Can I choose where I live using a waiver?

Can I choose where I live if I live in an ICF?

If you use waiver services, you are in charge of paying for

• the place you live,

• food that you buy,

• utilities, such as electricity and heat.

• A waiver does not pay for those things.

You can apply for programs that can help you with expenses like rent, electric, gas, and other costs.

You can choose to live with someone who can
share the cost of a place with you.

 
If you want to live in an ICF, you can choose an ICF 

• that is near people you know, 

• that has a lot of things to do every day,

• and that feels like the best fit for you.

Sometimes, the ICF that you like the most
will not have a space available for you and
you may have to choose a different ICF. 

What costs does a waiver pay for? 

What costs are covered if I live in an ICF? 

A waiver pays for services like

• help with getting dressed or taking a shower,

• help shopping for food and cooking food, or someone to bring you meals,

• help with laundry and cleaning where you live,

• things like ramps and railings to make it
  easier to get around your house,

• help taking medicine,

• help doing things that keep you healthy,

• help learning and practicing job new skills,

• help finding a job you like,

• rides to work, to the store or other places,

• and other services.

•  

• You do not pay for any of the services that the waiver pays for.

You are in charge of paying for the place you live, the food that you buy, and utilities like electricity and heat

A waiver does not pay for those things.

After you pay for the things you need you are in charge of money left over. You can spend it or save it however you choose.

An ICF is responsible for making services available to the people who live there. Most things that people who live in an ICF need
are a regular part of what an ICF offers.

You will not pay for services like

• help with getting dressed or taking a shower,

• help with laundry and cleaning,

• help taking medicine,

• help doing things that keep you healthy,

• help learning and practicing job new skills,

• help finding a job you like,

• rides to work, to the store or other places,

• staff that can help you 24 hours a day, seven days a week,

• and some other services.

• Your meals and utilities like electricity and heat are also a regular part living in an ICF, so you do not pay for those things.

If you live in an ICF, you are able to get a monthly living allowance.

A monthly living allowance is money that you get every month. It is the same amount every time. You are in charge of how you spend your monthly living allowance.

With a waiver, you are in charge of choosing
who will provide the services you want.

You can choose which things you want someone to help you with and which things you want to
do on your own.

You can choose how often you want someone to provide a service.

You can say things like “I want someone to
come every day to help me cook meals," or “I want someone to come one time each week and take me to the grocery store.”

You can choose to work with an agency that has a lot of different service providers, or you can choose to work with a specific person to provide your services. 

You can choose to work with a different agency or a different provider any time. 

Every ICF is different. Usually an ICF has a
staff of people that provide services to everyone that lives there.

You can make choices about which things you want someone to help you with and which
things you want to do on your own.

You can make choices about how often you
want ICF staff to provide some services. You
can say things like “I want someone to help
me with a shower every day.”

Some services might be part of a regular schedule, like help doing laundry one time
every week.

An ICF has staff that can help you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

If things change and you decide you do not
want to live in an ICF anymore, you can
decide to move out.