Autism Community Services prides itself on being one of the first agencies in New Jersey to have transitional specialists available to help individuals and family members navigate through the transition from educational entitlement to DDD services. Division services are available to individuals who are age 21 or older and meet all other eligibility requirements.
Autism Community Services prides itself on being one of the first agencies in New Jersey to have transitional specialists available to help individuals and family members navigate through the transition from educational entitlement to DDD services. Division services are available to individuals who are age 21 or older and meet all other eligibility requirements.
The first thing you need to know is that qualifying for DDD services as an adult in New Jersey is a different process from the one you may have gone through to ensure your loved one qualified for services as a child. Individuals with developmental disabilities who are 21 or older receive state services from the Department of Developmental Disabilities.
Unfortunately, your child’s qualification doesn’t simply roll over on his or her 21st birthday. Even if your child qualified for benefits as a child, you’ll still need to navigate the process again when your loved one with developmental disabilities becomes an adult. We’ll review the steps you should take and where to turn when you need help.
According to the state of New Jersey, to receive DDD services, your child must be determined to meet the functional criteria of having a disability. Your child must be eligible for Medicaid and must be a verifiable primary resident of the state of New Jersey. All of this is proven through an application and supporting documents and records. Let’s first break down these two points:
To meet the criteria and qualify for DDD services as an adult in New Jersey, your child or loved one must have a chronic developmental disability, which can be physical and/or intellectual, that manifested before age 22 and is a lifelong condition. This condition or combination of conditions must substantially limit your child in at least three of these areas of life activity:
This can be frustrating for some families whose children may be profoundly limited in two areas but only mildly limited in others, thus preventing them from qualifying.
Hopefully, this is the easy one. You must be able to prove that your child is a resident of the state. You’ll need photocopies of your child’s birth certificate and social security card (or proof of citizenship or green card) as well as one of the following:
If you need assistance with this step or don’t have one or more of the above forms of documentation, please contact us or the DDD for assistance.
Hopefully, this is the easy one. You must be able to prove that your child is a resident of the state. You’ll need photocopies of your child’s birth certificate and social security card (or proof of citizenship or green card) as well as one of the following:
If you need assistance with this step or don’t have one or more of the above forms of documentation, please contact us or the DDD for assistance.
Because there are several ways to initiate Medicaid eligibility, be sure to visit Medicaid Eligibility and DDD and read about the different paths to eligibility. Most commonly, individuals with developmental disabilities receive SSI (Supplemental Security Income), which automatically makes them eligible for Medicaid. This program pays a monthly benefit to children and adults with disabilities who have limited income and resources. If your loved one does not yet receive SSI, your first step should be to apply. You can learn about the program and apply at ssa.gov/ssi.
If your loved one does not meet the income requirements for SSI, you should apply for Medicaid directly. You must complete an application for Medicaid for your child or loved one as his or her designated authorized representative. You’ll apply using your adult child’s own financial and employment records, not yours, so your income as a parent or relative does not affect your loved one’s ability to qualify for Medicaid.
To learn more about the application process and access the checklists and forms you’ll need to apply, visit
NJ FamilyCare: Aged, Blind, Disabled (ABD) Programs. If you need help with this step, please contact ACS or DDD’s Medicaid Eligibility Helpdesk:
DDD.MediEligHelpdesk@dhs.state.nj.us.
Because there are several ways to initiate Medicaid eligibility, be sure to visit Medicaid Eligibility and DDD and read about the different paths to eligibility. Most commonly, individuals with developmental disabilities receive SSI (Supplemental Security Income), which automatically makes them eligible for Medicaid. This program pays a monthly benefit to children and adults with disabilities who have limited income and resources. If your loved one does not yet receive SSI, your first step should be to apply. You can learn about the program and apply at ssa.gov/ssi.
If your loved one does not meet the income requirements for SSI, you should apply for Medicaid directly. You must complete an application for Medicaid for your child or loved one as his or her designated authorized representative. You’ll apply using your adult child’s own financial and employment records, not yours, so your income as a parent or relative does not affect your loved one’s ability to qualify for Medicaid.
To learn more about the application process and access the checklists and forms you’ll need to apply, visit
NJ FamilyCare: Aged, Blind, Disabled (ABD) Programs. If you need help with this step, please contact ACS or DDD’s Medicaid Eligibility Helpdesk:
DDD.MediEligHelpdesk@dhs.state.nj.us.
As the caregiver, you can complete the application that will determine if your loved one will qualify for services through the DDD as an adult in New Jersey. However, he or she must sign his or her name (you’ll sign as a witness). In addition to the application, documents should also be included as needed to prove that your child or loved one meets the functional criteria for eligibility. Be sure to provide photocopies only and retain all originals.
It’s important to note that an individual must be 18 years of age or older to be evaluated by the DDD for functional eligibility for services, so you can begin the process well before your child turns 21 (when he or she becomes eligible to receive services from the DDD).
The completed Application for Eligibility, including all signed forms and related documentation, must be mailed to the
Community Services Office that serves the applicant’s county of residence and addressed to the Division of Developmental Disabilities Intake.
According to the DDD, if you have questions about whether or not you or your loved one meets the criteria to be eligible for DDD-funded services or need assistance completing the application, you can contact the
Community Services Office that serves the county in which you live. A DDD intake worker will talk with you about your situation and, if needed, guide you through the application process. You can also contact the office if your loved one is deemed ineligible, or while you’re waiting for a decision to be made. The DDD may be able to offer resources and services even if your loved one has not received his or her determination.
Of course, you can also contact us here at ACS and we’ll be happy to help you! No matter where you are in the process—whether you’re waiting for the results, have been denied, or haven’t even begun filling out the application—we can help! Contact ACS today for more information and support about services for individuals with developmental disabilities.
According to the DDD, if you have questions about whether or not you or your loved one meets the criteria to be eligible for DDD-funded services or need assistance completing the application, you can contact the
Community Services Office that serves the county in which you live. A DDD intake worker will talk with you about your situation and, if needed, guide you through the application process. You can also contact the office if your loved one is deemed ineligible, or while you’re waiting for a decision to be made. The DDD may be able to offer resources and services even if your loved one has not received his or her determination.
Of course, you can also contact us here at ACS and we’ll be happy to help you! No matter where you are in the process—whether you’re waiting for the results, have been denied, or haven’t even begun filling out the application—we can help! Contact ACS today for more information and support about services for individuals with developmental disabilities.
By utilizing a person-centered approach with each service recipient we support, we have developed a unique and effective way to truly understand the hopes and needs of each person we partner with. This model allows us to build long-lasting working relationships while enhancing each team member's quality of life.
We assist individuals with disabilities in improving their quality of life, family life, self-perception, self-esteem, confidence, ability to gain and retain employment, ability to live independently in their home, and ability to decrease depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns, to achieve more successful outcomes.
By utilizing a person-centered approach with each service recipient we support, we have developed a unique and effective way to truly understand the hopes and needs of each person we partner with. This model allows us to build long-lasting working relationships while enhancing each team member's quality of life.
We assist individuals with disabilities in improving their quality of life, family life, self-perception, self-esteem, confidence, ability to gain and retain employment, ability to live independently in their home, and ability to decrease depression, anxiety, and other mental health concerns, to achieve more successful outcomes.
Phone:
Email:
contact@autismcommunityservices.com
Address:
505 Thornall St, STE 306
Edison, NJ 08837
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