“Research has found that even with SSDI, 1 in 3 beneficiaries lives below or near the Federal Poverty Level ($11,770 for a single person in 2015), if SSDI were excluded from total household income, fully 7 in 10 beneficiaries would find themselves living in or near poverty.” – ARC of Illinois

• The State funds 70% of the costs per year, meaning that organizations must fund the missing 30%.

• There are about $10,000 shortfalls for every individual…How does that affect each individual?
  • Organizations are shutting down homes that house 4 people or less and consolidating making 7-15 person homes.
  • Research shows that the quality of life for people with disabilities is improved when they live in homes of 4 people or less.

Why can’t their parents fund the missing 30%?

• There are an estimated 641,000 adults aged 60+ with cognitive and other disabilities (e.g., cerebral palsy, autism, epilepsy, traumatic brain injury).
  • This number is projected to double to 1,242,794 by 2030, coinciding with the aging population of baby boomers born between 1946 and 1964. [Heller, T. (2011). Strength for Caring: Older Adults with Developmental Disabilities and Their Aging Family Caregivers.]

• Families are still the primary caregivers for adults with developmental disabilities and are themselves aging. About 76% of individuals with developmental disabilities reside at home.
• In 25% of these homes, the family caregiver is over 60 years of age.
• The average age of the care recipient with a developmental disability is age 38. [Heller, T. (2011). Strength for Caring: Older Adults with Developmental Disabilities and Their Aging Family Caregivers.]

“Research also indicates that more parents with [children with] disabilities are unemployed (48 percent versus 22 percent).” -National Council on Disability

“Parents with disabilities and their families are not protected from this harsh reality. In fact, the most significant difference between parents with disabilities and parents without disabilities is economic: The median family income for parents with disabilities is $35,000, compared with $65,000 for parents without disabilities.”-National Council on Disability