Grants for Disabled People in Michigan

The state of Michigan is explicitly dedicated to the interests, concerns, and needs of Michiganders with disabilities. The state has over 10 million people, according to the 2020 US Census, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 2.3 million individuals are disabled. Here is a guide to the grants for disabled people in Michigan.

Legal Assistance

Persons with Disabilities Civil Rights Act – Act 220 0f 1976

Disabled persons in Michigan are protected under the law. Section 102 guarantees the right to seek work, housing, and other real estate, as well as full and equal use of public accommodations, public services, and educational institutions without discrimination based on handicap. Section 103 further instructs that, unless the individual establishes that the accommodation would impose an undue hardship, a person shall accommodate a person with a disability for employment, public accommodation, public service, education, or housing purposes. To learn more, please visit https://www.michigan.gov.

Healthcare Assistance for Disabled People

The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH)

Programs offered by the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) include home health, which offers licensed nurses and home health aides the opportunity to provide skilled nursing services and related personal care to qualifying individuals in their homes. Unskilled personal services, including meal preparation, dining help, grooming, laundry, shopping, and housekeeping, are offered by Home Help. Physical Disability Services (PDS) helps financially with home adaptations and purchasing durable medical equipment that Medicaid does not usually pay for. Read more at https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/assistance-programs/healthcare/disabilities

Medicaid MI Choice Waiver Program

The MI Choice Waiver Program is one of the programs that Michigan Medicaid manages. The Home and Community-Based Services for the Elderly and Disabled (HCBS/ED) waiver program was its first name when it started in 1992. It is currently called “the waiver” or the MI Choice Waiver Program.

By using MI Choice, qualified people who satisfy the requirements for income and assets can obtain Medicaid-covered services similar to those offered by nursing homes while remaining in their own homes or other residential settings. On October 1, 1998, the waiver was accessible in all Michigan counties. Each participant may get the basic services. Medicaid coverage in Michigan supports cooperation. The link to their official website is as follows  https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/assistance-programs/medicaid/portalhome/beneficiaries/programs/progbens/mi-choice-waiver-program

Financial and Social Security Assistance

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplementary Security Income (SSI)

The disability programs for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income are the largest of numerous government programs that help people with disabilities. While these two programs differ in many respects, they are both managed by the Social Security Administration. Only persons with a handicap who fulfill medical requirements may be eligible for payments under either program.

SSDI gives payments to individuals and some family members if they are “insured,” which means they have worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. SSI is paid depending on financial necessity. For further information, please follow the link https://www.ssa.gov/disability/

State Disability Assistance (SDA)

SDA pays financial benefits to qualified and disabled individuals. You may be eligible for SDA if you are the caregiver for a disabled person or are 65 or older. To learn more, please visit https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/assistance-programs/cash/sda

Housing and Rent Assistance

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA)

The Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), established in 1966, provides financial and technical assistance to create and preserve safe and decent affordable housing, engage in community economic development activities, develop vibrant cities, towns, and villages, and address homelessness issues through public and private partnerships.

Private investors fund MSHDA’s loans and operational expenditures by selling tax-exempt and taxable bonds and notes, not by state tax income. The proceeds of the bonds and notes are provided to rental housing developers at below-market interest rates, and they also support house mortgages and home repair loans. MSHDA also oversees some government housing initiatives. For more information, please go to https://www.michigan.gov/mshda/about.

Utility Bill Assistance for Disabled People

Michigan Energy Assistance Program (MEAP)

The MEAP’s mission is to design and manage programs that offer energy assistance and self-sufficiency services to qualified low-income households throughout the state. Self-sufficiency services include assisting participants with the following: timely payment of their energy bills; budgeting for and contributing to their ability to provide for energy expenses, which may include enrollment in an affordable payment plan (APP); and utilizing energy services to maximize energy efficiency. To see more information, please follow the link https://www.michigan.gov/mpsc/consumer/energy-assistance#:~:text=Get%20Help%20by%20Calling%202,assist%20with%20your%20energy%20bill.

Transportation Assistance for Disabled People

Permanent disability parking placard (Blue)

Those with qualifying permanent impairments can park in designated disability parking spots with the blue permanent disability parking placard.

While parked in an accessible parking area, the placard should be removed from the vehicle’s rearview mirror before driving.

Permanent placards are good for four years from their issuing date and will expire on your birthday. Permanent placards can be renewed up to 6 months before they expire online, via mail, or in person at a Secretary of State office. For further information, please follow the link https://www.michigan.gov/sos/vehicle/disability-parking.

Food Assistance for Disabled People

Food Assistance Program (FAP)

The Food Assistance Program (FAP) aims to increase low-income people’s food purchasing power. FAP benefits are not treated as income or assets by FIP, SDA Medicaid (MA), or any other federal, state, or local program. As a result, any other aid for which a FAP household qualifies is not diminished due to FAP payments. FAP benefits can be used to purchase qualified food items at any FNS-authorized retail food shop or approved meal provider. Eligible products include,

1. Any food or beverage intended for human use, excluding alcoholic drinks, cigarettes, and hot foods or foods ready for immediate consumption,
2. Seeds and plants for gardens to grow food for the eligible household’s consumption. 

For more information, please go to https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/assistance-programs/food.

Disabled Veterans Assistance

Health: Veterans who enroll in the VA healthcare system are allocated to a priority group. The VA uses priority groups to balance the demand for VA healthcare enrollment with available resources. Veterans with a 100 percent disability rating are eligible for Health Care Priority Group 1, which requires no co-payments.

Housing: Service members or veterans with a permanent and total service-connected disability may be eligible for a VA grant to help build a new, specially adapted house, adapt an existing home, or purchase a property and modify it to fit their disability-related needs. Veterans and military members who are eligible may now receive up to three awards, with the total financial amount not exceeding the maximum authorized. Past grant applicants who received less than the current maximum authorized amount may be eligible for a second grant. Read about other Disabled Veterans benefits at https://www.michigan.gov/mvaa.

Disabled Seniors Assistance

Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)

PACE is a capitated benefit established by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA) that includes a complete service delivery system and integrated Medicare and Medicaid funding for fragile, elderly adults who fulfill Long Term Care (LTC) level of care standards. Participants must be 55 years of age or older. To see more information, please follow the link https://www.michigan.gov/mdhhs/doing-business/providers/providers/other/program-of-all-inclusive-care-for-the-elderly-pace

Assistance from Charities

Michigan United Cerebral Palsy

In the year 2020, the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Metropolitan Detroit (UCP/Detroit) and the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Michigan (UCP/Michigan) combined to form MI-UCP (Michigan United Cerebral Palsy). The principal purpose of MI-UCP is to broaden the extent of service reach. Almost 65 percent of the people served by the charity have a handicap other than cerebral palsy. Autism, spinal cord injuries, intellectual difficulties, vision impairments, and other debilitating disorders are among them.

By rebranding as MI-UCP, the organization can function more efficiently and successfully as one of the state’s top providers of information, referrals, and strategic collaborations with other organizations. MI-UCP can remain a strong voice for all 1.4 million Michiganders with disabilities by establishing offices in Detroit and Lansing. For further information, please follow the link https://www.mi-ucp.org/about