Do I have to use all my child's budget in the first year of the Self-Determination Program (SDP)?

If your child is in their first year of SDP, you may wonder whether you need to use all the funds up so that you can get the same budget next year. In general, Regional Centers seem to understand that the first year might not match the budget you are given because it can take a while to onboard new employees and find vendors. If you can explain why you didn’t use the funds, you will likely still receive them.

However, with Regional Centers facing budget cuts, it is more likely that you can keep your budget next year if you spend all of the money this year. It's more important after the first year to use all your budget if you want to receive the same amount the following year.

If you move through year two or year three and still have an overage, the Regional Center will likely start to question why the money isn’t being used. It is less "use it or lose it" and more of assessing whether you really need the service.