Benefits & Financial Support
Every state has Medicaid waiver programs that can fund home care, therapy, respite, and more for your child with a disability. Most families never apply because they don't know these programs exist.
A Medicaid waiver — officially called a Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver — allows your state to fund services that regular Medicaid doesn't cover.
Regular Medicaid pays for medical care. A waiver pays for living supports — the things that help your child (or adult) with a disability live at home and participate in the community.
Without a waiver, families often pay out-of-pocket for services that could be covered. Applying early — even before your child needs services — is critical because most states have long waitlists.
The process varies by state, but these steps apply almost everywhere.
Use the table below to find your state's primary waiver and click the Apply link. Each state has different waivers — some are diagnosis-specific (autism-only), others are broad (all developmental disabilities).
Your place on the waitlist is typically based on your application date. Many waitlists are 3–10 years long. Applying early protects your child's place in line.
You will need your child's diagnosis documentation, medical records, current Medicaid or insurance information, and possibly a physician's letter confirming the diagnosis and level of need.
Most states require a level-of-care evaluation to confirm your child meets the clinical criteria for the waiver. This is usually done by a state assessor or contracted agency — it is not something you need to prepare for, just answer honestly.
If your family earns too much for regular Medicaid, ask specifically about Katie Beckett / TEFRA Medicaid, which evaluates the child's income only. Most states offer this for children with significant disabilities.
Once on the waitlist, follow up with your state's office every 6 months to confirm your application is still active. Some waitlists purge inactive applicants. Keep your contact information updated.
Find your state below. Click the Apply / Learn More link to go directly to your state's program page. Waiver names and availability change — always confirm current information with your state office.
| State | Primary Waiver Program(s) | Apply / Learn More |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama NOW Waiver, Living at Home Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| Alaska | IDD Waiver, Alaskans Living Independently | Visit State Site → |
| Arizona | DDD ALTCS (Arizona Long Term Care System) | Visit State Site → |
| Arkansas | ARChoices in Homecare, RSPMI Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| California | Regional Center Services (state-funded), HCBA Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| Colorado | Children's Extensive Support (CES), Supported Living Services (SLS) | Visit State Site → |
| Connecticut | ABI Waiver, Personal Care Assistance, DDS Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| Delaware | Diamond State Health Plan Plus, DDDS Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| Florida | iBudget Florida (DD Waiver), Agency for Persons with Disabilities | Visit State Site → |
| Georgia | NOW Waiver, COMP Waiver (Comprehensive Supports) | Visit State Site → |
| Hawaii | Community First Choice (CFC), Med-QUEST DD Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| Idaho | Children's HCBS Waiver, Aged & Disabled Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| Illinois | Home Services Program, CILA (Community Integrated Living Arrangement) | Visit State Site → |
| Indiana | Autism Waiver, Family Supports Waiver, Community Integration & Habilitation | Visit State Site → |
| Iowa | Intellectual Disability Waiver, Brain Injury Waiver, Children's Mental Health Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| Kansas | HCBS Autism Waiver, Physical Disability Waiver, Frail Elderly Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| Kentucky | Supports for Community Living (SCL), Michelle P Waiver, HCBS Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| Louisiana | New Opportunities Waiver (NOW), EPSDT Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| Maine | MaineCare Home & Community Benefits, Office of Aging & Disability | Visit State Site → |
| Maryland | Community Supports Waiver, Community Pathways Waiver, Family Supports Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| Massachusetts | Adult Supports Waiver, Autism Waiver, DDS Day & Employment Supports | Visit State Site → |
| Michigan | MI Choice Waiver, Habilitation Supports Waiver (HSW) | Visit State Site → |
| Minnesota | CADI Waiver, Brain Injury Waiver, DD Waiver, Elderly Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| Mississippi | Intellectual Disabilities / DD Waiver, TBI Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| Missouri | Division of DD Comprehensive Waiver, Supported Living Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| Montana | HCBS DD Waiver, Comprehensive DD Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| Nebraska | Aged and Disabled Waiver, BLTC Waiver, Development Disabilities Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| Nevada | HCBS DD Waiver, Physical Disability Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| New Hampshire | Developmental Services Waiver, In Home Supports Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| New Jersey | Supports Program, Community Care Waiver (DDD) | Visit State Site → |
| New Mexico | DD Waiver, Mi Via Waiver (self-directed) | Visit State Site → |
| New York | OPWDD HCBS Waiver, Care at Home Waiver, TBI Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| North Carolina | CAP-C Waiver (children), Innovations Waiver, TBI Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| North Dakota | Basic Care Waiver, DD Waiver, SPED Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| Ohio | SELF Waiver, Level 1 Waiver, Individual Options (IO) Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| Oklahoma | DD Services Waiver, ADvantage Waiver, In-Home Supports Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| Oregon | K Plan (Oregon Integrated and Supported Health Plan), ODDS Services | Visit State Site → |
| Pennsylvania | Adult Autism Waiver, Consolidated Waiver, P/FDS Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| Rhode Island | CPWMS Waiver, DD Services, Medicaid Home & Community-Based Services | Visit State Site → |
| South Carolina | Intellectual Disability & Related Disabilities Waiver, Community Choices Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| South Dakota | HCBS MRDD Waiver, Child Care Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| Tennessee | DIDD Waiver, Employment and Community First CHOICES | Visit State Site → |
| Texas | Home & Community-based Services (HCS), Texas Home Living (TxHmL), STAR+PLUS HCBS | Visit State Site → |
| Utah | DSPD New Waiver, DSPD Supported Living, Medicaid HCBS | Visit State Site → |
| Vermont | Global Commitment to Health (DD Services), Choices for Care | Visit State Site → |
| Virginia | DD Waiver, Community Living Waiver, Building Independence Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| Washington | DDA HCBS Waiver, Individual & Family Services | Visit State Site → |
| West Virginia | ID/DD Waiver, Intellectual & Developmental Disabilities Waiver | Visit State Site → |
| Wisconsin | CLTS Waiver (children), iCare, Family Care, IRIS (self-directed) | Visit State Site → |
| Wyoming | HCBS Intellectual Disability Waiver, Assisted Living Waiver | Visit State Site → |
Waiver program names and eligibility requirements change frequently. Always verify current information directly with your state's Medicaid or disability services office. You can also search your state at Medicaid.gov.
Most families wait years for waiver services. These strategies can help.
Don't wait until your child needs services. The waitlist clock starts the day you apply. Many families wish they had applied years earlier.
Some states have separate waivers for different diagnoses or needs (autism-specific, general DD, children's). If your child potentially qualifies for more than one, apply for all of them.
Most states have a small number of crisis placements for families in emergency situations — caregiver illness, housing crisis, or immediate safety risk. Ask your state office if you qualify.
Your elected state representative can sometimes help move things along or clarify your waitlist status. Their office may have a constituent services contact who handles Medicaid cases.
While you wait, ask about intermediate programs: state-funded (not waiver) services, Early Intervention, school-based services, and Medicaid State Plan services that don't require a waiver.
Other parents in your state often know about funding opportunities, unofficial timelines, and strategies the state doesn't advertise. Connect with your state's DD advocacy coalition.
A Medicaid waiver (officially called a Home and Community-Based Services waiver, or HCBS waiver) allows states to provide services not typically covered by regular Medicaid — such as in-home support, respite care, ABA therapy, assistive technology, and day programs. Without a waiver, Medicaid primarily pays for medical care. With a waiver, it can fund a much broader range of disability-related supports.
Regular Medicaid covers medical services — doctor visits, hospitalizations, prescriptions, and some therapies. A Medicaid waiver expands that to include home and community-based services: personal care aides, respite care, supported employment, behavioral therapy, home modifications, specialized equipment, and more. Waivers are designed to help people with disabilities live at home rather than in institutional settings.
No. A Medicaid waiver is a separate application and eligibility process from regular Medicaid. Your child must apply specifically for the waiver, meet eligibility requirements (usually based on diagnosis and level of need), and in most states, wait on a waitlist. Having regular Medicaid does not guarantee waiver services.
Waitlists vary enormously by state and waiver type — from a few months to 10+ years. Texas, Florida, and several other large states have waitlists measured in years. Some states (like Oregon and Washington) have redesigned their systems to reduce waits. The most important thing: apply as early as possible. Your place on the waitlist is typically based on application date, so every day you wait to apply is a day lost.
Possibly. The Katie Beckett program (also called TEFRA) is a Medicaid pathway that evaluates eligibility based on the child's income and resources only — not the parents'. This is specifically designed for children with significant disabilities whose families would otherwise earn too much to qualify. Not all states have Katie Beckett, but most do. Contact your state Medicaid office to ask.
You have the right to appeal a denial. Request a hearing in writing within the timeframe specified in your denial letter (usually 30–90 days). Bring documentation of your child's diagnosis, functional limitations, and service needs. Consider contacting your state's Disability Rights organization or a Medicaid advocacy group for free help with appeals. Denials are often successfully reversed on appeal.
Plain-language overview of how Medicaid waivers work and what services they cover.
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Tax-free savings accounts for people with disabilities — protect savings without losing Medicaid.
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SSI, Medicaid, Katie Beckett, ABLE accounts, and more — all in one place.
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Medicaid waivers, ABA coverage, SSI eligibility, and financial supports for autism families.
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Full checklist of every program your child may qualify for — available in our services.
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Get expert eyes on your child's IEP from a certified special education teacher.
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Our IEP Review Service includes a one-on-one session with Tabaitha McKeever — a certified special education teacher who can help you understand your child's rights and next steps.
Disclaimer: The information on this page is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, financial, or medical advice. Medicaid waiver programs, eligibility requirements, and waitlist procedures change frequently and vary significantly by state. Program names, services covered, and application processes listed here may have changed since this page was last updated. Always verify current information directly with your state's Medicaid office or disability services agency. Special Clarity is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation or advocacy services.