TIMELINE:
15-21 years old
HIGH SCHOOL AND PREPARING FOR ADULTHOOD.
Now is the time to plan for your child’s transition from adolescence to adult life. Shift your focus to helping them achieve the greatest possible level of independence. Be sure to check into all educational opportunities for vocational exploration, daily living skills and independence.
IN BRIEF
Before turning 18, a child's eligibility for government benefits is based upon their parents' income and assets. In many cases, the parents' level of income and assets will disqualify the child’s eligibility for means-based benefits such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid. At age 18, a child's eligibility for government benefits changes.
Regardless of your child’s current abilities and/or your current financial status, it is key for every family's plan to maximize their child's eligibility for government benefits. It is important not to eliminate options or jeopardize potential benefits by improper planning.
Source: The Special Needs Planning Guide, How to Prepare for Every Stage of Your Child's Life, Haddad/Nadworny, 2021, Brookes Publishing.
Guardianship
Spend down assets or establish a trust
Transition to Adult Service
Identify the primary government agency
Explore Government Services
Real Estate
Key Takeaway
Planning for when your child ages out of the public school system may come with added stressors and unknowns about benefits and services. It is crucial to stay open-minded.
There is no perfect solution for every child right when they turn age 21 or 22. Planning for what they will do all day, how they will get there, where they will live, how they will socialize with others, and who will care for them takes time and creativity. Being flexible enough to know that what you plan for today may not be what they will do for the rest of their life is helpful in your planning and advocacy efforts. Most people do not stay in the same job they have when they finish school, nor do they live in the same home or neighborhood. You will need to explore options, keeping in mind that the availability of residential services may be limited by long waitlists or other constraints.
If you haven't already, we encourage you to begin building out a plan that will carry on and help your loved one with a disability feel fully supported and secure. Download Sequoia's Letter of Intent document to organize this information.
TIMELINE RESOURCE PAGES
RESOURCES
Check out the Knowledge Bank—with our compliments!
We are committed to sharing free educational resources with all members of the disability community. Our Knowledge Bank has a catalog of information, along with downloadable checklists and tools, to help you. We also publish the Special Needs Planning Blog to keep our followers up to date with relevant information and events.