Independent living
Independent living looks different for everyone. It can mean your own apartment, learning to cook, or choosing who helps you. Here is where to start.
Housing options
| Option | What it is |
|---|---|
| Family home with supports | Living with family, with paid help and respite. |
| Your own home with support | Your own apartment or house (rented or owned), with support staff who come in. Often called supported living. |
| Host home or shared living | Living with a trained host family or person who is paid to support you. |
| Group home | A home shared by a few people with staff, often 24 hours a day. |
| Intermediate care facility (ICF/IID) | A licensed home with nursing and therapy on site, for people with high support needs. |
| Intentional communities | Planned neighborhoods or apartment buildings that mix residents with and without disabilities. |
Most paid supports come through Medicaid waivers. Search supported living or group homes near you.
Daily living skills
- Cooking simple meals, shopping, and planning food
- Cleaning, laundry, and keeping a schedule
- Using a phone, apps, and email safely
- Taking medicine on time
- Knowing what to do in an emergency
Skills can be learned at any age, step by step. Many day programs, transition programs, and waiver services teach them. Find life skills programs.
Managing money
- Open a bank account. Many banks offer accounts with no minimum.
- Use a debit card with spending alerts, or a prepaid card.
- Save without losing benefits in an ABLE account.
- Ask for a representative payee only if you need help with your SSI. Payee rights.
- Get free benefits counseling before you start a job. How work affects SSI.
Getting around
- Paratransit: under the ADA, public transit systems must offer door-to-door rides for people who cannot use buses or trains. Apply through your local transit agency.
- Travel training teaches you to ride the bus or train on your own. Ask your transit agency, school, or VR counselor.
- Medicaid rides: Medicaid pays for rides to medical appointments (non-emergency medical transportation). Call your Medicaid plan.
- Many waivers pay for rides to work and the community.
Food and nutrition
- SNAP (food stamps) helps pay for groceries. Many people on SSI qualify.
- Cooking classes and meal-planning apps with pictures make cooking easier.
- Ask a dietitian about special diets or health conditions.
Health care as an adult
- Move from a pediatrician to adult doctors between 18 and 22. Ask for a summary of medical history.
- Find doctors and dentists who know IDD.
- Learn to make your own appointments, with help if you want it.
Find doctors and dentists · Appointment prep tool · Got Transition
Work
Work brings money, friends, and pride. Search Work and Jobs for job coaching, supported employment, and Ticket to Work, and read your rights at work.
Help paying for housing
- Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8): help paying rent. Apply at your local public housing agency. Lists can be long.
- Mainstream Vouchers: for people with disabilities ages 18 to 61. Ask your public housing agency if it has them.
- Section 811: supportive housing for people with disabilities with very low incomes.
- Some states have their own rent help for people leaving institutions or on waivers.
Assistive technology
Tools like picture schedules, reminder apps, smart speakers, and communication devices help people live more on their own. Every state has an Assistive Technology Act program that lends devices so you can try before you buy.
Getting ready for emergencies
- Make a plan for storms, fires, and power outages, and practice it.
- Keep a go-bag with medicines, chargers, copies of IDs, and a communication card.
- If you use powered medical equipment, tell your power company and ask about priority help.
- Share your plan with support staff and neighbors.
Last reviewed: October 2026. Laws, dollar amounts, and program rules change. Check with the agency named on this page before you make a decision.