The Special Services at Home (SSAH) program is funded and administered by the Ministry of Community and Social Services.
This program provides funding directly to families so they can purchase services to provide personal development and relief support to a child or adult with a developmental disability or a child with a physical disability.
In December 2005, the ministry made two very important policy changes to the program.
1. The ministry has expanded eligibility for SSAH funding to include individuals who are not living at home with their families and are not residing in ministry-funded residential accommodation.
This policy change has been made to support children with a physical disability and/or a developmental disability or adults with a developmental disability when they:
- move from their families’ homes and receive no residential staff support from a community agency or an outside paid resource;
- currently live in accommodation outside the family home with no residential staff support from a community agency or outside paid resource;
- need to live away from home temporarily, due to family illness or other emergency; or
- are making the transition from their families’ home to a group home, Familyhome program, or some other supported accommodation that is provided by a community agency. Individuals may be eligible to receive supports on a time-limited basis to help assist them to move to a new home.
The SSAH program does not fund supports for activities that are already provided by (or available from) a community agency.
2. Primary caregivers can use their SSAH funding to compensate some family members to provide respite and/or personal development and growth.
This policy change will help to supplement the support provided by primary caregivers and respond to needs such as:
- cultural and language differences; and/or
- the needs of families living in rural or remote communities who are not able to use their full allocation of SSAH funding because it is difficult to find and retain support workers.
Primary caregivers can now use their SSAH funding to compensate other eligible family members over the age of 18 who provide services for respite or personal development and growth, with the exception of:
- primary caregivers regardless of residence;
- a child under the age of 18; and
- spouse of the individual who has a developmental disability, regardless of residence.
Families may still apply for SSAH funding on behalf of their family members, regardless of where that person resides.
Applicants to the SSAH program may also apply on their own, or with the help from their case manager/coordinator or adult protective services worker.
For more information, please see: