In Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
Riverside County (888) 960-4477
https://rivcodpss.org/home-supportive-services
San Bernardino County
http://hss.sbcounty.gov/daas/IHSS/
State of California, Health and Welfare Agency, Department of Social Services, long term care worker under the IHSS program. The In Home Support Services Program is designed to provide patients with disabilities with the supports they need in order to remain in their own home. Obtaining IHSS services can provide individuals with psychiatric disabilities the services they need to remain in the community and/or return to their own home following placement in a facility. Individuals may be eligible for up to 238 hours of services each month. IHSS pays for workers to provide services individuals cannot do themselves because of his/her disability. Income guidelines are similar to SSI, and does not count against SSI for income.
Social Security
1-(800)-772-1213
https://www.ssa.gov/
If your child is under age 18 and has autism, and you have low income and assets, your child may be eligible for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits under the Social Security Act. If you are over age 18 and have autism, you may qualify for either Social Security disability (SSDI/SSD) benefits or SSI benefits. In California, when you get SSI, you automatically receive Medi-Cal which helps pay doctor and hospital bills. Social Security will look to see whether the child’s functioning is severely limited by autism. The SSA will consider medical evidence such as psychological testing, mental status examinations, and intelligence testing, including the Wechsler series, the Test of Nonverbal Intelligence, the Leiter International Performance Scale-Revised, and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Third Edition.
At age 18, the family’s income and assets no longer count for the adult with autism – only his or her assets – which usually are zero. The young adult can then apply for benefits. If your condition doesn’t to meet the disability listing for autistic disorders, the SSA will evaluate your residual functional capacity (RFC). Your RFC is the most you can perform in a work setting. The SSA will consider various skills, including your ability to sit, stand, and walk, your ability to work with others, and your ability to concentrate on tasks. To be found disabled, you must be unable to perform any jobs given your RFC.
If your autism is severe, then you will likely have problems interacting with the public and with supervisors, and these limitations should show up in your RFC. This will reduce the number of jobs that you can perform. Due to your autism, you may also have problems focusing on work tasks for an extended length of time. If you are unable to perform work at a competitive pace, then the SSA could consider you disabled because you are prevented from performing almost all jobs.
The Autism Society Inland Empire does not endorse the organizations listed here, they are provided solely as a reference for parents.
Autism Society Options Policy
This Resource Guide was developed to provide families and professionals with an opportunity to find resources related to autism in the Inland Empire in one place.
All information provided or published by the Autism Society Inland Empire is for information purposes only. Specific treatment, therapy or services should be provided to an individual only at the direction of the individual’s doctor, caregiver, or other qualified professional. References to any treatment or therapy option, program, service, or treatment provider are not an endorsement by the Autism Society. References of treatments, therapies, programs, services, and/or providers are not intended to be comprehensive statements. You should investigate alternatives that may be more appropriate for a specific individual. The Autism Society assumes no responsibility for the use made of any information published or provided. The Autism Society Inland Empire provides information, but it does not constitute medical or legal information. Referrals provided are suggestions to organizations that might help, but do not constitute a recommendation. The Autism Society Inland Empire cannot be held responsible for consequences that arise from individual dealings with a professional or organization. The inclusion of any organization does not imply endorsement, and omission does not imply disapproval. The Autism Society Inland Empire may add or remove organizations from this list at its discretion.
