DC Elderly and Persons with Physical Disabilities Waiver (Self-Direction)¶
The District of Columbia's Elderly and Persons with Physical Disabilities (EPD) waiver provides home and community-based services for Medicaid-eligible DC residents who would otherwise require nursing home care. Services My Way is the participant-directed option inside EPD, allowing eligible participants to self-direct participant-directed community support and individual-directed goods and services. Family members can serve as participant-directed workers subject to exclusions for spouses, legally responsible relatives, and court-appointed guardians.
Services My Way lets EPD Waiver participants who live in their natural home self-direct participant-directed community support and individual-directed goods and services. Participant-directed community support is similar to personal care aide support and can include cueing, safety monitoring, and hands-on help with ADLs and IADLs when included in the person-centered service plan, PDS budget, and prior authorization. The participant or authorized representative is the common-law employer of the participant-directed worker, with FMS/support broker help. Workers may be individual or family members, but spouses, legally responsible relatives, and court-appointed guardians are excluded; parents of adult participants are not precluded. Wages are set through the approved PDS budget within DHCF's prescribed range rather than a fixed public dollar amount.
Some details for this program are still being verified. Check the official source for the most current information.
Eligibility¶
- Asset limit of $4,000
- U.S. citizenship or qualified immigrant status required
- Care recipient must have a qualifying disability
- Care recipient age: at least 18
- Relationship: parent, child, sibling, grandparent, other relative, non relative
Services¶
Services My Way lets EPD Waiver participants who live in their natural home self-direct participant-directed community support and individual-directed goods and services. Participant-directed community support is similar to personal care aide support and can include cueing, safety monitoring, and hands-on help with ADLs and IADLs when included in the person-centered service plan, PDS budget, and prior authorization. The participant or authorized representative is the common-law employer of the participant-directed worker, with FMS/support broker help. Workers may be individual or family members, but spouses, legally responsible relatives, and court-appointed guardians are excluded; parents of adult participants are not precluded. Wages are set through the approved PDS budget within DHCF's prescribed range rather than a fixed public dollar amount.
How to apply¶
Use the official program page for application details: official program page.