Are you a full-time, unpaid, family caregiver for a loved one of any age with a chronic illness or disability who requires around-the-clock care? If so, you are invited to *apply for the Alabama Respite Voucher Respite Reimbursement program.
*If you have applied for and received respite reimbursement after Sept. 1, 2023 there is no need to reapply. Re-enrollment information will be sent to recipients annually.
NOTICE
The completion of this application does not guarantee the awarding of financial assistance from Alabama Lifespan Respite.
Please note that while Alabama Lifespan Respite wishes we could help all qualified individuals who seek assistance, regrettably we only have limited funds to meet the needs of qualified caregivers. Therefore, we can only respond to requests based on our available resources.
Click on the application below to begin. Scroll down to learn more about the program.
2023-2024 Respite Application Packet
2023-2024 Spanish Application Packet
Step-by-Step Application Instructions Video
Step-by-Step Timesheet Instructions Video
Complete the 2023-2024 Respite Application Packet and send with proof of care recipient diagnosis to:
Email: al.respite@ucphuntsville.org
Mail: Alabama Respite, 1856 Keats Dr. NW, Huntsville, AL 35810
Need help completing your application? Call us at 256-859-8300 or email al.respite@ucphuntsville.org.
Caregiver considerations when applying for the Alabama Respite Reimbursement Program:
- I understand that I cannot currently be receiving respite services through any other program in order to qualify for the Alabama Lifespan Respite reimbursement program.
- I understand that only one caregiver per household is eligible to apply.
- I understand that only one individual per household may be listed as the care recipient. (If you are caring for multiple individuals with special needs, please only list the individual who requires the most care.)
- I understand that I cannot be listed as both the Primary Caregiver and the Respite Provider, and that the intent of this program is to reimburse me after I have paid a third-party for respite.
- I understand that I must submit a proof of diagnosis for my care recipient, which is required to process my application.
- I understand that I am responsible for selecting and/or training a trustworthy respite provider(s) who is at least 18 years of age and who lives outside of the care recipient’s home. Neither Alabama Lifespan Respite nor UCP Huntsville will be held responsible for any actions taken by my selected respite provider.
- I understand there is a 30 day processing period before I will receive reimbursement in the form of a check. If I cannot wait 30 days for reimbursement, I understand that this program does not fit my needs and I will not apply to the program.
- I agree to use respite reimbursement funds only for respite care.
- As the caregiver, I understand that I am responsible for keeping payment records and referring to a tax professional, if needed, if I pay an individual provider more than $2,600 per year (January-December). This is a courtesy notice and does NOT mean you will be awarded $2,600 by Alabama Lifespan Respite.
About the Alabama Respite Reimbursement Program
What is Respite? A temporary short break to give relief to family caregivers from the extraordinary intensive demands of providing ongoing care in the home for a loved one with special needs.
Who is a Primary Caregiver? A person who provides full-time (40 or more hours per week) of unpaid care to assist with activities of daily living (bathing, dressing, feeding, medication management, errands, chores, etc.) for a parent, spouse/partner, child, sibling, grandparent, or other family member who requires full-time care due to a disability or chronic illness.
Who is a Care Recipient? A family member who requires full-time care due to a disability or chronic illness (proof of diagnosis required).
Who is a Respite Provider? A person hired by the Primary Caregiver to give them a short break (respite) from daily caregiving duties. Respite provision at onsite, fee-based respite day/evening programs and camps are also eligible for reimbursement.
What is Respite Reimbursement? Alabama Lifespan Respite does not employ Respite Providers. Therefore, Caregivers are responsible for identifying, hiring, and training Respite Providers (or enrolling their Care Recipient in a day/evening program or camp) to receive respite and will be reimbursed for services rendered based on timesheet guidelines. Reimbursement is not income and should not affect SSI benefits.
What are Timesheets? Timesheets are simply a paper form that documents when and how long respite took place and who provided the respite (Respite Provider). Need help completing your timesheet?
How the program works: Once a Caregiver applies and is qualified for the respite reimbursement program, the Caregiver will receive a welcome packet with instructions and a timesheet indicating the amount of reimbursement award they will receive for a specific period of time.
Caregivers may choose anyone they wish to provide respite and may require training (such as CPR or basic First Aid), if they so choose, but the level of training is at the discretion of the Caregiver. The Respite Provider must be at least age 18 and may not live in the same home as the Care Recipient. More than one Respite Provider may provide respite during the dates listed on the timesheet and be recorded as such. Caregivers/Respite Providers mutually determine a rate of pay. Respite can be provided in-home or onsite at a community respite program.
When respite service is completed, the Respite Provider signs the timesheet to confirm the date and time respite was received. The Caregiver will pay the Respite Provider out-of-pocket and submit the completed/signed timesheet to Alabama Lifespan Respite, who will issue a check to reimburse the Caregiver (based on award amount that must be utilized during the specified time frame). Once Alabama Lifespan Respite receives the completed/signed timesheet and verifies information, reimbursement will be issued to the Caregiver within 30 days.
What if a check is lost or damaged in the mail? While the instance of a caregiver’s reimbursement check being permanently lost in the mail or damaged is thankfully low, it does unfortunately happen, and a check must be reissued occasionally. Read our agency’s guidelines for check reissue requests pertaining to respite reimbursement here: ALR:UCPHSV Check Reissue Guidelines