Kansas Will Not Let Disabled Man Save Money For Accessible Van

by Gary Carson
(Prairie Village, KS, USA)

First, let me tell you that I'm 48 years old and permanently disabled. I had a spinal cord injury that has left me paralyzed from my chest down.

A tumor was discovered at T-8 (thoracic) on my spine and when it was removed in 2006 I became a paraplegic.

In 2008 I contracted an infection and my right leg was amputated, above the knee.

Now, about Kansas not allowing me to save any money…

It's true. If you're disabled, have Medicaid as your secondary insurance and live in the state of Kansas, the laws set up to protect our liberties are being ignored.

There is a constitutional mandate for the care of the needy and it is further refined to a specific population (frail elderly persons and persons with disabilities) within (KSA 39-7,100) related to Home and Community Based Services (HCBS).

To implement HCBS in the spirit intended, key provisions were included. The over-arching principle is "persons using HCBS should be considered like all other Kansans - persons wanting to live in their own community and home."

However, the current cost-sharing level that has been in place for many years is a clear-cut violation of the civil rights of every disabled Kansan that is forced onto Medicaid.

Let me explain why. The cost sharing system is based on the "Protected Income Level" (PIL) of $727 a month. SRS adds $20 to the equation for a total of $747 a month.


Kansas has one of the lowest levels; most states base the PIL on the poverty level. For instance the rate for some states is 300% of the poverty level or $2700 a month.

Yet some states base the rate at 100% of the poverty level. A few years ago Kansas put a freeze on its protected income level, which is well below the national average.

Because of the current cost-sharing level, my client obligation is set at $186 a month.

I don't mind paying my fair share to obtain the services I need to live a full life, but after I pay for rent, utilities and my client obligation I am left in the red.

Somehow I need to scrape together another $172 "every month" to fulfill my obligation to the state, just so I can live in a place where I feel safe.

The numbers just don't add up. If it weren't for family, friends, non-profit organizations and charities, I would be living in low-income housing trying to survive, though I would not be able to live my life with the same quality as all other Kansans.

I have been trying to find the funds to buy an accessible van for more than five years. How can I afford to save for a van if I'm not allowed to save money?

Learn More About What's On This Page

Enter search terms related to the page content. If you're not sure, start with "disabled grants" or "social security disability" or similar terms.