What public benefits could a child with cerebral palsy (CP) be eligible for?

In California, CP is a qualifying diagnosis for California Children’s Services but not always for Regional Center. Children under age 3 with CP will qualify for Regional Center services if diagnosed with a developmental disability or risk of developmental delay. After age 3, to qualify for Regional Center services, the disability must result in “significant functional limitations” in three or more of these areas: self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, and economic self-sufficiency.

Medi-Cal is a needs-based program that is usually based on income. However, individuals with developmental disabilities who are ineligible based on income can request a waiver.

In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) provides services to Medi-Cal recipients who need in-home care to support tasks they cannot perform themselves, such as bathing, dressing, food preparation, toileting, medications, and domestic services. For children, whether IHSS funds these services depends on what their parent would be expected to provide to a typically developing child of the same age who doesn't have a disability.

For more information, see our full article Cerebral Palsy (CP) 101.