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NEW! IMPORTANT CHANGES TO THE VOUCHER PROGRAM
If you plan on applying for voucher funding for respite care, or if you have already applied, please read on:
How much is a voucher award? The maximum allowed amount of a voucher is $1,000 per household, per year (a year begins when you apply, and ends one year from that date). If you apply for respite for more than one person, the award will be divided among them.
- For in-home services, we will usually award the maximum amount.
- For all other types of respite, we will usually award a voucher that covers or partially covers the cost of services or the program.
There is a new time limit in which to use your voucher.
- You now have 4 months (120 days) to use the voucher (previous limit was 3 months)
- However, you will now need to select a provider, or providers, in the first 4 weeks of the voucher period
- When you apply, and again when your voucher is granted, you will get an emailed list of providers that may meet your needs. If those do not work, we urge you to use our Registered Providers list here on the website.
- If, after a month, you have been unable to find a suitable provider, we will cancel the voucher, as we cannot keep funds unused while other families are still waiting.
What do I do if I want respite during the summer, like a camp or summer recreation?
- If you list (or have already listed) Camps or Recreation as your preferred type of respite, you will get an email asking if you want to use respite in the summer (June, July, August) or during the rest of the year.
- If you choose summer respite, we will notify you in late February or in March once your application moves up on the list and we are ready to award you a voucher.
- If you want to use a camp or recreation during the rest of the year, once your application reaches the top of our waiting list, we will contact you to see if you are ready to use a voucher award.
As always, we make awards as funding is available. An application is not a guarantee of getting a voucher.
If you have questions about this new process, there are more details on our Voucher Program page.