Eligibility for Services

Depending on the law and their mandate, public agencies have varying eligibilty requirements. In San Francisco, the following is one of the agencies that provide services for eligible children.

California Children Services

Eligibility for children 0-21

California Children Services (CCS) serves children ages 0-21 under Title V of the Social Security Act's Services for Children with Special Health Care Needs program. CCS is the agency in California which delivers services under Title V.

Children eligible for CCS services have a serious medical condition that is eligible for care under CCS and whose family income is less than $40,000 per year or whose out-of-pocket expenses for the eligible child will exceed 20% of income. Parents of the child must be residents of California in order for the child to be eligible for services.

The CCS program covers almost all serious medical conditions of a physical nature which can be cured, improved, or stabilized. Eligible conditions include (but are not limited to):

• birth defects (such as congenital heart diseases),
• chronic illnesses (such as cystic fibrosis),
• malignancies, and
• certain serious injuries and physical disabilities.

(Children with physical handicaps who have a medical need for physical and occupational therapy can receive those services from CCS through its Medical Therapy Unit. No income limits apply.)

For a detailed explanation of eligibility for CCS services, consult the California Department of Health Services' CCS page.