3. North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services The North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services has many programs to assist older adults and persons with disabilities. The benefits extend to the patient and their families through community-based systems of opportunities, services, benefits and protections. Many of these services extend to brain injured individuals who also meet the definition of "persons with disabilities".

4. Short Term/Long Term Disability Insurance If the injured person was employed at the time they acquired the brain injury, they may also be eligible for short term or long term disability coverage through their employer. It is not unusual for employers to offer group disability coverage to their employees. While this benefit may not directly pay for medical services, employees typically are eligible to receive a percentage of their base pay as their disability benefit. A typical plan has short term coverage for a period of three (3) months where the employee is paid roughly 80% of their base pay and after that period if they are still unable to work and they apply for long term disability, the employee is then paid a lower rate – often 60% -- of the base pay for an extended period of time. 1. Many people also purchase disability coverage’s on mortgages and other financial obligations. Caregivers should consider inquiring with any lending institution to which the brain injured is obligated for the possibility of such coverage. These benefits range from a suspension in the repayment obligation during the period of disability to a complete payoff of the loan.

5. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is Federal income supplement program funded by general tax revenues (not Social Security taxes) that is designed to help aged, blind and disabled people who have little or no income. SSI benefits are intended to meet basis needs of food, clothing and shelter. The standards of disability differ between whether the person is over or under 18 years of age. 1. If the person is under 18 years of age, "disabled" means a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which results in marked and severe functional limitations; and can be expected to result in death; or has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months. 2. If an individual is over 18 years of age, "disabled" means he or she had a medically determinable physical or mental impairment which results in the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity; and can be expected to result in death; or has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.

6. Social Security Disability In addition to SSI, Social Security Disability insurance pays benefits to the injured person and certain members of that injured persons family if they are "insured" (meaning that they have worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes). To qualify for benefits, a patient must have first worked in jobs covered by Social Security then have a medical condition that meets Social Security’s definition of disability. The definition of "disability" is consistent with the definition of SSI disability stated above. Social Security Disability is not based on income but the benefits can phase-out based on the earned income which the disabled individual receives. Disability payments from private sources, such as private pension or insurance benefits typically do not affect Social Security Disability benefits. However, Workers’ Compensation and other public disability benefits may reduce the Social Security Disability benefits.

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