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California Public Benefits: Accomplish More with Undivided Goals

Published: Oct. 8, 2024Updated: Oct. 29, 2024

These resources will help you make sure your child is receiving all the public benefits they qualify for to support their care — and that you know what those public benefits programs are! Choose which area you'd like to explore and then add to your Roadmap to get support for the goals included below.

Child care

Family & Life goal

Find specialized childcare

Get resources to find childcare providers.

Public Benefits goal

Apply for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) after enrolling in Medi-Cal

In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) helps fund care and supervision at home for children who need more care than typically developing children of their same age. You can apply for IHSS if your child receives Medi-Cal.

Care goal

Hire a third-party In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) provider

If your child has been approved for IHSS hours, a third-party caregiver can provide approved IHSS services in your home.

Early Start

Public Benefits goal

Apply to Regional Center Early Start

Children under age 3 may be eligible for early intervention services from Regional Center. Learn what the qualifications are and how to apply for your child.

Public Benefits goal

Fund early intervention

Learn what resources are available in California to fund early intervention therapies for children under 3 years old.

Public Benefits goal

Apply for the Medi-Cal waiver (HCBS-DD)

The Medi-Cal waiver allows your child to apply for Medi-Cal without regarding your household income. See our guide to applying.

Public Benefits goal

Apply for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) after enrolling in Medi-Cal

Care goal

Find a new provider

Whether you're looking to find a brand-new provider or switch to a provider who fits your family's needs better, these steps will help you find one with the funding methods available to you.

Funding

Public Benefits goal

Apply for Regional Center benefits

Individuals with certain disabilities and developmental delays can receive extra services and funding from Regional Center. Get help applying for these benefits in our step-by-step guide.

Public Benefits goal

Apply for the Medi-Cal waiver (HCBS-DD)

The Medi-Cal waiver allows your child to apply for Medi-Cal without regarding your household income. See our guide to applying.

Care goal

Use Medi-Cal and private insurance together

Medi-Cal may be used as secondary insurance to pay for certain expenses that primary health insurance doesn't cover. Find out how to best use your different types of insurance to get costs covered.

Public Benefits goal

Help my minor child apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Depending on your household income, your child may be eligible for SSI benefits before the age of 18.

Public Benefits goal

Apply for California Children's Services (CCS)

California Children’s Services (CCS) can be an avenue of assistance for children with significant medical needs who have one of the eligible diagnoses. Find out how to apply for CCS.

Public Benefits goal

Apply for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) after enrolling in Medi-Cal

IHSS Parent Provider

Public Benefits goal

Become an In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) parent provider

In some cases, parents can be authorized as the paid In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) provider. Learn how to become a parent provider here.

Public Benefits goal

Submit In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) sick hours as a parent provider

If you're a parent provider for an IHSS recipient, make sure you submit your sick hours before the end of the fiscal year on June 30.

Public Benefits goal

Prepare for my annual In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) home visit

Find out what you need to know to prepare for the annual IHSS visit.

Medically Complex

Public Benefits goal

Enroll in Medi-Cal using the HCBA waiver

If your child is not a Regional Center client, the HCBA waiver may allow them to access full-scope Medi-Cal.

Public Benefits goal

Apply for In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) after enrolling in Medi-Cal

Care goal

Get in-home nursing (LVN)

Learn how to apply for skilled nursing services to provide care for your child in your home.

Care goal

Support my medically complex child at home

Get tips and resources for organizing your home and medical supplies, managing refills, preparing for emergencies, traveling, and much more.

Contents

Overview

Child care

Early Start

Funding

IHSS Parent Provider

Medically Complex

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Related Resources

IHSS: In-Home Supportive Services

Decoder

Regional Center

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