·Federal program
Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who Are Blind (IL-OIB)
Federal formula grant program funding state agencies to deliver independent living services to individuals age 55 or older with severe visual impairment. Services help older blind individuals maintain daily functioning and community independence, reducing family caregiving burden. Administered by RSA at the U.S. Department of Education through grants to Designated State Agencies (DSAs) serving individuals who are blind.
What it offers
IL-OIB is a federal formula grant program for state VR agencies serving older individuals who are blind. RSA says the program supports services for individuals age 55 or older whose severe visual impairment makes competitive employment difficult but for whom independent living goals are feasible. Funds support independent living services, service expansion, and public understanding; examples include adjustment to blindness, meal preparation, housekeeping, grooming, orientation and mobility, and assistive technology. Grantees are state VR agencies for people who are blind or combined VR agencies, and states must match every $9 of federal funds with $1 nonfederal cash or in-kind resources. ED publishes state and territory award/contact histories; specific local service availability and annual performance metrics belong in the resource/performance inventory.
Questions that decide eligibility
GiveCare prepares the questions; the program makes the decision. Bring these to the call or the application:
- 01
Is the person receiving care in the covered age range (55–null)?
- 02
What counts as a qualifying disability or level of care need, and what documentation shows it?
- 03
Does the VA disability rating meet the program’s minimum (our record lists null%)?
- 04
Do the work hours meet the minimum (our record lists null hours)?
- 05
Is there a caregiver-specific department, coordinator, or support line? Ask for it by name.
Many agencies have one that isn’t advertised on the website.
- 06
What documents do you need from us to start an application?
- 07
Is there a waitlist right now, and how long is it?