Grants for Disabled People in North Carolina
North Carolina has 2,521,022 disabled adults. This is equivalent to 30% of the adult population or 1 in 4 adults with functional impairment. The state’s healthcare spending is approximately $20.3 billion a year, or about $13,543 per disabled person. Disability reduces the ability to provide for oneself and one’s family. Fortunately, North Carolina has plenty of grants, some offered at the federal and state level, while others are provided by charities and nonprofits dedicated to supporting individuals living with certain disabilities. Here is a guide for grants for disabled people in California.
State Assistance for Disabled Persons
The Independent Living Rehabilitation Program (IL)
The IL program assists customers in becoming more self-sufficient. For qualified persons, IL offers an option to live in a nursing home or other institution. Person-centered services can be given directly, bought, or coordinated through other community resources. If the Independent Living program cannot satisfy a person’s needs, that person may be directed to alternative care providers as needed. More information is available at https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/employment-and-independence-people-disabilities/independent-living-people-disabilities.
Intellectual and Development Disabilities (IDD)
Developmental impairments can be caused by a mental or physical deficiency or a mix of the two. If you have a developmental impairment, you can get comprehensive, long-term treatment to help you live a more independent life. They might be eligible for IDD treatments if they were diagnosed with a traumatic brain injury before age 22. Read more at https://ici.umn.edu/welcome/definition.
Social Security for Disabled Persons
Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI), sometimes known as Social Security, pays monthly payments to a qualified worker and family members when the worker elects to begin collecting retirement benefits or dies or becomes disabled. The benefits received are mostly determined by a worker’s lifetime covered earnings. For more information, read at https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/statcomps/supplement/2020/oasdi.html.
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
SSI is a federal cash assistance program that provides monthly payments to low-income elderly, blind, or disabled people in all 50 states, including North Carolina, the District of Columbia, and the Northern Mariana Islands. Read more at https://www.ssa.gov/ssi.
Financial Assistance for People with Disabilities
Developmental Day Center Grant Funds (DDC)
Several funding options are available to assist kids classified as having a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This money is distributed through an application or grant procedure. College grants, the North Carolina State Improvement Project (NC SIP), behavior support, and Medicaid in education are all funded. For more information, read at https://www.dpi.nc.gov/special-grants-training-power-point/download?attachment.
Housing Assistance and Rent Assistance
State County Special Assistance
State and County Special Assistance offers low-income persons a financial supplement to help pay for room and board in residential institutions.
Individuals must be 65 or older, disabled, and live in a special assistance-approved residential institution to be eligible for special help. The institution must agree to accept the state rate for residents receiving special assistance. Individuals who qualify for the special assistance program automatically qualify for Medicaid. Read more at https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/social-services/special-assistance/state-and-county-special-assistance-adult-care-home-residents.
Utility Bill Assistance
Low Income Energy Assistance (LIEAP)
The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program (LIEAP) is a federally financed program that offers qualifying households a one-time vendor payment to assist them in paying their heating expenses.
From December 1 to 31, households with a person aged 60 or older or handicapped people receiving services via the NC Division of Aging and Adult Services are eligible to sign up for help. All other households may apply between January 1 and March 31 or until funds are depleted. Read more or apply for the program at https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/social-services/energy-assistance/low-income-energy-assistance-lieap.
NC Commission of Indian Affairs Low Income Energy Assistance Program
The Low-Income Energy Assistance Program runs an education and outreach program in American Indian communities in the designated counties of Bladen, Columbus, Cumberland, Halifax, Harnett, Sampson, and Warren to ensure that eligible American Indian households, particularly elderly and disabled persons and households with young children, are informed about and invited to apply for Low-Income Energy Assistance Program services. Continue reading at https://www.doa.nc.gov/divisions/american-indian-affairs/low-income-energy-assistance-program.
Transportation Assistance
Elderly and Disabled Transportation Assistance Program (EDTAP)
The program was created to help elderly or disabled customers on Medicaid but requires transportation to places other than medical appointments. Those who do not have Medicaid can be carried to medical appointments and other locations on a limited basis. This program is available at Onslow County, and one can find more information at https://www.onslowcountync.gov/371/Elderly-Disabled-Transportation-Assistan.
ADA Paratransit Service
GoRaleigh Access customers who qualify under the Americans with Disabilities Act can use the paratransit service (ADA). The ADA requires that any public body operating a fixed-route transit system provide supplementary paratransit service to people with functional impairments who cannot use accessible fixed-route bus and rail systems. The level of assistance offered to these individuals must be similar to that provided to individuals without impairments. The paratransit service is equivalent to the fixed route system in terms of particular criteria such as days and hours of service, prices, service area, reaction time, and so on. To learn more, go to https://raleighnc.gov/go-raleigh-access.
Food Assistance for Disabled Persons
North Carolina Food and Nutrition Services
North Carolina Food and Nutrition Services (formerly Food Stamps) are accessible to all low-income and resource households. A household might be one person living alone, a family, or a group of unrelated people who buy and cook meals together.
Electronic Benefit Transfer Cards (EBT cards) are a card-based system that replaced paper food stamp coupons. Continue reading at https://www.ncdhhs.gov/divisions/child-and-family-well-being/food-and-nutrition-services-food-stamps/apply-food-and-nutrition-services-food-stamps.
Disabled Veterans Assistance
North Carolina Taxes on Military Disability Retirement Pay
Military Disability Pension Pay received as a pension, annuity, or similar benefit for personal injury or sickness due to active duty in the United States Armed Forces is not taxable. Disability compensation and pension payments for disabilities paid to veterans or their families, grants for homes designed for wheelchair living, grants for motor vehicles for veterans who lost their sight or use of limbs, or benefits under a dependent-care assistance program are examples of disability benefits. For more information, visit https://myarmybenefits.us.army.mil/Benefit-Library/State/Territory-Benefits/North-Carolina.
Disabled Assistance from Non-Profit Organizations
The Arc
The Arc of North Carolina is dedicated to ensuring that all persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities can choose where and how they study, live, work, and play. The organization promotes and defends persons with intellectual and developmental disabilities’ human rights and actively encourages their full inclusion and engagement in the community throughout their lives. To learn more, visit https://www.arcnc.org/about-us
North Carolina Council on Development Disabilities
The National Council on Developmental Disabilities (NCCDD) is committed to empowering persons with intellectual or other developmental disabilities (I/DD) by promoting self-advocacy, independence, and the right to self-determination. Via its five-year state plan, the Council supports advocacy development, community living, and financial asset building so that persons with I/DD have alternatives for jobs, places to live, friendships, participation in community activities, and other personally determined goals.
The NCCDD and its collaborative partners support the following statewide initiatives related to the Council’s Five-Year State Plan (2022-2026): Financial Asset Development to create financial stability, communal living, Advocacy Development, and Cross Cutting of activities. Read more at https://nccdd.org/.
