How We help

• Services
• How To Access Services
• Enrichment Opportunities
• Supported Employment
• Model Living Types

Accessing Services

Big Waiver Eligibility

To get waiver services, a person must:

• Live in Tennessee
• Be eligible for SSI (based on personal -not family -income)
• Require supports for daily living
• Have a primary diagnosis of Mental Retardation by age 18
• Have an IQ below 70
• There are no age restrictions for the Medicaid Waiver, but in order to be eligible for day habilitation or supported employment services, a person must be at least age 22 or have a high school diploma.

If you are unsure of your child's eligibility, please apply for the Waiver anyway and let DMRS make the determination.

How do I access the Medicaid Waiver?

Call the Division of Mental Retardation Services (DMRS) general Intake number at (615) 231-5049 or contact the DMRS Regional Office toll free At 1-800-654-4839 and ask for an application for Waiver services. The application packet will include all the instructions and information you need to complete the rest of the intake process. Assistance in completing the application is available.

What happens after we apply for the Waiver? The DMRS Intake Committee:

Assesses the person's need for services and supports; Determines the individual's category of need; Informs the family of the individual's status on the waiting list.

NOTE: Services are provided based on need, not on a "first come, first served" basis.