NCGA Approves a Bonus for DSPs

COVID-19 has made this an unprecedented time for The Arc of North Carolina. As always, our staff is on the front lines and continues to work hard for the individuals and families that we serve.

We've got some good news - our hard work and advocacy has paid off! We want you to share this information with direct support professionals so they can determine if they are eligible to receive the bonus.

During the last legislative session, the North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA) passed a bill requiring the state to pay many of our direct support professionals (DSPs) a bonus estimated at $2,000. This is a result of ongoing efforts by The Arc of North Carolina and many like-minded organizations to increase wages, create better career opportunities for DSPs, and to acknowledge and reward the extra effort displayed by many throughout the pandemic.

There are strict criteria established by the NCGA that must be applied to determine which staff are eligible to receive these bonuses. If you meet the following criteria you may be eligible to receive a bonus estimated at $2,000:

  • You interact directly with residents/patients or clients, or you provide direct care support services at a licensed health care facility.
  • You have been employed by the same eligible provider between March 10, 2020, through August 1, 2021.
  • You have provided one or more of the following qualifying services:
    • Innovations Waiver-funded direct care services performed in-home or in the community
    • Personal Care services
    • B3-funded services performed in-home or in the community
  • You have worked for a Medicaid or NC Health Choice-enrolled provider, providing services in one or more of the following areas:
    • Personal Care Service providers (home care and adult care home)
    • Intermediate Care Facilities for people with IDD (ICF/IID), including ICF/IID-level group homes
    • Home health providers
    • Nursing homes
    • Behavioral health residential facilities
    • CAP/C
    • CAP/DA
    • Innovations Waiver
    • TBI Waiver
  • You are NOT an employee of the state of North Carolina

If you feel that you meet the criteria listed above, talk with your supervisor, and encourage your employer to determine if you are eligible for this bonus. Providers must determine eligibility and communicate that to their staff by 5:00 PM Monday, January 24th!

These are tight deadlines, so you need to act now!