Getting access to the services and supports you need, to live, work and play where you want, is a key part of living your best life.
For many people with disabilities, Home and Community Based (HCBS) Waivers and the services available through the waiver, help them live in the community, stay in the home of their choosing, find meaningful work, and reach their goals.
The questions and information below will help you decide what next steps to take if you're interested in HCBS waiver services to help you live your best life.
There are many things to think about when considering if a waiver is right for you:
There are also people and advocacy agencies you can talk with and who can help you decide, including:
To decide if you'd like the services provided by a waiver, it can be helpful to document your wants and needs. To do this, consider completing:
To be eligible for a waiver, you must:
1. Be eligible for Medical Assistance (MA)
2. Be certified disabled by the Social Security Administration or the Minnesota State Medical Review Team (SMRT)
3. Complete a MNChoices assessment through your county agency or tribe
NEXT: Answer the questions below to learn more about eligibility, things to think about, and the people, agencies and resources that can help you along the way.
If you have Medical Assistance, please continue to Question #2: "Do you have a disability determination?"
If you don't have Medical Assistance, also known as MA, the information below can help you prepare for the application process.
You will need the following information for each household member:
You should:
The Disability Hub MN can:
The county/MNSure will:
The agency determining your eligibility should notify you, by mail, within 45 days of receiving your application. It may take longer if they need to complete a disability determination through the State Medical Review Team (SMRT).
If you do not receive any requests for more information or a notification within 45 days, contact the county or tribal human services agency you submitted the application to. If you need assistance contacting the human services agency – connect with Disability Hub MN to ask for help, they can call with you!
If you’re not sure if you have Medical Assistance, contact the Disability Hub MN or your county or tribal human services agency to ask.
If you have a disability determination from SMRT, please continue to Question 3: "Have you had a MnCHOICES Assessment by your county or tribal human services agency?"
Please continue to Question 3: "Have you had a MnCHOICES Assessment by your county or tribal human services agency?"
If you have a disability determination from Social Security, but you are under the age of 18, you will still need to go through the disability determination process with the Minnesota State Medical Review Team (SMRT) to be approved for a waiver. The SMRT process will determine the level of care you require, which is used to decide which waiver(s) you may be eligible to receive.
If you'd like to move ahead with pursuing an HCBS waiver, start by:
Here are items to consider:
You should:
Disability Hub MN can:
The SMRT Team will:
Medical professionals will:
The process timeline can vary, from a few months to a year, from the time the county makes the referral to SMRT. It’s important to respond quickly to requests for information, to keep the process moving and get a determination – and to make sure you have had current medical exams. The more work you do to prepare for this process, the quicker it can be completed.
If you don't have a disability determination but would like to be reviewed for one:
Here are items to consider:
You should:
Disability Hub MN can:
The SMRT Team will:
Medical professionals will:
The process timeline can vary, from a few months to a year, from the time the county makes the referral to SMRT. It’s important to respond quickly to requests for information, to keep the process moving and get a determination – and to make sure you have had current medical exams. The more work you do to prepare for this process, the quicker it can be completed.
If you're not sure if you have a disability determination, contact the Disability Hub MN.
If you've had a MnCHOICES assessment and you've received the results, here are items to consider:
If the assessment finds that you are eligible for a waiver:
You should:
The Disability Hub MN will:
Your assessor/case manager will:
Within 40 days of the assessment visit, you will receive a written community support plan with details outlining your needs for care and options for services and supports. You will work with your case manager or support planner to create a plan for the services you want to meet your needs. A service agreement or support plan will then be created and approved. The providers you choose will then do an intake to get services set up and started.
Each year you will complete a renewal of your assessment.
If you have significant health changes or your support needs change, you can request a reassessment.
You should receive results within 40 days of the assessment visit.
If you haven’t received results within 40 days of the assessment visit, you can contact the MnCHOICES assessor to ask for an update, or contact Disability Hub MN to get help contacting the county or tribal office for an update.
If you have requested a MnCHOICES assessment from your county or tribal intake office, it should occur within 20 calendar days of your request.
If you do not have the assessment scheduled and it has been 20 calendar days since the request, you can contact the county or tribal intake office again to request an update and to make sure it gets scheduled. You can also contact Disability Hub MN to request assistance contacting the county or tribal office.
Contact the Disability Hub MN for help understanding what a MnCHOICES assessment is or read more in this MnCHOICES assessment brochure.
If you want the services provided by a waiver and answered “Yes” to all three questions above – or you would like to start the process so you can answer “Yes” to these questions – than a waiver might be for you.
If you start the process and change your mind, that’s ok.
If you get services for a while and then decide you no longer need them, that’s ok.
An HCBS waiver is just one option you have to get help. To learn about other options, review information on Independent Living.
If you're approved for a waiver: Contact your Case Manager to request a reassessment. You will need to document your additional needs.
If you're PCA-only approved: Contact your Case county’s Front Door to let them know there was a significant change to your condition that has increased your needs for services. You will need to document your additional needs.