Parents Describe Finding Income and Resources for Their Medicaid-Eligible Children with Disabilities

Abstract

In the U.S. social system, the roles of work and parenthood are often in conflict, and this conflict is especially problematic for parents of children with special needs. This study was designed to give parents an opportunity to describe their experiences in finding income and resources while caring for a Medicaid-eligible child with a chronic illness or disability. Three themes emerged: work and parenting responsibilities constantly intersected; resources for families were often insufficient or unavailable; and when parents received help, the helpers took extraordinary measures. Findings were compared to those of emerging literature; in addition, parents offered many practice and policy suggestions. Ecological and social construction theory frames were supported, including a need for family-focused perspectives.

Disability and Employee Benefits Receipt: Evidence From the U.S. Vocational Rehabilitation Services Program

“…First, as women are often primary caregivers, having less time off when children might need attention during the children's vacations or days off from school can be a barrier to maintaining meaningful labor force attachment (Toossi, 2011). This finding is critical, and reinforces the point that Riebschleger et al (2010) made in their study of the needs of parents of children with disabilities. Riebschleger and colleagues (2010) and this study both demonstrate that working mothers with disabilities are more likely than other women to need some time to attend to their own health needs, so that they can better care for their families.…”

“…In addition, it is possible that dental care might be conflated with general, comprehensive health care in some cases, and therefore effects could be suppressed in the analysis. In addition, access to dental benefits through public assistance programs is sporadic, as the provision of this insurance is offered in some states and not others, and the policies regarding dental insurance tend to change fairly rapidly over time (Riebschleger et al, 2010). Thus, workers with disabilities might need to be concerned with how to maintain 46 M. R. Sosulski et al dental health.…”

“…However, the direction is not clear. That is, people who receive public assistance might obtain and hold onto jobs that allow them to continue receiving benefits on which they can rely (Riebschleger et al, 2010). Alternatively, if an employer will not provide benefits, the workers might have to apply for programs such as Medicaid, SSI, and SSDI.…”

“…Although many people transition successfully to employer-sponsored health insurance, others find that move impossible for a number of reasons and feel tied to Medicaid, unemployment, or underemployment in low-paying jobs (Riebschleger, Sosulski, & Day, 2010). Schur (2002) found that part-time employment and temporary employment opportunities are more common for workers who have disabilities versus their peers without disabilities.…”

“…In fact, receipt of Social Security disability benefits historically has been shown to prompt exits from the labor force regardless of the effect of the disability on day-to-day functioning (Leonard, 1979). The often difficult decisions on whether to maintain income packaging of multiple, smaller, and sometimes unreliable amounts of money-as opposed to competitive employment options for primary income-are often based on individual financial and health care needs related to disability status (Riebschleger et al, 2010). Also of interest, by contrast, is the potential impact of disability status on benefits receipt.…”