New and so misinformed.....

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Hello, My 29 year old son has asperger's and receives social security, he does and has always lived with me and i have lovingly and unconditionally just done whatever i need to do to take care of him. For me it has been like taking care of a young child never ending...it just continues, I love my son so much it has never occurred to me to be any other way than to just assist and care for him. Over the years many people have told me iam entitled to receive money for all of the assistance i provide for my son, including driving him anywhere he needs to go, handling all of his dr appts etc, my son is high functioning and can do somethings for himself but it is not without assistance and or monitoring. and Iam the one who provides this for him 24/7 365
I have called numerous times the in home health care services to try to apply for reimbursement for taking care of my son, and every time i was treated so disrespectful and rude, they told me if he can take a shower and brush his teeth that iam not entitled to any payment for taking care of him!
I have also tried to get my son on lotto lists for section 8 housing to no avail, please post here if you can help me with any of these things i need help with. Just as they do not give you a handbook when you leave the hospital with your babies, they do not give you a handbook when your child is diagnosed with autism/asperger's....and it makes it hard for people like me who do not know.....thank you for anyone who can provide me information and or help me with my situation.....

http://www.aafp.org/news/government-med ... ivers.html
Autism Speaks and AARP support a family caregivers bill that passed the Senate last year but as far as I can tell, did not pass the House of Representatives and died. More than likely the bill will be re-introduced this year.

You do get to claim him as a dependent on your tax return.

Have you tried SSI for him? SSDI if he has worked a year or so?

thank you! My son does get ssi. the monthly amount he gets is not enough where he could go out on his own rent an apartment, pay utilities, food etc, plus he has no way of getting around and needs help with doing so. I am fairly certain that if anything did happen to me, the state would have to provide him with assistance doing the things i currently do, and is why i also feel it is only fair to compensate me? i dont mean to sound like i am an entitled person because that is not me at all, i could just use the help, and i do earn it. regardless the main focus truly is to make sure my son is set up so that if anything were to happen to me , he will be ok, and i would like to make every effort to see this come to fruition....thanks for your replies and if anyone has any further info on how or where i can get help please let me know...

No. I don't think you're "entitled."

I feel a person is entitled to a life with dignity, without feeling that he/she is a "lesser" person because of a disability (or because someone has a child with a disability).

I've heard different things about "vocational rehabilitation" (both good and bad).

Has he ever had employment? Does he have a college degree?

http://autismdaybyday.blogspot.com/2013 ... or-ca.html

California assistance program

http://articles.complexchild.com/may2011/00291.html
This is old but may give you an idea of what may be available

These programs are likely to change due to budgetary pressures. Funding may be cut to balance the state budget.

http://www.cdss.ca.gov/agedblinddisabled/PG1296.htm
A county social worker will interview you at your home to determine your eligibility and need for IHSS