-800-715-4225. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and 365 days a year to help you or someone you care for in a crisis. GCAL professionals will provide crisis intervention services on the phone, send mobile crisis teams to the location of the crisis if needed, and assist in finding resources. Guide to Mobile Crisis Services

Guardianship and Alternatives by Georgia Fru (3:57)

When a child turns 18, he/she is an adult. Parents no longer have a legal right to make decisions for them. Guardianship is a process where the court appoints a person (a guardian) to make certain decisions for another person (a ward). The court must determine that the ward is unable to make those decisions on their own. There are alternatives to guardianship such as supported decision making, powers of attorney, and releases of information. Guardianship Guide from the Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities

Estate Planning and Special Needs Trusts by Georgia Fru (4:06)

If you do not decide what happens to your estate after you die, the state decides. Having a will gives you control. You may consider drafting a "letter of intent" as part of your will. If your child inherits money or property (from you or someone else), his/her benefits could be terminated. A Special Needs Trust protects funds so that an individual's resources stay below the allotted cap to receive SSI dollars.  An attorney can create a special needs trust.  Pooled Trusts are also an option. There are two pooled trust option in Georgia: 

1) Georgia Community Trust of BDI 

2) The Arc Georgia Pooled Trust