Who is Eligible for a Smile
Smiles can be anything from the simplest thing to something much more. It may be a piece of furniture that will enable the Recipient to stay more involved with family and friends, all the way to fulfilling a life long bucket list item that otherwise would not happen. In providing a Smile, our goal is to bring a “Smile” not only to the Recipient but also bring life long memories to family members to hold onto long into the future.
The Applicant must be:
- 18 or older
- Be diagnosed with a terminal illness with a life expectancy of 12 months or less.
- Not have the means or resources to fulfill the Smile on their own.
- Live in the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii.
Josh’s Smile-Beyond the Chair will fund a Smile that generally include the following individuals:
- Smile Applicant
- Spouse or Significant Other
- One Adult Caregiver (providing that the spouse/significant other is unable to care for all their needs)
- Applicant’s children under the age of 18 living at home.
Emergency applications will be looked at on a case by case basis. They will only be fulfilled if the applicant has been diagnosed with less than a 90-day life expectancy. All emergency applications will be reviewed by the Medical Review Board and must have their approval. We understand that emergent circumstances may arise and will make a decision as quickly as possible. The Smile applicant must also understand that any medical costs due to any emergency that arises will be the sole responsibility of the Recipient and not that of Josh’s Smile-Beyond the Chair.
There is no set income qualification to apply for a Smile with Josh’s Smile-Beyond the Chair. Having said that, being that we do not have endless resources, it is our mission to fulfill a Smile for those who cannot fulfill them on their own. There are Smile request that don’t involve financial obligations, just connections and resources to make them happen.
Each application is looked at individually and take into consideration a wide range of things. We look at income, how many people live in the household, financial hardship and resources to get the fulfillment of their Smile. We will look at taxable income, social security disability statement or a bank statement.
While we will fulfill a Smile request for someone with special medical needs, we cannot provide assistance with the following:
- Ambulance transportation
- Oxygen
- Medical equipment
- Nurses and aids
- Dialysis
- Oncology Services
- Hospice care away from home