What public benefits could a child with epilepsy qualify for in California?

Lisa Concoff Kronbeck, Undivided’s Public Benefits Specialist, wants parents to know that “epilepsy may qualify your child for public benefits,” such as Medi-Cal, Regional Center, IHSS, and California Children’s Services (CCS). However, for some of these benefits, your child will also need to have significant functional limitations in specific developmental areas such as self-care and economic self-sufficiency.

• Epilepsy is a qualifying diagnosis for Regional Center. If your child is under the age of three and diagnosed with or at the risk of being diagnosed with epilepsy, Regional Center can provide early intervention services. To be eligible for Regional Center services after age three, “a person must have a disability that begins before the individual’s 18th birthday that is expected to continue indefinitely and present a substantial disability.” A substantial disability — in this case, epilepsy — is defined as “a major impairment of cognitive and/or social functioning” and must include limitations in the three or more of these life areas: self-care, mobility, learning, self-direction, communication, capacity for independent living, and economic self-sufficiency.

• Epilepsy may also be a qualifying diagnosis for CCS under the category of “diseases of the nervous system” which produce physical disability that significantly impair daily function. Epilepsy may be eligible when “it is 1) a component of or secondary to a CCS-eligible condition, or 2) of unknown origin and requires: over four changes in dosage or medication types in the year of diagnosis; 3) requires two or more antiepileptic drugs to control seizures; or 4) frequent (at least monthly) medical office visits to monitor status and periodic blood tests; or 5) there is a history of status epilepticus within the past 12 months.” Some services you would receive include laboratory, pharmacy, neuropsychological and psychosocial services, EEGs, and surgery. Read more about how epilepsy can qualify for CCS here.

• Kronbeck adds that parents of teens with epilepsy can also apply to the Department of Rehabilitation — which provides vocational rehabilitation services to people with physical and mental disabilities — for assistance related to school and access to paratransit.

For a deeper dive into public benefits for children with medical complexity, including Medi-Cal, SSI, IHSS, CCS, Medi-Cal waivers, in-home nursing, and more, read our article Supporting Medically Complex Kids at Home.

See also our article Supporting a Child with Epilepsy at Home, at School, and in the Community.