Original Date of Application Verified

F.N.'s parents applied for their daughter to be on the Developmental Disabilities Medicaid Waiver (DD Waiver) in 1995 by going to the Income Support Division (ISD) office where food stamps, now called Electronic Bank Transfer (EBT) cards, are given out. The worker told the parents that she thought their income was too high to receive the DD Waiver, which was incorrect. Parents' income should not be considered when applying for Medicaid Waiver programs, only the individual's income.

Luckily, the parents kept a copy of the application all these years that had the original date on the front. As the years went by, F.N.'s parents wondered what had happened to their adult child's status on the DD Waiver Waiting List.

A few years ago the parents were told that the daughter's application was lost and that they needed to reapply for their daughter, which they did.

Two more years went by, and in frustration, F.N.'s father called Protection and Advocacy for assistance. The parent was told that the DD Wait list was taking applications from 1995 and that if they could find the original application, there was a chance that F.N. could secure the earlier status from 1995 and begin receiving services through the DD Medicaid Waiver.

Another month went by and the original application with the 1995 date was found in a box, deep in the family's closet. When the information was faxed to the regional office for Long Term Services, the original date was honored.

F.N. is currently receiving services on the DD Waiver. She has a case manager, and the family has decided upon a residential provider with a small house for F.N. to rent and staff to assist her around the clock.