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My Child is 14 - 21 Years Old
Even at Age 13 or younger
FINANCES
Begin to get your finances in order well before your child turns 18. Failure to do so can impact the child's ability to be Social Security Insurance (SSI) eligible or receive reduced benefits when they turn 18.
SS office may do a multi-year financial look back at your child's finances. Seek professional financial/legal services counsel​.
Check out the Financial Topics page on this website.
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Investigate options such as; a Specialized Needs Trust and/or an ABLE Account.
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CHILDREN'S SYSTEM OF CARE
Register your child (also known as PERFORM care). Once registered, you MUST reregister EVERY year until 21. At 21 your child will need to register with DDD
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TRANSITION PLAN
Ensure your child's IEP has a Transition Plan built into it. Begin to think about at what age you want your child to graduate 18 or up through 21.
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TRANSITION PLANNING
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Ensure your IEP has a ROBUST, OUTCOME ORIENTED Transition Plan built in.​​
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FULL or PARTIAL GUARDIANSHIP or POWER OF ATTORNEY or SOMETHING ELSE
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Time to start thinking about what your child will want when they turn 18 (age of being a legal adult) in terms of future needs/care. Will they need full, partial guardianship or very limited, if any support beyond the direct supports they currently have or will build.
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SOCIAL SECURITY (SSI)​
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Your child may/may not be SSI eligible prior to turning 18. If they are not, they should definitely apply at 18.
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SOCIAL SECURITY (SSI)​
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Your child may/may not be SSI eligible prior to turning 18. If they are not, they should definitely apply at 18.
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MEDICAID​
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My Child is 14 - 21 Years Old
Even at Age 13 or younger
FINANCES
Begin to get your finances in order well before your child turns 18. Failure to do so can impact the child's ability to be Social Security Insurance (SSI) eligible or receive reduced benefits when they turn 18.
SS office may do a multi-year financial look back at your child's finances. Seek professional financial/legal services counsel​.
Check out the Financial Topics page on this website.
​
Investigate options such as; a Specialized Needs Trust and/or an ABLE Account.
​
CHILDREN'S SYSTEM OF CARE
Register your child (also known as PERFORM care). Once registered, you MUST reregister EVERY year until 21. At 21 your child will need to register with DDD
​
​
TRANSITION PLAN
Ensure your child's IEP has a Transition Plan built into it. Begin to think about at what age you want your child to graduate 18 or up through 21.
​​
TRANSITION PLANNING
​
Ensure your IEP has a ROBUST, OUTCOME ORIENTED Transition Plan built in.​​
​
FULL or PARTIAL GUARDIANSHIP or POWER OF ATTORNEY or SOMETHING ELSE
​
Time to start thinking about what your child will want when they turn 18 (age of being a legal adult) in terms of future needs/care. Will they need full, partial guardianship or very limited, if any support beyond the direct supports they currently have or will build.
​
​
SOCIAL SECURITY (SSI)​
​​
Your child may/may not be SSI eligible prior to turning 18. If they are not eligible before 18, they should definitely apply as soon as they turn 18.
​
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Division of Developmental Disabilities - DDD.
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DDD services are available to your child when they turn 21, though you may apply when they turn 18. Services are offered, ONLY if you have gotten Medicaid (which comes with Social Security once you are approved).
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NJ DDD - Website for Application process
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FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF WITH THE AGING OUT OF SCHOOL SYSTEM CALENDAR
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2019 - Aging out of school system calendar - DDD
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