In other words, do the costs involved for meeting your goals for the future, plus costs for the individual's personal needs and supplementary items, equal or exceed the resources that are availabe and provided by governmental agencies?

 

If the costs for the person's future, exceed the family's financial expectations or/and if governmental benefits are inadequate or non-existent to meet ongoing financial needs, then modifications in the plan must be made, or financing alternatives should be explored.  The question parents normally ask is how much money should we have available to ensure our child will enjoy a meaningful lifestyle?  What is the best way to create that money for their future?  

 

Your goals must be financially attainable.  If you do not complete this step carefully, then your family member who has a disability will live an impoverished existence, because they will only have government assitance programs for their support and, in order to qualify for these programs, they must live at or below the poverty level.

 

It is important to evaluate and maximize both family resources and governmental assistance when working through this step.  Family resources should be protected and used to help provide for the person's future to ensure that he or she will enjoy a safe and comfortable lifestyle.