Benefits and Entitlements
Get help applying for government programs you may be eligible for
Find out what kind of assistance you may qualify for
We’re fortunate to live in a time where there are unprecedented levels of acceptance for people with disabilities, with so much help and support available. From fitness classes to stairlifts or a monthly stipend, help of this sort adds up and can give you a bit of breathing space. The problem is, it’s hard to know what you’re entitled to and how to apply for it.
Each of these benefit programs has its own set of guidelines and some have predetermined caps, so even if you qualify, the funding may not be immediately available. Our staff is intimately familiar with these programs and we’ll always do our very best to get you the help you need.
Who is eligible?
Participants must meet these criteria to apply for this service via Hamaspik of Kings County.
Live in NYC or Nassau County
Have an intellectual or developmental disability
Age criteria varies for each program
Here are some of the OPWDD benefits we can help you apply for:
- E-Mods — Physical modifications to your home. Handicap-accessible adaptations like wider doorways, bathroom modifications, and ramps. These costs can be prohibitive without help.
- V-Mods — Vehicle adaptations to accommodate wheelchairs and special equipment.
- Assistive Technology — Specialized wheelchairs and other technology that helps people with disabilities overcome a limitation.
- FSS — Allowable items whose costs can be reimbursed if they are proven as a need related to the individual's disability. For example, therapy tunnels and floor mats can be covered if needed.
Here are some additional benefits you may be eligible for:
- Access to Home — The NYS Access to Home Program provides financial assistance to make residential units accessible for low- and moderate-income persons with disabilities.
- Restore — NYS grants can cover emergency home repairs and adaptations for senior citizens ages 60 and over.
Ramping up
the effort
A concerned family contacted us about their deteriorating ramp. It could no longer hold the weight of the wheelchair, and without safe access to the outdoors, their loved one would be confined to home all day, every day. The contractors they had consulted explained that the only option was to replace it. Due to the complex layout of the home, the lowest price they could get was a costly $25,000.
Our dedicated coordinator got on the case, skillfully negotiating approval with the relevant agency by strategically presenting photos, detailed explanations, and compelling reasons to prove this client’s eligibility.
The family was effusive with their gratitude when the coordinator was successful in getting the family approved for a generously sized, well-designed ramp that could comfortably accommodate the wheelchair!
The hearts behind the service
Dini Freund
Miriam Gantz
"It's so rewarding to be able to provide this public service — for example, we were able to get FSS for a child who was never covered before, which brought such great relief to his mom."
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You're doing all you can — and yet you always feel like you're failing someone.
Watching your other children navigate their sibling’s challenges can leave you feeling sad or helpless. This guide by Dr. Sora Yaroslowitz — a parenting expert, and herself the mother of a child with special needs — gives you tested tools to ease resentment and strengthen siblings' connection.
You’ll discover:
• How to respond when a child asks, “Can’t we just be normal?” (and the exact words to help ease their frustration)
• The common mistake parents make when trying to “make it up” to siblings (and what actually works instead)
• Ways to help siblings move from frustration to empathy (illustrated by a powerful real sibling story)
