Resources For Families of Children With Cerebral Palsy- Katie Beckett

Here at Tyrone Law Firm we, do everything we can to help families who have children with special needs.  In fact, we have dedicated members of our staff who have had to navigate a path for their own children. If you are a parent with a child with Cerebral Palsy or hypoxic brain injury, we hope these posts will bring new resources for you, your child, and your family:

Babies and children with Cerebral Palsy, hypoxic brain injuries or other disabilities require extensive medical care and can be hard to care for financially. Katie Beckett (KB), also known as Katie Beckett Medicaid, was established in 1982, after the parents of Katie Beckett fought for financial support for their daughter. KB is a resource to benefit families of disabled children, who do not qualify for Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This allows families to ignore family income and still provide therapy and quality care for their child. Qualification is not determined by medical diagnosis, but rather upon the level of care the child may need. Before 1981, the government would only help with care of disabled children who were institutionalized.

Despite income, your child may be eligible for Medicaid through the Katie Beckett Program, if they:

• under the age of 18 and determined disabled by the Social Security Act standards
• requires a level of care at home that would typically be provided in a hospital or institution
• can be properly and safely cared for in the family residence
• do not have income or assets in their name that exceeds the standards for a child living in an institution
• do not incur costs for care at home that would exceed the cost of care in an instution.

The first step in qualifying for Katie Beckett is to apply for SSI at your local Social Security office. If your child qualifies for SSI, they automatically qualify for SSI Medicaid, and will not qualify for KB. If your child does not qualify for SSI, they will receive a denial letter. YOU MUST not lose this letter as you will need it to apply for KB.

There are forms that have to be filled out  providers, such as the Doctors Recommendation For Pediatric Care and The Medical Necessity/Level of Care Statement. These forms and guides can be found online or at your local DFCS office.

You will need the following items to properly apply for KB:

• Your childs social security number
• Your childs birth certificate
• Proof of income (tax return from the previous year or 4 consecutive pay stubs)
• Bank account number and safety deposit box numbers
• A list of material assets including cars, house, etc.
• A Psychoeducational evaluation, recent within the last year, which was completed by a Ph.D.
• Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP), if applicable
• Individualized Education Plan (IEP), if your child attends school
• DMA-6 Medical form completed and signed by your child’s pediatrician.
• Care Plan, or Level of Care Statement, signed by the physician

If you would like to know more about The Katie Beckett  Waiver, or other resources for your family, please do not hesitate to contact us at The Tyrone Law Firm. You can also find more information on the web at: https://dch.georgia.gov/tefra.