KS Physical Disability Waiver

If you are a family caregiver for someone with a physical disability, you may wonder if there is a way to get paid for your work. Caregiving is emotionally, physically, and also financially challenging. According to a report by AARP, family caregivers in the U.S. spend an average of $7,242 per year on out-of-pocket caregiving-related costs.

Fortunately, some programs can help you get compensated for your caregiving services. One is the Physical Disability Waiver (P.D. Waiver) in Kansas. This is a Medicaid waiver program that provides home and community-based services to adults with physical disabilities who are at risk of institutionalization.

This blog post explores the P.D. Waiver, how it works, who is eligible, what services are available, and how you can get paid as a caregiver under this program. 

Overview of Physical Disability Waiver

The P.D. Waiver program allows eligible individuals with physical disabilities to receive services in their homes or communities instead of in nursing facilities. The program is funded by both the federal and state governments and administered by the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services (KDADS).

The purpose of the P.D. Waiver is to promote independence, choice, and dignity for people with physical disabilities. The program also aims to reduce the cost of long-term care by providing alternatives to institutional care.

The P.D. Waiver serves adults aged 16 to 64 with a physical disability that impairs their daily living (ADLs) ability, such as bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, transferring, and mobility. The program also serves adults aged 65 and older who have been on the waiver before turning 65.

Eligibility requirements

To qualify for the P.D. Waiver, you must meet the following criteria:

• You must be a resident of Kansas and a U.S. citizen or a qualified alien.
• You must be financially eligible for Medicaid. Your income must be below 300% of the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR), which is $2,382 monthly in 2021. Your assets must also be below $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a couple.
• You must have a physical disability that limits your ability to perform ADLs and requires assistance from another person.
• You must meet the nursing facility level of care (NF LOC). This means you need the type and amount of care typically provided in a nursing facility.
• You must have a service plan that identifies your needs and goals and specifies the services and supports you will receive under the waiver.
• You must choose to receive services in your home or community rather than in a nursing facility.

Services and supports

The P.D. Waiver offers a variety of services and supports that can help you live independently and safely in your home or community. Some of the services and supports available under the P.D. Waiver are:

• Personal care: Assistance with ADLs such as bathing, dressing, grooming, eating, toileting, transferring, and mobility.
• Enhanced care: Additional assistance with ADLs for people with complex medical needs or behavioral issues.
• Attendant care: Assistance with ADLs and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) such as housekeeping, laundry, shopping, meal preparation, medication management, transportation, and socialization.
• Sleep cycle support: Overnight assistance for people who need supervision or intervention during their sleep hours.
• Assistive services: Services that help you use assistive technology or devices that enhance your independence and safety. Examples include communication devices, environmental control units, home modifications, vehicle modifications, etc.
• Wellness monitoring: Periodic visits by a nurse or other health professional to monitor your health status and provide education and counseling.
• Financial management services: Services that help you manage your waiver funds and pay your service providers if you choose self-direction.
• Supportive home care: Non-medical services that help you maintain your home environment. Examples include pest control, lawn care, snow removal, etc.

Compensation for caregivers

One of the benefits of the P.D. Waiver is that it allows you to choose self-direction. This means you can have more control over your services and support by hiring, training, supervising, and firing your service providers. You can also decide how much to pay them within the limits KDADS sets.

Self-direction also means hiring your family members as your service providers, except for your spouse or legal guardian. This means you can get paid for caring for your loved ones with physical disabilities under the P.D. Waiver. You can hire your parents, siblings, children, grandchildren, cousins, nieces, nephews, or any other relatives or friends who can provide the services you need.

To get paid as a caregiver under the P.D. Waiver, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must be at least 18 years old and have a valid Social Security number and driver’s license or state I.D.
• You must pass a background check and a drug test.
• You must complete the required training and orientation.
• You must sign a service agreement with the person you care for and follow their service plan.
• You must submit timesheets and other documentation to the financial management service (FMS) agency that handles the payroll and taxes.

The amount of money that you can earn as a caregiver under the P.D. Waiver depends on several factors, such as the type and amount of services that you provide, the rate that you negotiate with the person you are caring for, and the budget that KDADS allocates for each waiver participant. The average hourly rate for personal care services under the P.D. Waiver is $11.50 in 2021. However, this rate may vary depending on the region and the availability of workers.

A note from Givers

If you are interested in applying for this program or finding out if you are eligible, please fill out this form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. We are here to support you and your family in your caregiving journey.