Families see one layer. There are nine.
Insurance is only the first door. Cash benefits, taxes, school, housing, utilities, daily life, work protections, and estate planning — filtered by your state and your child's age.
See what you're missing
Most families only fight the insurance denial. The map answers: what else may I qualify for?
Built to stay current
Rules, FPL thresholds, and age cliffs change every year. A static PDF goes stale. A living map doesn't.
Educational routing
We surface programs and deadlines. Tax and legal conclusions go to a CPA or attorney — we say that out loud.
Nine layers of support
- Layer 1
Healthcare & insurance
Private mandates, ERISA/self-funded paths, Medicaid, waivers, EPSDT, ABA coverage rules.
- State autism mandates (TX / FL / NJ)
- MHPAEA parity + internal/external appeals
- Medicaid waivers & interest lists
- HIPP, CSHCN, EPSDT
In Navela today: Path steps + Insurance Appeals + program guides
- Layer 2
Cash benefits
SSI, DAC, TANF — including the age-18 cliff most families miss.
- SSI childhood vs adult rules
- Re-apply at 18 when parental income drops out
- DAC / Disabled Adult Child benefits
- TANF where income qualifies
In Navela today: SSI program guide; Rights Map expands this
- Layer 3
Taxes & savings
Medical itemizing, dependent-care credit, EITC exceptions, ABLE, 529→ABLE.
- Medical deduction above 7.5% AGI
- Child & Dependent Care Credit (no age cap if disabled)
- ABLE (529A) accounts
- Dependent Care FSA
In Navela today: Routed to CPA — we map, we don't advise
- Layer 4
Education
IDEA/IEP, related services at district cost, ESY, IEE, 504, PDSES (TX), transition.
- Related services on the IEP (speech, OT, PT)
- ESY / summer regression protections
- IEE at public expense
- TX PDSES $1,500 ClassWallet window
In Navela today: Path + Ask Navela; IEP review on roadmap
- Layer 5
Housing
Section 8 disability deductions, NED vouchers, Fair Housing modifications.
- Housing Choice Voucher medical deductions
- NED vouchers
- Fair Housing reasonable accommodations
- USDA rural loans where relevant
- Layer 6
Utilities & connectivity
LIHEAP, critical-care utility status, Lifeline phone/internet discounts.
- LIHEAP energy assistance
- Medical priority restoration after outages
- Lifeline
- Local water/trash discounts
- Layer 7
Daily life, recreation & travel
Access Pass, Museums for All, park DAS programs, disability parking, TSA Cares.
- America the Beautiful Access Pass (lifetime)
- Museums for All (SNAP/EBT)
- Theme-park access programs
- TSA Cares + paratransit
- Layer 8
Work — parent now, child later
FMLA intermittent leave, employer caregiver benefits, VR and Ticket to Work.
- FMLA protected leave (including intermittent)
- Employer navigation benefits (Wellthy-class)
- Vocational Rehabilitation / Ticket to Work
- Schedule A federal hiring
- Layer 9
Legal & estate planning
Special Needs Trust, Letter of Intent, guardianship vs supported decision-making.
- Special Needs Trust
- Letter of Intent
- Guardianship vs SDM by age 18
- ABLE as part of the plan
In Navela today: Educational routing only — attorney for documents
Age triggers — why this renews every year
Each birthday opens and closes doors. That is the honest reason for a membership — not engagement for its own sake.
| Age / moment | What changes |
|---|---|
| 0–3 | Early intervention (ECI / Early Steps) |
| 3 | School district evaluation duty begins |
| 4–5 | PDSES (TX), waiver interest lists — join early |
| 14 | Transition planning starts |
| 18 | SSI parental income drops out — re-apply. Guardianship decision. |
| 21–22 | IDEA services cliff |
| Before 26 | Disability onset deadline for ABLE eligibility |
| Parent retires | DAC benefits off parent's work record |
What we will never promise
- • Preferential college admission because of disability
- • Homestead tax cuts in Texas solely because your child has a diagnosis
- • Universal store discounts for autism
- • That every middle-income family clears every income-tested program
Navela shares information, not legal or medical advice. Double-check deadlines with the official source.