[nagdu] California: Assistance Dog Special Allowance Program

[Ginger Kutsch]

California: Assistance Dog Special Allowance Program 

http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/cdssweb/PG82.htm

 

WHAT? 

The Assistance Dog Special Allowance (ADSA) Program provides a monthly
payment of $50 to 

eligible persons who use a guide, signal, or service dog to help them with
needs related to 

their physical disabilities. The allowance is to help pay the costs of food,
grooming, and 

health care for the dogs. 

 

WHO? 

 

To be eligible for the ADSA program, an individual must meet all four of the
following 

criteria: 

Live in California. 

Is blind, deaf, hard of hearing, or disabled. 

Uses the services of a trained guide, signal, or service dog. 

Receives benefits from one or more of these programs: 

- SSI (Supplemental Security Income) 

- SSP (State Supplementary Payment) 

- IHSS (In-Home Supportive Services) 

- CAPI (Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants) 

- SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) 

(SSDI recipients must also meet federal poverty guidelines) 

 

WHERE TO GET INFORMATION? 

 

Office of Services to the Blind 

744 P Street, MS 8-16-94 

Sacramento, CA 95814 

(916) 657-2628 (Voice) 

(916) 653-7651 (TTY) 

(916) 653-4001 (Fax) 

Email:  ADSAUser at dss.ca.gov 

 

ASSISTANCE DOG SPECIAL ALLOWANCE (ADSA) PROGRAM FACT SHEET (Pub 294) 

 

Applications are available in large print or in a CD version. The Office of
Services to the 

Blind will verify that applicants are current recipients of SSI/SSP, IHSS,
CAPI and SSDI. If 

you are on SSDI, verification of the federal poverty level is required. You
will receive a 

notice within 30 days stating the outcome of our application process. If
your application is 

approved, eligibility is retroactive to the first of the month, the month
that is postmarked 

on your application envelope. 

 

APPLICATION FORMS 

 

To apply, please complete one of the following: 

ADSA - New Application (Form ADSA 1) 

ADSA - SSDI Recipients (Form ADSA 1B) 

 

These forms are in Adobe Acrobat "pdf" format. If you do not have the free
Adobe Acrobat 

Reader, click on the following link, and you will be given instructions on
how to download 

this free software: http://get.adobe.com/reader/ 

 

Mail original to: 

Office of Services to the Blind 

744 P Street, MS 8-16-94 

Sacramento, CA 95814 

 

HIGHLIGHTS 

The Americans with Disabilities Act and State laws permit service dogs to
accompany their 

handlers anywhere that the general public is allowed, including taxis,
buses, restaurants, 

theaters, stores, hotels, apartments, and office buildings.