The Special Services at Home (SSAH) program provides funding directly to families so they can purchase services to provide personal development and relief support to children and adults with a developmental disability and children with a physical disability. With this funding, families can purchase supports and services which they could not normally provide themselves and are not available elsewhere in the community.
This program is funded and administered by the Ministry of Community and Social Services.
In December 2005, the ministry made two very important policy changes to the program which gives people more choice in how services are delivered:
- program eligibility has been expanded to include individuals who are not living at home with the families and not residing in ministry-funding residential accommodation; and
- primary caregivers can use their SSAH funding to compensate some family members to provide respite and/or personal development and growth.
For more information about policy changes to the SSAH program, please view the following link:
Special Services at Home (SSAH) policy changes effective December 2005
How to apply for SSAH funding
Applicants complete a full SSAH application form that will cover
a three-year period, unless their circumstances change significantly, or there is a change in the level of funding requested.
The individual or family must complete the full SSAH application if:
- it is their first application for SSAH; or
- there has been a significant change in the individual’s care needs, the family’s situation or support network since the date of the last full SSAH application; or
- the individual or the family is requesting a different amount of funding than in the last full SSAH application; or
- it is the third anniversary from the date of the last full SSAH application.
The SSAH application form contains additional instructions that will help you complete the form.
For program availability in your area, please contact the ministry's regional office closest to you.
We know that more people still need support, and we will continue to do more to improve services for people with a developmental disability.
How to re-apply for SSAH personal development and growth
If you are re-applying for funding for personal development and growth, you will have to fill out and submit the SSAH Progress Report.