Minnesota currently has a TEFRA program and four HCBS 1915(c) waivers that serve children. All programs waive parent income. See this Home and Community-Based Service Waivers overview for general information. Minnesota also has a Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) program that provides in-home services. Minnesota plans to expand this program to include both personal care and state-plan home and community based services.
Minnesota has charged a "parent fee" for its programs, including its TEFRA program, for decades. These fees can be quite high, up to 11.25% of your income. While the legality of these fees is in question, the federal government is currently "tolerating" parent fees. Information on parent fees can be found on the Parent Fee page. Children cannot be denied services if the fee is not paid, but the state can attempt to collect the fee using a collection agency and legal action.
Minnesota also has an adult-only waiver for the Elderly.
Minnesota Advocacy Organizations:
- Connected - Family Voices of Minnesota
- PACER Center
- The Arc of Minnesota
- Minnesota Disability Law Center
Last updated 10/20/22
Programs in Minnesota
TEFRA
- Target Population: Children who would otherwise require care in an institution with any type of disability, including medical, developmental, intellectual, or psychiatric conditions.
- Ages: 0-18
- Levels of Care: Intermediate Care Facility, Nursing Facility, Hospital
- Income Waiver: Yes, the program is based on the child's income only. Parent income is not counted. However, a Parent Fee may apply.
- Waiver Type: TEFRA
- Spots: unlimited
- Expiration Date: NA
- Description: Provides Medicaid coverage only.
- Online State Information: MN TEFRA
- How to Apply: Apply online at MNSure or follow the directions on this page.
- Waiting List: none
- Advocacy/Support Group: Minnesota Special Needs Support Group
COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVE CARE
Also called CAC Waiver
- Target Population: Children and adults with physical or other health disabilities. Persons must be medically fragile or technology dependent and require a hospital level of care. Children with lesser disabilities should apply for the CADI Waiver.
- Ages: 0-64
- Levels of Care: Hospital
- Income Waiver: Yes, the waiver is based on the child's income only. Parent income is not counted. However, a Parent Fee may apply.
- Waiver Type: 1915(c)
- Spots: 991
- Expiration Date: 3/31/2023
- Description from medicaid.gov: Provides adult day service, caregiver living expenses, case management, homemaker, respite, supported employment, extended home care nursing, extended home health care, extended personal care assistance, 24-hour emergency assistance, adult companion services, adult foster care, child foster care, chore services, CDCS: environmental modifications & provisions, CDCS: personal assistance, CDCS: self-direction support activities, CDCS: treatment and training, crisis respite services, employment development services, employment exploration services, employment support services, environmental accessibility adaptations, family training and counseling, home delivered meals, housing access coordination, in-home family supports, independent living skills (ILS) training, individualized home supports, night supervision services, personal support services, positive support services, specialist services, specialized equipment and supplies, transitional services, transportation for individuals with other disabilities, ages 0-64.
- Online State Information: Community Alternative Care Waiver
- Official Federal Information
- How to Apply: Apply at your local Human Services agency.
- Waiting List: Minnesota has 31 people with developmental disabilities on its waiting list.
- Advocacy/Support Group: Minnesota Special Needs Support Group
COMMUNITY ALTERNATIVES FOR DISABLED INDIVIDUALS
Also called CADI Waiver, Community Access for Disability Inclusion Waiver
- Target Population: Children and adults with physical or other health disabilities that would otherwise require nursing facility care. These individuals are less medically fragile and disabled than those on the Community Alternative Care Waiver.
- Ages: 0-64
- Levels of Care: Nursing Facility
- Income Waiver: Yes, the waiver is based on the child's income only. Parent income is not counted. However, a Parent Fee may apply.
- Waiver Type: 1915(c)
- Spots: 46,772
- Expiration Date: 9/30/2025
- Description from medicaid.gov: Provides adult day service, caregiver living expenses, case management, homemaker, prevocational services, respite, extended home care nursing, extended home health care services, extended personal care assistance services, 24-hour emergency assistance, adult companion services, adult day service bath, adult foster care, child foster care, chore services, community residential services, consumer-directed community supports (CDCS): personal assistance, CDCS: self-direction support activities, CDCS: environmental modifications and provisions, CDCS: treatment and training, crisis respite, customized living, employment development services, employment exploration services, employment support services, environmental accessibility adaptations, family residential services, family training and counseling, home delivered meals, housing access coordination, in-home family supports, independent living skills (ILS) therapies, ILS training services, individualized home supports, night supervision services, personal support services, positive support services, specialist services, specialized equipment and supplies, transitional services, transportation for individuals with physical and other disabilities, ages 0-64.
- Online State Information: CADI
- Official Federal Information
- How to Apply: Apply at your local Human Services agency.
- Waiting List: Minnesota has 31 people with developmental disabilities on its waiting list.
- Advocacy/Support Group: Minnesota Special Needs Support Group
DD WAIVER
Also called Developmental Disabilities Waiver
- Target Population: Children and adults developmental or intellectual disabilities.
- Ages: all ages
- Levels of Care: Intermediate Care Facility
- Income Waiver: Yes, the waiver is based on the child's income only. Parent income is not counted. However, a Parent Fee may apply.
- Waiver Type: 1915(c)
- Spots: 22,379
- Expiration Date: 10/26/2022
- Description from medicaid.gov: Provides adult day service, caregiver living expenses, case management, day training and habilitation, homemaker, prevocational services, respite, supported employment, extended personal care assistance services, 24- hour emergency assistance, adult day service bath, assistive technology, chore, consumer directed community supports (CDCS): environmental modifications and provisions, CDCS: personal assistance, CDCS: self-direction support activities, CDCS: treatment and training, crisis respite, employment development services, employment exploration services, employment support services, environmental accessibility adaptations, family training and counseling, home delivered meals, housing access coordination, night supervision services, personal support services, positive support services, residential habilitation, specialist services, specialized equipment and supplies, transitional services, transportation for individuals with ID/DD, ages 0 - no max age.
- Online State Information: DD Waiver
- Official Federal Information
- How to Apply: Apply at your local Human Services agency.
- Waiting List: Minnesota has 31 people with developmental disabilities on its waiting list.
- Advocacy/Support Group: Minnesota Special Needs Support Group
BRAIN INJURY
- Target Population: Children and adults with brain injury.
- Ages: 0-64
- Levels of Care: Nursing Facility, Hospital
- Income Waiver: Yes, the waiver is based on the child's income only. Parent income is not counted. However, a Parent Fee may apply.
- Waiver Type: 1915(c)
- Spots: 1137
- Expiration Date: 3/31/2026
- Description from medicaid.gov: Provides adult day service, caregiver living expenses, case management, homemaker, prevocational services, respite, extended home care nursing services, extended state plan service, extended home health care services, extended personal care assistance services, 24-hour emergency assistance, adult companion services, adult day service bath, adult foster care, child foster care, chore services, community residential services, consumer directed community supports (CDCS): self-direction support activities, CDCS: environmental modifications and provisions, CDCS: personal assistance, CDCS: treatment and training, crisis respite, customized living, day support services, employment development services, employment exploration services, employment support services, environmental accessibility adaptations, family residential services, family training and counseling, home-delivered meals, housing access coordination, in-home family supports, independent living skills (ILS) therapies, ILS training services, individualized home supports, integrated community supports, night supervision services, personal support services, positive support services, specialist services, specialized equipment and supplies, structured day program, transitional services, transportation for individuals with brain injury, ages 0-64.
- Online State Information: Brain Injury Waiver
- Official Federal Information
- How to Apply: Apply at your local Human Services agency.
- Waiting List: Minnesota has 31 people with developmental disabilities on its waiting list.
- Advocacy/Support Group: Minnesota Special Needs Support Group
OTHER PROGRAMS
- Consumer Support Grant – allows families to receive a cash benefit (instead of specific home care services) that can be spent as needed; will be phased out in 2022 and replaced with Community First Services and Supports (CFSS)
- Family Support Grant – cash grants for families of children with disabilities
- Consumer Directed Community Supports – a program that will pay parents to care for their children in the home (along with others chosen by the family)
- Minnesota's Early Intervention Program
- Minnesota's Title V Program: Children and Youth with Special Health Needs
- Minnesota's Children Under 21 with Activities of Daily Living Needs – allows certain children under 21 with disabilities that do not meet the current institutional level of care to receive some home and community based services.
PAID FAMILY CAREGIVING
Minnesota will pay parents/guardians through its Consumer Directed Community Supports. This program pays parents to care for their children in the home, along with others chosen by the family. See also this page for more information on regulations.