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The diagnosis of Down Syndrome is a presumptive condition for SSI, meaning that if someone has it and they meet the income criteria they qualify automatically. The amount of payment is based on a the families monthly income. It is a bit of a hassle taking in all the proof of monthly income each month by the 5th but it is worth it if you qualify. If you qualify for SSI you automatically get Medicaid.In some states your child may qualify for Medicaid even if you do not qualify for SSI-it just depends on the state.
Each state, and some counties have their own additional programs or services you can qualify for financial assistance or medical assistance. These programs are usually managed by the Department of Human Services in that state, county mental health agencies, or private agencies. Many state funded programs have waiting lists and in some states the child's disability or level of development must be moderately or profoundly behind. This can cause a problem because determining that a child is officially delayed enough prior to age three can be difficult. This is because the standards they measure children against can be broad.Most early intevention programs have a book or list of potential services you may qualify for and providing you with this information is required under the guidelines of Early Intervention.
I guess that what I am trying to say is that while you may not qualify for SSI with the resources you have, there may be other programs or services you can utilize for help.
Here is the newest information from SSA about resources data listed as 2006.
WHAT ARE RESOURCES
To get SSI benefits, your countable resources must not be worth more than $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple. We call this the resource limit. Countable resources are the things you own that count toward the resource limit. Many things you own do not count. What things do not count toward the resource limit? The following things generally do not count toward the resource limit, no matter how much they are worth:the house you live in; your car, if it is used for transportation for you or a member of your household; life insurance policies you own with a face value of $1,500 or less per person;burial plots or spaces for you or your immediate family; a burial fund of up to $1,500 each for you and your spouse's burial expenses;household goods and personal effects; property you or your spouse use in a trade or business, or on your job if you work for someone else.
What are resources?
Resources are cash and things you own and can turn into cash. Examples of resourcesresources are bank accounts, vehicles, property, stocks and bonds.
Why are resources important in the SSI Program?
To get SSI benefits, your countable resourcesresources must not be worth more than $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a married couple. We call this the resource limit.
ABOUT TRANSFERRING RESOURCES
What does it mean to transfer resources?
Transferring a resource is giving away or selling a resource. For example, giving away cash to another person is a transfer of resources.
What happens to my SSI benefits if I transfer a resource?
If you, your spouse, or a co–owner give away a resource or sell it for less than it is worth, you may be ineligible for SSI benefits for up to 36 months. How long you are ineligible for benefits depends on the value of the resource you transferred.
What happens if I sell a resource?
If you sell a resource for what it is worth, the 36–month ineligibility period does not apply. But, the money you receive from the sale may make you ineligible if it puts you over the $2,000 resource limit for an individual or $3,000 for a couple.
What happens if I put my resources into a trust?
In some cases, we consider putting resources into a trust as a transfer of resources that makes you ineligible for SSI benefits. In other cases, we count the trust itself as a resource. Moreover, the value of the trust could put you over the resource limit.
How does transferring a resource affect Medicaid coverage?
Medicaid may not pay for certain health care costs if you or your spouse give away a resource or sell it for less than it is worth. If you have any questions about how transferring a resource affects Medicaid coverage, please contact the welfare or social services agency that handles Medicaid in your area. They can answer your questions about how transferring resourcesresources affects Medicaid.
http://www.ssa.gov/notices/supplemental-security-income/links-to-spotlights.htm#links
Here is a link to about another program:
State Children's Health Insurance Program
The State Children’s Health Insurance Program enables states to provide health insurance to children from working families with incomes too high to qualify for Medicaid, but too low to afford private health insurance. The program provides coverage for prescription drugs, vision, hearing and mental health services and is available in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. Your state Medicaid agency can provide more information about this program, or you can get more information at http://www.cms.gov/schip on the Internet or by calling 1-877-543-7669.
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03-09-2006 03:03 PM
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I guess you could always have a lockbox or something at home...as long as it isn't in the bank?