Division services are available to individuals who are age 21 or older and meet all other eligibility requirements. Individuals receiving services through school are able to continue doing so through age 21. If you choose to graduate or leave school between the ages of 18 and 21, it is critical to discuss service options with your school’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) Team and transition coordinator.
Although Division services do not begin until age 21, the Division works with various partners to ensure that individuals approaching 21 have the tools and resources needed to successfully transition from school into adulthood.
To apply for services, an individual must complete the FULL Application for Eligibility and provide the required supporting documentation. After this preliminary paperwork is reviewed, the individual will be referred to the Developmental Disabilities Planning Institute (DDPI) who utilizes a standardized assessment, the New Jersey Comprehensive Assessment Tool (NJCAT), to determine eligibility for services and identify an individual's level of need for support in three main areas: self-care, behavioral health, and medical.
Results of the NJCAT establish, which of the annual budget or “Tier” to which an individual will be assigned. Once the application has been reviewed, individuals will receive written notification of their eligibility for one of two programs – the Supports Program or the Community Care Program.
Supports Program
The Supports Program is a Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver program. It provides services for New Jersey adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities who live in their family home or their own apartment or home, to assist them to live as independently as possible.
Community Waiver Program
The Community Care Program is a Medicaid home and community based services (HCBS) waiver program. It provides services for eligible individuals who live in a provider-managed setting, such as a group home or supervised apartment, or who live in their family home or their own apartment or home, to assist them to live as independently as possible.
To be eligible for the Community Care Program, an individual must:
- be on the CCP Waiting List or be determined by DDD to be at imminent risk of homelessness
- meet the functional criteria for eligibility for DDD services
- meet the additional Level of Care criteria for Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/ID)
- meet specific Medicaid requirements regarding income and resources (DDD works with individuals to help establish whether or not they meet these Medicaid requirements)
The Tier that the individual was assigned to after completing the NJCAT corresponds to a level of funding based on functional and support needs. This funding, or individual budget, will provide the resources that the individual can utilize when choosing or accessing services. The chart shows the funding amounts available to the corresponding tiers.
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