Cost of CLC Programs
Cost of CLC Programs
Community Living Corp. is funded and licensed by New York State’s Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (NYOMRDD). All of our residences fall under the category of Individual Residential Alternatives or “IRA’s” as they are commonly known in New York State.
Once an individual qualifies in terms of a defined developmental disability and has no financial resources of his or her own, there is no cost to the family or individual. The program is funded from a combination of public benefits including Medicaid, Social Security and Social Security Disability. Family or parental income is not considered. Consumers who can work gainfully are expected to do so; in this case they are required (by law) to contribute to the cost of their care by paying what we call “rent”. Obviously this is calculated according to the legal mandate and more often than not results in a nominal or non-existent amount each month.
About half of our current consumers pay no rent at all and about one quarter pay less than $100.00 per month. The personal allowance portion of the Social Security money may not be used for the “rent” payment and is not counted in the calculation.
Occasionally an individual qualifies for services on the basis of a specific disability, but does not qualify for funding because of personal financial resources (such as a large inheritance held outside of an established special needs trust). In this case the individual may come to CLC but would be required to use their personal resources to pay for the program.
CLC and The CLC Foundation strongly urge all families of disabled individuals to seek competent legal representation and begin estate and trust planning just as soon as possible and well before a move from the home to a residential program alternative is actually needed. (See CLC Foundation Section for Trust Services)
