Next Steps

You can find out more about Iowa’s waiver programs on the Health and Human Services (HHS) website.

To apply for a waiver when you already have Medicaid, go to your local Health and Human Services (HHS) office and say that you want to request waiver services. They’ll have you fill out a one-page Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) Waiver Request.

To apply for a waiver when you don’t have Medicaid, fill out a Medicaid application and be sure to select your preferred waiver. You can apply:

• In person at your local Health and Human Services (HHS) office
• By downloading a paper application and faxing or mailing it in to your local Health and Human Services (HHS) office, or
• Online using the Iowa HHS Benefits Portal.

Note: If you use a paper application, make sure to fill out Appendix A and select which waiver you want to apply for.

If you work and your income or resources are more than the waiver limits, you may still be able to get waiver services by signing up for Medicaid for Employed People with Disabilities (MEPD).

Learn more about MEPD in the DB101 MEPD article.

Social Security’s Ticket to Work Program helps people with disabilities who get Social Security benefits re-enter the workforce and become more independent. The Ticket to Work Program offers free access to employment-related services, such as training, transportation, and vocational rehabilitation. You can call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY). Learn more on DB101's page about Ticket to Work in Iowa.

A trained Benefits Planner can help you understand your benefits programs. Exactly who you need to contact depends on your situation and the benefits you get.

View DB101's full list of experts who can help you understand different benefits.