Housing

Housing

Ages: 18 - 21

Young Adults and the Transition to Housing: Preparation and Choices

Whether you are in college, trade school, working or staying enrolled in your school district, this is a time of transition and the beginning of adulthood. As part of that process, it is important to keep working on increasing your life skills which help prepare you for living in the right kind of housing for your needs.

Milestones Independent Living Skills Checklist for Adults

This Milestones Autism Planning (MAP) Tool features an Adult Independent Living Skills Checklist to help you work on skills and assess your progress. Each person’s strengths, challenges and sensory issues are different. These are goals to gradually work on, using the life skill tips and information for different ages and stages throughout the MAP.

We have identified essential skill areas an adult needs in order to live independently or in the type of housing that is appropriate for their needs. In each category we provide examples of skills and knowledge to build toward. Think through who will be most helpful for learning skills and reaching goals. For example, therapists, counselor or other professionals, family and close friends

If you are still in high school, it is important for Age Appropriate Transition Assessments (AATAs) to be conducted each year. The AATA should include independent living skills and help determine services you need to achieve your goals as an adult. The AATA is typically done in school but can also happen in other therapeutic settings.

Your Developmental Disabilities Agency

Make sure you maintain your connection with your local Department of Developmental Disabilities. (Depending on where you are located your Department of Developmental Disabilities may be run by your county or state.)

Check on what the eligibility and re-eligibility procedures and at what age are for your Department of Developmental Disabilities’ services.

If you haven’t explored applying to your local development disabilities agency, this is a good time to think about it. They offer limited resources that vary by state and can be very helpful. You can ask about what they offer to help with issues you’re concerned about including planning for housing.

If Living In a Dorm or Apartment for College

The Transition from High School to College or Technical School article in the MAP and the Milestones Postsecondary/College Tool Kit provide tips, information and life skills to work on for this transition and for the first year of college.

A Special Note to Families: The Big Questions

Everything leads to the big stressful questions parents and families worry about for their loved ones:

  • Will my loved one be able to live independently as an adult?
  • What kind of environment and supports will be right for them?
  • Who is going to care for my adult child after I am gone?

We know these are scary questions. We are here for you. The Milestones free autism Helpdesk can provide you with tips and connect you with resources. We also offer in-depth individual and family consultations that can be helpful for thinking through transitions and issues like planning for housing.

Plan Ahead for Funding Home

Applying for Benefits at 18 and Financial Issues

In most states, 18 years old is considered the age of majority when you are considered an adult. You may want to explore if you qualify for different programs and prepare financially.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a federal program that provides financial help for children and adults with disabilities who have low incomes and resources.

SSI is available for individuals over the age of 18 who meet the Social Security Administration’s definition of disability for an adult. In addition to meeting the disability criteria, the person must have low income and resources that do not exceed $2,000. Once a child with disabilities turn 18, the parents’ income and resources are not counted toward the adult child with disabilites’ eligibility for SSI.

Start by contacting the Social Security Administration because the process is paperwork driven. Provide them with documentation such as medical materials, and you will need to sign permission to allow Social Security to speak with your medical providers.

Medicaid

When you turn 18 years old you can apply for Medicaid and your parent's income is not counted in qualifying. Medicaid is a need-based federal program that provides health coverage for people with disabilities and low-income adults and children. If you qualify for SSI, you will automatically be enrolled in Medicaid.

Setting Up a Special Needs Trust and/or ABLE Account

Think about financial arrangements and plan ahead including whether a special needs trust account, specific benefits and/or an ABLE account are right for you.

If your receive or might receive government benefits based on income limits, bear in mind that you cannot have more than $2,000 in assets or cash in your name (always check the current status for yourself).

Open an ABLE account, which is a special saving account for people with disabilities that does not affect needs-based benefits such as Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). It may have different names in different states, for example in Ohio it's called a STABLE account. This OCALI workshop video gives information about STABLE accounts and special needs trusts.

You may also want to set up a Representative Payee which is someone who manages your money for you when you can’t so your payee can write checks for you. Apply through the Social Security office nearest you. The payee can be a trusted adult or a professional at an agency that provides payee services.

You’ll find more information in this law and finance article in the MAP. The Milestones Legal Resources Tool Kit provides useful information as well.

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