In simple terms…

PUNS is money given every month by the state and stands for Prioritization of Urgency of Needs for Services.

SSI is money given every month by the federal government and stands for Supplemental Security Income.

SSDI is money given every month by the federal government and stands for Social Security Disability Insurance (this is not health insurance).  

DHS is money given every month by the state and stands for Department of Human Services.

DRS helps with learning job skills and finding a job and stands for Department of Rehabilitation Services.

ABLE is a special checking, savings, and/or investment bank account for the disabled and stands for Achieving a Better Life Experience.

Benefits have eligibility requirements, and your loved one would typically need to have an identified developmental, intellectual, or physical disability to qualify.  Many benefits do require a Social Security Number to access.  

Also, things change when your loved one turns 18, and they may be eligible for more benefits after they become an adult. The Parent 18th Birthday Benefit Blueprint is an easy-to-use guide to the most timely order to access benefits (because who has time to waste?).  

If you are unsure if your loved one has a developmental, intellectual, or physical disability that qualifies, download the FREE Start Here guide to find out!

Once you know your loved one’s Social Security Number and disability and/or IQ, you’re ready! 

Generally speaking, it’s best to start where wait time matters—the PUNS list!  Then, set up an ABLE Account or Special Needs Trust to move any significant funds (i.e., over $2,000) into a ‘safe zone.’  Both of these benefits can be and should be accessed before your loved one turns 18 years old, but they can also be done after.  

For all the other steps, check out the Parent 18th Birthday Benefit Blueprint (which is applicable for those young and older than 18 years old, too). 

Yes and no.  You could spend hours and hours or even days, weeks, or months researching, reading, and making sense of all the information that is out there.  You’ll probably find a lot that isn’t true and even more that doesn’t apply to your loved one.  If you aren’t deeply familiar with disability terms, adult services vocabulary, and legal jargon, then most of it will likely leave you confused and frustrated.  

Other information is only shared with those who are going through the process.  Having worked alongside many families, I’ve learned what isn’t freely shared on the internet and made it accessible in a detailed, easy-to-read document. 

Yes, a benefit granted to your loved one will stay with them. In short, when your loved one is the direct recipient of the benefit, they are more protected from indirect changes, like a shift in a family member’s job or income.  

Some protections, like a Representative Payee for SSI, are built into some benefits to help safeguard the support from misuse and nefarious people.  

Other benefits, like Supported Decision Making, Power of Attorney, and Guardianship, are designed to allow for other people to provide necessary support and protection to your loved one. 

Special Education services are entitlement services, meaning the public school system is responsible for identifying and supporting students with disabilities.  

Since disability benefits are eligibility-based supports rather than entitlements, they require more effort and knowledge to learn about and access, and unfortunately, that responsibility falls on the shoulders of loved ones.  

Also, accessing various available resources means they come from different sources.  Some benefits are funded at the federal level, others are managed at the state level, and others are overseen at the county level.   

Thankfully, the Parent 18th Birthday Benefit Blueprint can provide purposeful guidance for families!

Yes, the Guardianship Benefit Guide can explain the process to you and help you decide whether to handle this pro se (on your own) or with the help of a lawyer.  

There are also other options besides guardianship. Guardianship is the most extreme decision-making alternative. Other decision-making options include a Letter of Intent, Supported Decision-Making, and Power of Attorney, all of which are free!   

Knowing each option really will help you make the best decision and will help you know what other options are available if more or less decision-making control is needed in the future.  

With that said, I am not a certified lawyer and cannot advise on general or nuanced cases. 

Yes, absolutely!  While benefit coordinators and lawyers can be really helpful in specific cases, they are quite costly ($$$$+), and sadly, so many families aren’t getting the resources they need for their loved ones because of a lack of information.  

The benefit guide resources were designed to be both affordable and easy to understand. You don’t need more reminders or deep pockets; you need more information to take action! 

While the step-by-step benefit guides are designed to empower a family and their loved one(s), each purchase has a license for 1 family.  Freely sharing with others, including via email or on social media sites, would violate the Terms of Use.  

For discounted bulk orders, please complete the form at the end of this page. I'm happy to work directly with you to craft an order that meets your specific needs.