Aquire a state identification card at the DMV

Approximate Age: 16 | Who can help: Individual and/or guardian

Register to vote and register for selective service (if male).

Approximate Age: 18 | Who can help: Individual and/or guardian

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

Approximate Age: 16 | Who can help: Family/Guardian

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

Establish residency in NC

Approximate Age: N/A | Who can help: Individual and guardian/family

Apply for Medicaid. Consider submitting an appeal if denied.

Approximate Age: As early as possible | Who can help: Individual and guardian/family

Resources: NC Medicaid

Contact your local managed care organization (MCO) to assess the child’s eligibility for servicesr. 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

Resources: Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, LME-MCO Directory, NC Innovations Waiver

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. [see Adult Services checklist for information]

Approximate Age: Contact MCO at least once a year, starting at 14 (there are oftentimes updates in policies/services available) | Who can help: Individual and family

Resources: Accessing Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Services

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

Resources: Community Alternatives Program Referral Process

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

Re-contact your care coordinator/MCO to check your child’s status on the waitlist (If applicable) and share any updated medical or behavioral changes

Approximate Age: Annually | Who can help: Individual and guardian/family

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

Resources: Comparison of NC Medicaid Standard Plan, Medicaid Direct and Tailored Plan, NC Medicaid Division of Heath Benefits, What is Care Management?

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

Resources: Wellness Visits, and Diagnostic and Treatment Services

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

Resources: NC Medicaid Obtains Approval of the 1915(i) State Plan Amendment, 1915(i) Services Start July 1

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

As early as possible | Who can help: Individual, Family/Guardian, MCO

Resources: Service Definitions

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.

Who can help: Individual, Family/Guardian

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

Approximate Age: 17.5 | Who can help: Family/Guardian

Resources: Social Security Office Locator

Become familiar with SSI and the application process.

Approximate Age: 16 | Who can help: Transition Facilitator/IEP Team, Family/Guardian

Resources: Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

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

Resources: Social Security Office Locator, Disability Benefits

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: As early as possible | Who can help: Individual, Family/Guardian

Resources: Treatment of Married Couples in the SSI Program

Learn about resource/asset limits and consider opening an ABLE account. Seek out benefits counseling through ServiceSource 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

Resources: About ABLE Accounts, Cuentas ABLE

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

Resources: North Carolina Benefits Counseling Services, Work Incentives and Benefits Counseling

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

Resources: North Carolina Benefits Counseling Services, Work Incentives and Benefits Counseling

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

Resources: North Carolina Benefits Counseling Services, Work Incentives and Benefits Counseling