The Tangled Web of Benefits

Honestly, we weren't sure where to start with benefits...beyond that Social Security appointment. I knew we needed to get in touch with the Department of Human Services, but I had no clue what they even had to offer. Pulled the application form, but what do I select? Tried to telephone, but can't get anyone on the phone. I finally decided to fill out the paperwork as best I could and send it in and see what happened. We received a notice not too long after that we had a telephone appointment to run through the application and determine benefits. Great. Date and Time set for us...great...oh no, 10a.m. I guess I won't be in to work right away. Lovely.

To find the initial contact for the Department of Human Services I Googled them. Besides getting the right address and finding the application, I also discovered that we had a potential connect with Options & Advocacy to get on the state PUNS list (Prioritization of Urgency of Need for Services). Excellent! Emailed Options & Advocacy for more information and set up an appointment. The great news, appointment fairly quickly...the bad news...the person told me on the telephone "just so you know, Illinois is one of the worst states for benefits for people with Developmental Disabilities." Fantastic - NOT. We had our appointment with Options & Advocacy. They were very nice and as helpful as they could be. They determined that Sharon was eligible to be put on the PUNS list, but the sad part is that, because she isn't an emergency case (and because our state is in the economic situation it is in particularly), Sharon might not see action from the PUNS list for several years - or at all - if she is lucky. Crap!

Contacts generated from meeting with Options & Advocacy. We will meet with Pioneer Center in McHenry. The great thing is that they have lots of services for people like Sharon. The bad thing (why does there always have to be a bad thing?) is that because of our state's economic situation - again - they have not received many of the grants that they normally would so Options & Advocacy was not sure how much benefit Sharon might be eligible for. Okay, we will try anyway...oh, but wait, before we try Pioneer. Another connection from them...try the Department of Rehabilitation in Elgin. They have a different pool of money that they pull from and may be able to help first to make Sharon eligible for services at Pioneer.

Oh my gosh, documenting, documenting. My head is a jumble of information that I can't trust to remember! Next stop on this road, Department of Rehabilitation. One phrase until then - WE LOVE JOSEPHINE...she is awesome. More soon....