Important Issues for Adults and Children with Mental Illness

Mental illness can qualify individuals for government benefits and services if they have limited income and resources.

They may qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits based on their disability. A person is considered disabled if unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity like employment by reason of any medically determinable mental impairment extant for at least 12 months that or can be expected to continue for at least 12 months.

Click here to learn more about Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Parents of children with mental illness should consider establishing a Special Needs Trust. Special Needs Trusts allows parents, guardians and others to direct money, gifts, lawsuit settlements, or other funds to the trust without the beneficiary losing eligibility for certain government programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Medicaid.

Click here to learn more about Special Needs Trusts

Mental Health Services for Children and Adults

Children Mental Health Services (under the age of 21)

In January 2018, a Class Action Settlement (Consent Decree) was entered in Federal Court in Chicago, Illinois, N.B. v. Norwood. Attorney Robert H. Farley, Jr. is Class Counsel in this case.

All persons who are under the age of 21 and are Medicaid eligible in the State of Illinois, who have been diagnosed with a mental health or behavioral disorder and who have received a recommendation for intensive home or community base services to address their disorders, are entitled under the Court Settlement to receive these home or community base services (residential and in-home). This Settlement will provide needed community base services to these persons who have either a mental health or behavioral disorder.

Under the terms of the Settlement, the person under the age of 21 must be "Medicaid Eligible." Every person 18+ should be Medicaid eligible if they have less than $2,000 in his or her name. For children under the age of 18, in order to be Medicaid eligible, then the child would need to qualify for Medicaid and the family income will determine whether the child qualifies for Medicaid. If the child is under the age of 18 and the family cannot obtain a Medicaid card for the child due to the family income, then please contact Attorney Robert H. Farley, Jr. as there is a legal path to secure Medicaid funding for the child's mental health or behavioral disorder.

Adult Mental Health Services (21+)

Adults with a mental health condition are entitled to the necessary services to address their disability. Funding for residential and in-home services are available, but it can be a challenge to obtain these services. If the disabled adult is unable to obtain needed mental health services, then please contact Attorney Robert H. Farley, Jr. as there is a legal path to secure these needed services.

For additional information regarding obtaining funding and services for Children and Adults with a Mental Health Disorder, you can contact Attorney Robert H. Farley, Jr., via his email or call him at his office.