The Self-Empowered Life Funding Waiver is usually called the SELF Waiver for short. The SELF Waiver is a good fit for people who want to manage some of their services. If you have a SELF Waiver, you can be in charge of hiring and training the people who provide your services. You can manage your budget for the services you want.

Available Services 

Waiver services are incorporated into each person’s service plan based on the needs identified in their assessment.

These services are available through the SELF Waiver. Click each to learn more. 

Eligibility

 The SELF Waiver is for people with developmental disabilities who

• are eligible for Medicaid,
• have a developmental disabilities level of care,
• need at least one SELF Waiver service, 
• can be healthy and safe while using the SELF Waiver,
• and are able to manage money in a budget, manage their support staff for at least one waiver service, or can choose someone to do these things for them.

There is no age requirement. 

Unlike the Level One and Individual Options waivers, the SELF Waiver requires the person enrolled in the waiver, or someone they choose, to direct at least one of their services.

Funding Limits 

Listed in each person’s service plan are the start and end dates for a waiver, or the waiver span. Waiver spans are usually 12 months long.

The SELF Waiver has a limited amount of money you can spend on needed services in a waiver span. For adults, the limit for services is $45,000 in each waiver span. For children, the limit for services is $30,000 in each waiver span.

Some services have specific funding limits.

• Within 12 months, Support Brokerage costs cannot be more than $8,000 of the total funding available in a waiver span.
• Through the SELF Waiver, you are eligible for one Functional Behavioral Assessment. It cannot cost more than $1,500.
• Assistive Technology costs are limited to $5,000 per waiver span.

Participant-Direction

Participant-direction is a requirement of the SELF Waiver, and the person enrolled, or a representative they choose, must be willing and able to direct at least one service. A person exercises employer authority and/or budget authority when directing their services.

A SELF Waiver participant may use budget authority for these waiver services:

• Clinical/therapeutic intervention
• Participant-directed goods and services
• Participant-directed homemaker/personal care
• Self-directed transportation
• Support brokerage

A SELF Waiver participant may use employer authority for these waiver services:

• Participant-directed homemaker/personal care
• Self-directed transportation
• Support brokerage

Learn more about participant-directed services.