Are You Having Problems with Your Home Help Services?
- Have your home help hours been cut?
- Have you recently lost home help altogether?
- Have you lost help with shopping and cleaning because you don't have a physical disability?
Read On...
The State Government of Michigan has recently changed its policy on Home Help Services to save money in the current budget crisis. Home Help services are used to support people with disabilities in their own home, who have trouble with eating, bathing, moving and other Activities of Daily Living (called ADL's), and trouble with shopping, cleaning, and other Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (called IADLs). You can review a description of what the policy means and how to appeal it.
The Home Help policy was changed so that people who need help with IADLs, but not ADLs, will be cut off from all Home Help. The policy was also changed to put a limit on the number of hours of paid support for IADLs. There is also supposed to be a new alternative complaint system, but, so far, it doesn't seem to work well. It is called the "Exception" process and your home help worker should know about it, but don't count on that. You can STILL use the Hearing system if you lose your home help or have your supports reduced.
If you have recently lost your home help benefits, or had them reduced, or if you know someone who has, we would like to hear your story, so that we can pass on the problems people are facing to state policy makers.
- We will not pass on your name or other identifying information unless you want us to.
- We will not give this information to anyone without your permission.
- If you are willing, we might ask you to testify at a hearing. We will cover your out of pocket costs if you do testify.
- Telling us your story will not solve your personal home help problem. You must appeal any decision that reduces or eliminates your home help services using the existing or alternative complaint system.
Fill out the form below and click on the "Here is My Story" button to send us you story. If you make a mistake, you can clear the form by pressing the "Clear the Form" button. Thank you for your story!