Medwaiver
Agency for Persons with Disabilities
(866) 273-2273
*Autism is one of the qualifying disabilities for MedWaiver.
Nearest APD Office - APD Southeast Region
111 South Sapodilla Avenue Suite 204
West Palm Beach, FL 33401
(844) 766-7520
Applying for MedWaiver
1) Fill out the APD MedWaiver application.
2) You will need documentation of the disability which is specific in the application.
3) Make a copy of the application and all supporting documentation.
4) Bring or mail the copies to the APD office, if you go in person it is important to get the name of the person you give the paperwork to. It is suggested that in person is better.
5) Ask the person who the state support coordinator for your area is and how to get in contact with them.
6) The support coordinator will be the person who works with your family and ensures services are provided.
7) The current waitlist is 10-15 years, which is why it is crucial to submit the application sooner than later. It is important to keep calling once on the waitlist. This is because excess funding may become available, and you may receive services more quickly if you have been calling and keeping in contact with the office frequently advocating for your child.
Supplemental Security Income SSI
Disability Determinations Office in Orlando
(800) 342-2065
**Must be filled out by a qualifying physician**
Then take to your local DMV with your child's birth certificate, you can receive 2 decals and they are good for 4 years.
Applying for SSI (Income Based)
1) Contact Local Social Security Administration Office (800) 772-1213
2) Once you speak to a representative, you explain you would like to apply for SSI for your child.
3) The agent will begin the application process for you and will then give you a date and time that Social Security will call you to finish the application.
4) On the appointment date, Social Security will ask for your financial information as well as all of your child's doctors, specialists, and therapists information. It is very important that you have this information available, especially your child's doctors/specialist/therapists as this is who Social Security reaches out to for all of your child's medical info.
5) Once your appointment is completed your child's application is then sent to the Disability Determinations Office in Orlando, from there your child will receive a case worker who is assigned to your child's application.
6) Letters are sent out to all of your child's doctors, specialists, therapists requesting your child's records. It is very important that you as a parent ask and make sure that your child's doctors etc. have sent in your child's records as some may not be on top of it or may fail to send in the paperwork which could affect your child's disability determination.
7) Once records are received the Social Security Office will make a determination on your child's application. Please take into consideration that your family's income and assets may factor into your child being awarded benefits, and that this could affect a disability determination.
8) If awarded disability, you will receive a letter stating your child has been awarded it. The case worker will more than likely also reach out stating your child has been deemed disabled. If awarded, it is important to note that you must send in your family's income each month as your child's monthly financial benefit will be based on your family's monthly gross income. If you fail to do so you could receive an overpayment which could result in your child losing their benefits, losing 10% of future benefits each month or having to pay back whatever amount SSI determines is owed in full.
9) If deemed disabled your child will also be awarded Medicaid. Most common is Children's Medical Services through Sunshine Health. It is a Medicaid specifically for children with special needs.
*For our family it took roughly four months from finished application to approval. However, it is a case by case approval therefore approval time may vary.
