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Elizabeth M. Whitehorn, Director

Illinois’ Persons with Disabilities waiver

The Persons with Disabilities (PD) waiver provides services and individualized support to persons with a disability who live in the home.  These services are provided to those who would otherwise require care in a nursing facility. The Persons with Disabilities waiver is a part of a program called the Home Services Program (HSP).

  • The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) is the state Medicaid Agency (MA) and is responsible for administration and oversight of this Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) waiver.
  • The Illinois Department of Human Services – Division of Rehabilitation Services (DHS-DRS) is the Operating Agency (OA). 
    •  Individuals can learn more about HSP on DHS-DRS' website:
    • https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=29738
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    • Providers can learn more about HSP on DHS-DRS' website:

               https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=29752

The Eligible Population for the PD waiver includes:

Individuals with a disability who are under age 60 at the time of application and at risk of placement in a nursing facility.

Customers 60 years or older, who began services before age 60, may choose to remain in this waiver.

To be Eligible for the PD waiver, you must be:  

  • A U S. citizen or legal alien
  • A resident of the State of Illinois
  • Under age 60 at time of application
  • Medicaid eligible or enrolled in the Health Benefits for Workers with Disabilities (HBWD) program.  Interested individuals may download an application from the HBWD Web site.  Services may still be available for those not eligible for Medicaid.
  • Have a medical determination of a diagnosed, severe disability, which is expected to last for 12 months or for the duration of life
  • Be at risk of nursing facility placement as measured by the Determination of Need (DON) assessment.
  • The cost of waiver services must be less than the cost of nursing facility services.
  • Can be safely maintained in the home or community-based setting with the services provided in the plan of care.

Services and their Descriptions:

  • Individual Provider
  • Home Health Aide
  • Homemaker
  • Adult Day Care
  • Environmental Accessibility Adaptations
  • Specialized Medical Equipment
  • Home Delivered Meals
  • Personal Emergency Response System
  • Respite
  • Intermittent Nursing
  • Nursing
  • Extended State Plan Therapy Services (Physical, Occupational, Speech)

To see if you are eligible for services:

Contact the DHS-DRS local offices.  Local offices can be found using the DHS Office Locator.  You may also call: 1-877-581-3690 or 1-800-447-6404 (TTY) to talk to a DHS-DRS representative in your region of the state.

You may also select 'Rehabilitation Services' from the drop down box DHS Offices by county to find the DHS-DRS office address, directions to the office, and/or phone number available in your region of the state.

You can apply for DHS-DRS services online here: Rehabilitation Services Web Referral

Managed Care

Customers who get their HCBS waiver services through an Illinois Medicaid managed care organization have a care coordinator.  Customers may contact their care coordinator about the need for in home services and for assistance with a referral.  Contact information for all Illinois Medicaid managed care organizations can be found here:

If you are requesting a referral directly from DHS-DRS, please inform the DHS-DRS Local Office representative that you are enrolled in a managed care organization.  Have the name of the managed care organization and your 9-digit member identification number available. 

HFS HCBS Waivers

Service Descriptions

  • Individual Providers (IPs):  Services provided by individuals who are selected, employed, and supervised by the customer. These individuals may assist with or perform household tasks, personal care and, with the permission of a physician, certain health care procedures.
  • In Home Service (Homemaker):  Services consisting of general household activities (meal preparation and routine household care) and personal care provided by a trained homecare aide when the customer regularly responsible for these activities is unable to manage the home and care for himself or herself. Homecare aides shall meet such standards of education and training as are established by the State. 
  • Adult Day Service (ADS):  Provides direct care and supervision in community-based setting for the purpose of providing personal attention, and promoting social, physical, and emotional well-being in a structured setting.
  • Environmental Accessibility Adaptations:  Services to physically modify the customer's home to accommodate the customer's loss of function in the completion of his/her Activities of Daily Living.
  • Specialized Medical Equipment:  Includes devices, controls, or appliances, specified in the plan of care, which enable customers to increase their abilities to perform activities of daily living, or to perceive, control, or communicate with the environment in which they live. This service also includes items necessary for life support, ancillary supplies, and equipment necessary to the proper functioning of such items and durable and non-durable medical equipment not available under the State Plan.
  • Home Delivered Meals:  One or more ready-to-eat meals per day which are delivered to the home.  This service is provided to customers who can feed themselves but are unable to prepare a meal.
  • Personal Emergency Response System:  A 24-hour emergency communication link for assistance outside the customer's home based on their health, safety needs, and mobility limitations.
  • Respite:  Services provide relief for unpaid family or primary care givers, who are currently meeting all service needs of the customer. Services may include personal assistant, homemaker, nurse, or adult day care. Services are available for a maximum of 240 hours per year.
  • Nursing: Nursing is provided by a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or vocational nurse
  • Intermittent Nursing: Used for purposes of evaluating customer needs (including assessments and wellness checks) and monitoring.
  • Home Health Aide:  These services are an extension of therapeutic services, assisting customers with exercise and movement; personal care; household services essential to healthcare at home; assistance with medications that are ordinarily self-administered.  May be approved under the waiver if the customer is no longer eligible for therapies under the State Plan but continues to need long-term habilitative services.
  • Therapies: Provided by a licensed therapist.  Therapies includes occupational therapy, physical therapy, and speech therapy. May be approved under the waiver if the customer is no longer eligible for therapies under the State Plan but continues to need long-term habilitative services.

Operating Agency Contact Information

Department of Human Services – Division of Rehabilitation Services
Phone: (877) 581-3690
Email: DHS.HSPWaiver@illinois.gov