The Community Living Waiver is a Medicaid program that provides home and community-based services for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) in Virginia. The waiver supports individuals to live in the community and avoid institutionalization by offering services and supports that meet their needs and preferences. The waiver also gives individuals more choice and control over their services through self-direction.
The Community Living Waiver is one of the three developmental disabilities waivers in Virginia, along with the Family and Individual Supports Waiver and the Building Independence Waiver. The waivers are administered by the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services (DBHDS) and the Department of Medical Assistance Services (DMAS).
The Community Living Waiver is the most comprehensive and flexible, as it offers the highest number of services and supports and has no limit on the amount of funding allocated to each individual. The waiver serves individuals with I/DD who meet the level of care criteria for an intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities (ICF/IID), requiring constant supervision and assistance with daily living activities.
The waiver has limited slots available, which are allocated based on a priority list that considers factors such as urgency of need, length of time on the waiting list, and availability of resources.
To be eligible for the Community Living Waiver, an individual must meet the following requirements:
The Community Living Waiver offers various services and supports tailored to each individual’s needs and preferences. Some of the services and supports include:
The Community Living Waiver allows individuals to self-direct some of their services, which means they can choose their service providers, manage their budgets, and hire their workers. Self-direction gives individuals more choice and control over their services, as well as more flexibility and convenience.
One of the benefits of self-direction is that individuals can hire their family members as paid caregivers for some of their services. For example, an individual can hire their parent, spouse, sibling, child, or other relative as a personal assistant or a respite provider. This option can be beneficial for both individuals and their families, as it can provide financial support for caregivers who may otherwise have to quit their jobs or cut back their hours to care for their loved ones, as well as emotional support for individuals who may prefer to receive care from a person they know and trust.
However, not all services can be self-directed or provided by family members. Some services, such as environmental modifications, assistive technology, supported employment, day support, crisis support, therapeutic consultation, and transition services, require professional providers who meet specific qualifications and standards. Additionally, some family members, such as legally responsible individuals (LRIs), cannot provide paid care under the waiver. LRIs are parents of minor children or spouses of waiver participants lawfully obligated to provide care and support for them. However, the waiver is undergoing an amendment that would allow LRIs to offer personal assistance services under certain conditions.
If you are interested in applying for the waiver or receiving its services or want to learn more about the other developmental disabilities waivers in Virginia, please fill out this form to determine if you may be eligible for compensation. We will contact you as soon as possible and guide you through the process.
