CWP Overview
What is the CWP?
The Community Waiver Program (CWP) is a new program started in 2021 by the Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH). It helps people with intellectual disabilities who are 3 years old and up, offering support in the most community-based, inclusive settings possible—meaning fewer group homes and more services at home or in the community.
How is it different from the ID Waiver?
The CWP is a special type of waiver called a “demonstration waiver.” This means the federal government allows Alabama to run it a bit differently than other waivers like the ID or LAH Waivers. Some key differences include:
- Where it’s available: Right now (during the pilot period through at least November 2026), the CWP is only available in these counties:
Baldwin, Elmore, Houston, Jefferson, Limestone, Madison, Mobile, Montgomery, Morgan, Tuscaloosa, and Walker. - Support Coordination: ADMH staff will directly manage services for people in the CWP, instead of the local 310 Boards (which still manage services for ID Waiver participants).
- Limited provider options: Not all providers in the ID or LAH Waivers will offer services through the CWP, at least during the pilot period.
For assistance on better understanding Medicaid Waivers in Alabama, please reach out to Disability Advocacy Solutions.
Enrollment Groups
When someone joins the CWP, they’re placed into one of four groups. This group determines which services they can receive and their yearly service budget.
- Group 1: Children ages 3–13 with intellectual disabilities who live with family or other natural supports.
- Group 2: Teens and young adults ages 14–21 with intellectual disabilities who live with family, natural supports (parents, grandparents, etc.), or on their own (ages 18–21 only).
- Group 3: Adults age 22 and older with intellectual disabilities who live with family, natural supports, independently, or in light supported living arrangements.
- Group 4: Individuals age 3 and older with intellectual disabilities who need to live in a group home.
CWP Priority Categories
The Community Waiver Program (CWP) uses Priority Categories to determine who can enroll. These categories help ensure services go to individuals based on when they applied, their age, living situation, and employment goals.
🔹 Priority Category 1
For individuals who:
- Were already on the Statewide Waiting List when the CWP began
- Live in a pilot county (see list above)
- Are age 22 or older
- Live with family or independently, and want to continue doing so
- Are under 65 and want to get or keep a job
🔹 Priority Category 2
For individuals who:
- Were already on the Statewide Waiting List when the CWP began
- Live in a pilot county
- Are age 22 or older
- Live with family or independently, and want to continue doing so
🔹 Priority Category 3
For individuals who:
- Applied for the CWP after it began
- Live in a pilot county
- Are age 22 or older
- Live with family or independently, and want to continue doing so
- Are under 65 and want to get or keep a job
🔹 Priority Category 4
For individuals who:
- Applied for the CWP after it began
- Live in a pilot county
- Are age 22 or older
- Live with family or independently, and want to continue doing so
🔹 Priority Category 5
For individuals who:
- Were already on the Statewide Waiting List when the CWP began
- Live in a pilot county
- Are ages 16 to 21
- Live with family or independently, and want to continue doing so
🔹 Priority Category 6
For individuals who:
- Applied for the CWP after it began
- Live in a pilot county
- Are ages 16 to 21
- Live with family or independently, and want to continue doing so
- Want to get or keep a job after high school
For assistance on better understanding Medicaid Waivers in Alabama, please reach out to Disability Advocacy Solutions.
Reserve Capacity
Some CWP slots are reserved for individuals in urgent or special situations, including:
- Children in state care or custody (such as DHR custody)
- Individuals at risk of homelessness, abuse, neglect, or harm
- People transitioning from the LAH Waiver to the CWP
- Individuals being discharged from nursing homes or institutions
- Existing CWP participants moving from Enrollment Groups 1–3 to Group 4 (for group home services)
Eligibility for the CWP Waiver
Financial Eligibility
All 7 waivers have the same financial eligibility rules.
Medicaid waiver programs, including the CWP Waiver, have more flexible financial rules than standard Medicaid. Here’s what you, the person with a disability, need to know:
- If you receive SSI benefits, you automatically qualify financially for a Medicaid waiver.
- You can also qualify if your income is up to 300% of the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR). In the calendar year 2025, the FBR is $967 per month, meaning you can have an income of up to $2,901 per month and still be financially eligible for a Medicaid waiver.
While income limits are more generous, there is a resource limit. This means you generally can’t have more than $2,000 in resources (like money in bank accounts) in your name on the first day of each month, or you could lose your Medicaid eligibility.
If you have questions about managing your money and resources to maintain your waiver eligibility, it’s a good idea to talk to an attorney, as everyone’s situation is different.
Important Note for Children: When a child under 18 applies for a Medicaid waiver, only the child’s income and resources are counted, not the parents’. Usually, a child will have no income, making them financially eligible. If a child receives SSI, they are also automatically financially eligible.
Example: A young man earning $1,000 per month at a part-time job wouldn’t qualify for standard Alabama Medicaid (which has an income limit of $963 per month in 2024). However, because his income is below the $2,829 per month limit for a waiver, he could be financially eligible for an CWP Waiver. If he qualifies for the waiver, he can also receive all basic Medicaid services.
For assistance on better understanding Medicaid Waivers in Alabama, please reach out to Disability Advocacy Solutions.
Medical and Program Eligibility for the CWP
To qualify for the Community Waiver Program (CWP), individuals must be at risk of being placed in an institution called an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID).
This means that without CWP services, the person would likely need to live in a facility to get the care they need.
If an applicant meets the requirements to be admitted to an ICF/IID, they are considered medically eligible for the CWP.
For assistance on better understanding Medicaid Waivers in Alabama, please reach out to Disability Advocacy Solutions.
What is ICF/IID Eligibility in Alabama?
To be eligible for ICF/IID services in Alabama, a person must have an intellectual disability and significant challenges in at least three of the following life areas:
- Self-care (like bathing, dressing, or feeding yourself)
- Communication (understanding or expressing language)
- Learning (ability to acquire new knowledge or skills)
- Self-direction (making decisions or managing your own behavior)
- Independent living (handling daily tasks without help)
- Mobility (moving around independently)
In addition to the three functional limitations, applicants to the CWP must have at least one pre-18 and one post-18 (where applicable) IQ score of under 70, as well as a formal diagnosis of intellectual disability, to be considered for admission to the waiver.
CWP Waiver Application Guide
The CWP Waiver is administered by ADMH and is available in the following counties:
Limestone, Madison, Morgan, Walker, Jefferson, Tuscaloosa, Elmore, Montgomery, Houston, Baldwin, Mobile.
Who Manages the Process?
The Alabama Department of Mental Health (ADMH) works with Regional Community Services (RCS) Offices that help people apply for and access services through the CWP Waiver.
Once you start an application, RCS staff will:
- Help collect required documents
- Do an intake interview
- Assign a RCS staff member
✅ Before You Apply
1. Collect IQ Tests and Diagnosis
You’ll need:
- An IQ test taken before age 18 showing a score of 69 or lower
- An IQ test taken after age 18 (if applicable), also showing 69 or lower
- A doctor’s letter confirming an intellectual disability
📌 Low IQ scores alone are not enough. You need a diagnosis in writing.
2. Gather Other Helpful Documents
Bring anything that shows the applicant’s needs. Examples:
- IEPs or 504 Plans
- Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs)
- Police or hospital reports
- Vocational Rehab assessments
3. Have Identification Ready
Include:
- Medicaid card (if available)
- Social Security Number
- Birth certificate
- Immigration documents (if needed)
4. Optional: Pre-fill the 204/205 Form
You can complete the 204/205 form early. Find a blank copy in Appendix II. This is optional, not required to begin.
Don’t Have an IQ Test?
To qualify for the ID Waiver, you must have at least one IQ test score of 69 or below.
Ways to get tested:
- Under 21? Contact your school district’s special education coordinator.
- Using Vocational Rehab? Testing is included in their assessment.
- Private Psychologist: Some insurance plans may cover testing.
- Ask ADMH to arrange testing when you apply.
In special cases, ADMH may accept a doctor’s letter diagnosing an intellectual disability instead. Contact your Regional Community Services Office to discuss this option.
How to Apply
Step 1: Call ADMH Developmental Disabilities Call Center
📞 800-361-4491
You’ll have a short phone interview about:
- Diagnoses
- School history
- Past services (e.g., special education)
Be sure to mention intellectual disability during this call.
Step 2: Get Confirmation & Referral
ADMH will:
- Mail you a confirmation letter
- Refer your case to the Regional Community Services (RCS) office
Step 3: Work with the Regional Community Services (RCS) office
They will:
- Contact you
- Ask for your documents
- Set up a meeting for an ICAP interview and a Family History form
Step 4: Regional Office Review
Your completed application goes to the Regional Office. If approved:
- You’re placed on the Statewide Waiting List if no slots are currently available.
For assistance on better understanding Medicaid Waivers in Alabama, please reach out to Disability Advocacy Solutions.
⏱ Important Timeline
By law, ADMH must respond to your application within 90 days.
You will either:
- Be approved for waiver services, or
- Receive a denial with instructions on how to appeal.
CWP Statewide Waiting List
If you’re approved for the Community Waiver Program (CWP) but there are no available slots, you’ll be placed on the Statewide Waiting List.
You might be given a waitlist number, but keep in mind:
⚠️ That number doesn’t reflect how soon you’ll get services.
Unlike other programs, the CWP doesn’t use a first-come, first-served system. Instead, people are admitted based on their Priority Category (see Priority Categories above). This means someone with a higher priority could be admitted before someone with a lower number on the list.
For assistance on better understanding Medicaid Waivers in Alabama, please reach out to Disability Advocacy Solutions.
How to Handle the Wait
The best thing you can do while waiting for services is to stay in touch with your Regional Community Services Office. Here’s why:
- Let them know if your situation changes and you may qualify for a higher priority category.
- Contact them if you’re facing an emergency, such as:
- Risk of homelessness
- Abuse or neglect
- Sudden loss of a caregiver
💡 Don’t wait to be contacted—reach out regularly. It helps keep your case active and visible.
Be Your Own Advocate
The old saying is true:
“The squeaky wheel gets the grease.”
You know your needs best. Don’t be afraid to speak up, ask questions, and check in.
For assistance on better understanding Medicaid Waivers in Alabama, please reach out to Disability Advocacy Solutions.
CWP Services
Services that can be self-directed are highlighted in bold.
· Support Coordination
· Employment Services
· Co-Worker Supports
· Positive Behavior Supports
· Family Empowerment/Systems
· Navigation Counseling Services
· Natural Support or Caregiver
· Education and Training
· Peer Specialist Services
· Financial Literacy and Work Incentive Benefits Counseling Services
· Assistive Technology and Adaptive Aids
· Remote Supports
· Supported Living Non-Intensive Services
· Housing Counseling Services
· Housing Start-Up Assistance
· Therapies – Occupational, Physical, Speech, and Language
· Individual Directed Goods and Services
· Minor Home Modifications
· Community-Based Residential Services
· Personal Assistance – Home
· Personal Assistance – Community
· Independent Living Skills Training
· Community Integration
· Connections & Skills Training
· Community Transportation (Non-Medical)
· Skilled Nursing
· Breaks and Opportunities (Respite)
For assistance on better understanding Medicaid Waivers in Alabama, please reach out to Disability Advocacy Solutions.
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