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Adult Services

Service systems become more complicated as youth enter adulthood. It is important to learn how to use these systems so that the exit from high school doesn’t feel like a “drop off” in support!

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Acronym Key: MCO = Managed Care Organization | DMV = Department of Local vehicles | CAP = Community Alternatives Program | SSI = Supplemental Security Income | SSDI = Social Security Disability Insurance | IDD = Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities | TBI = Traumatic Brain Injury | DHHS = Department of Health and Human Services

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Build your Action Plan by selecting relevant items below to add goals for yourself or someone you support. Click “Add to Action Plan” to save items. Your selections from all categories will appear in “My Action Plan.” To remove an item, click “Remove from Action Plan.”

Build your Action Plan by selecting relevant items below to add goals for yourself or someone you support. Click “Add to Action Plan” to save items. To remove an item, click “Remove from Action Plan.” To see your Action Plan, click on the “View My Action Plan” button to the right or near the bottom of the page.

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Browse all recommended action items below or use these filters to narrow down results by category or age.

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23 results found

Getting documents in order
Acquire a state identification card at the DMV.

Approximate age: 16

Who can help: Individual and/or guardian

Getting documents in order
Start a folder of your child’s important documents (Social Security Card, Birth Certificate, Diagnosis paperwork).

Approximate age: 16

Who can help: Family/Guardian

    Resources:

Getting documents in order
Register to vote and register for selective service (if male).

Approximate age: 18

Who can help: Individual and/or guardian

Getting documents in order
Obtain an updated psychological evaluation and adaptive behavior assessment. Documentation of IDD or TBI is required to access adult IDD services.

Approximate age: Within 2 years of applying to access adult services

Who can help: Family/Guardian, Licensed Clinical Psychologist

Navigating NC Medicaid
Establish residency in NC.

Approximate age: N/A

Who can help: Individual and guardian/family

Navigating NC Medicaid
Apply for Medicaid. Consider submitting an appeal if denied. For children: If the person does not qualify for Medicaid based on family income, they may still qualify through a disability-related Medicaid category if they meet the program’s eligibility requirements. As the person enters adulthood, re-apply for Medicaid and review eligibility for adult Medicaid-funded home and community-based services.

Approximate age: As early as possible

Who can help: Individual and guardian/family, NC Department of Health and Human Services

Navigating NC Medicaid
Contact your local managed care organization (MCO) to assess the child’s eligibility for services. If eligible, ensure the child is added to the Registry of Unmet Needs (also known as the “waitlist”) for the NC Medicaid Waiver.

Approximate age: If eligible for the waiver, get on the registry of unmet needs as early as possible- infancy is not too young!

Who can help: Individual and guardian/family, MCO

Navigating NC Medicaid
Contact your local MCO to ask about eligibility for home and community services. Even if an individual is still on the registry of unmet needs, they may qualify for other services.

Approximate age: Contact MCO at least once a year (there are oftentimes updates in policies/services available) 

Who can help: Individual and family, MCO

Navigating NC Medicaid
If medically fragile/physically disabled, contact your local MCO to assess the child or adult’s eligibility for the Community Alternatives Program (CAP).

Approximate age: As early as possible- children and adults may be eligible

Who can help: Individual and guardian/family, MCO

Navigating NC Medicaid
Care coordinators are assigned to help MCO clients and their families. If you do not know how to contact your assigned care coordinator, contact your MCO’s help line.

Approximate age: As early as possible

Who can help: Individual and guardian/family, MCO

Navigating NC Medicaid
Become familiar with the difference between a Medicaid standard plan versus tailored plan, and in collaboration with your MCO, determine which option is most appropriate for your child. Most people with IDD will qualify for the tailored plan.

Approximate age: Once enrolled in Medicaid

Who can help: Individual, Family/Guardian, MCO

Navigating NC Medicaid
If your child is (a) Medicaid-eligible and (b) between the ages of 0-21, become familiar with the “Early Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment Medicaid Services for Children” (EPSDT) and ask your child’s case manager about it.

Approximate age: As early as possible

Who can help: Individual, Family/Guardian, MCO

Navigating NC Medicaid
Ask your care coordinator about whether your child is eligible for 1915(i) services, which includes supported employment, respite, and community living supports. Having the waiver is NOT required to receive these services!

Approximate age: As early as possible

Who can help: Individual, Family/Guardian, MCO

Navigating NC Medicaid
If your child does not have medicaid, ask your managed care organization what services they may qualify for.

Approximate age: As early as possible

Who can help: Individual, Family/Guardian, MCO

Navigating NC Medicaid
If the person is eligible for SSDI as a child (so, parent is retired, deceased, or disabled), the person will be eligible for Medicare and should learn how to navigate it. Medicare will be their primary healthcare funding, whereas Medicaid would be secondary.

Approximate age: Circumstantial

Who can help: Individual, Family/Guardian, Medicare help line

Navigating Social Security
Become familiar with SSI and the application process.

Approximate age: 16

Who can help: Individual, Family/Guardian, Social Security Administration, Benefits Counseling Services

Navigating Social Security
Become familiar with the benefits reductions that could happen if you get legally married OR live with a long term partner, due to income/resource limits.

Approximate age: 16

Who can help: Individual, Family/Guardian, Social Security Administration, Benefits Counseling Services

Navigating Social Security
Find your Social Security Administration office by searching your zip code (linked in resource column).

Approximate age: 17.5

Who can help: Individual, Family/Guardian

Navigating Social Security
Upon turning 18, SSI is based on the disabled individual’s income rather than the family income. So, apply or seek out a re-evaluation. *Be aware, an individual with more than 2000 in assets will be penalized (car and home are not counted).

Approximate age: 18

Who can help: Individual, Family/Guardian, Social Security Administration, Benefits Counseling Services

Navigating Social Security
Learn about resource/asset limits and consider opening an ABLE account. Seek out benefits counseling through Service Source or Vocational Rehabilitation.

Approximate age: For the ABLE account, have to be diagnosed with a disability before the age of 26. An ABLE account or Special Needs Trust can be opened at any age.

Who can help: Family/Guardian, Benefits Counseling Services

Navigating Social Security
If the parent becomes deceased, disabled, or retired, it will impact the adult child’s benefits. “Disabled adult child” benefits will be triggered. Seek out benefits counseling to learn about what this will mean for your family. Additionally, notify your MCO care coordinator.

Approximate age: When applicable

Who can help: Family/Guardian, Benefits Counseling Services

Navigating Social Security
Learn about social security programs such as the Ticket to Work and Benefits Counseling and policies such as Work Incentives (i.e., Student Earned Income Exclusion).

Approximate age: Age Limit to access Student Earned Income Income Exclusion is 22

Who can help: Family/Guardian, Benefits Counseling Services

Navigating Social Security
If receiving multiple benefits from multiple funding streams (i.e., Medicaid AND SSI, SSI and Section 8), seek out benefits counseling and counseling from your SSI case manager to learn how these interact with each other and prevent losing your benefits.

Approximate age: When applicable

Who can help: Family/Guardian, Benefits Counseling Services

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Disclaimer: These action plans are for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be comprehensive, and should not be taken as legal advice. Services and programs mentioned may vary by county. Please consult with professionals with expertise in this topic area for guidance specific to you, your family or student/client’s situation. The “approximate age” listed with each item is a general recommendation for when to get started on an action item; however, everyone has a different timeline and for many of the items, it’s never too late to take action! Have a suggested correction or addition to this checklist? Email worktogethernc@med.unc.edu.

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