Disability Support
Are you or your family member an entertainment professional coping with a short- or long-term illness or disability? Reach out for supportive services tailored for the needs of our entertainment community
Through our Disabled Care Program, our qualified social workers can assist you and your family in developing plans to address your needs. This includes
- Assessment of your medical, financial, and support needs .
- Supportive counseling to help manage this transition
- Connection to communnity, health and home care resources
- Information and advocacy to help negotiate medical bills,
- Linkeage to public or private benefits
For those who are unable to travel, we also provide home and hospital visits whenever possible.
Please register or log in to our Entertainment Community Fund Portal to access our workshops, programs and services. Our portal is designed to cater to your individual needs and interests, offering access to a wide range of resources and support—all with the guidance and understanding of what it takes to build a life and career in the arts.
The Entertainment Community Fund is committed to maintaining your privacy and confidentiality.
Am I eligible?
Any performing arts or entertainment professional may call on our Disabled Care Program for support, information or referrals to community agencies.
For financial assistance, we will ask for an application, documentation of your professional earnings and an interview. In general, eligibility requirements for financial assistance are:
- Five years of documented professional performing arts and entertainment earnings out of the last seven years.
- Three of the five documented years of earnings must be a minimum of $6,500 per year.
OR
- Twenty years of industry-paid employment with at least 10 years of industry earnings of $5,000 per year.
- Documented financial need.
If you have questions regarding financial assistance please contact us.
Get in touch:
No matter where you live in the U.S., we’re here to help. Get in touch with your nearest regional office at:
Eastern Region
212.221.7300, ext. 142
eastern@entertainmentcommunity.org
Chicago
312.372.0989
central@entertainmentcommunity.org
Los Angeles
323.933.9244, ext. 416
western@entertainmentcommunity.org
Related Programs
The Dancers' Resource
Are you a professional dancer dealing with significant injury? You’re not alone. As you continue your recovery, you can reach out to us for emotional support and other resources.
Women's Health Initiative
Are you an entertainment professional facing a serious medical condition? Our Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative can offer you confidential and compassionate support.
Related Sites & Organizations
Disability Benefits 101
Gives you tools and information on employment, health coverage, and benefits. Use it to find out how a job may affect your total income and your health coverage.
Public Transportation Services for Seniors and the Disabled
ADA Paratransit service is for riders with disabilities or health conditions which prevent them from using fixed route service (Buses and "El" Trains).
Benefits CheckUp
Provides information about federal, state, local and private programs that help pay for prescription drugs, utility bills, meals, health, and a variety of other basic needs.
Govbenefits.gov
Provides information on public benefits by state. It is also has an online screening questionnaire that determines the benefits for which the user may be eligible.
Medicare
A federally funded program that provides medical and prescription coverage for seniors and the disabled.
The Dancers' Resource
Are you a professional dancer dealing with significant injury? You’re not alone. As you continue your recovery, you can reach out to us for emotional support and other resources.
Women's Health Initiative
Are you an entertainment professional facing a serious medical condition? Our Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative can offer you confidential and compassionate support.