The Quick Guide for Families summarizes the information in the Policies and Procedures Manuals prepared by the New Jersey Department of Human Services’ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) for the DDD’s Medicaid waiver programs, the Supports Program and Community Care Program. The Quick Guide summarizes the eligibility rules and regulations governing the Supports Program and Community Care Program, the major programs in New Jersey which provide public funding for services that assist eligible New Jersey adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

To be eligible for DDD services, an individual must:

1. Be a New Jersey resident;
2. Be Medicaid eligible; and,
3. Have a chronic physical and/or intellectual impairment that:

• Manifested in the developmental years, before age 22;
• Is lifelong; and,
• Substantially limits the individual in at least three of the following life activities: self-care; learning; mobility; communication; self-direction; economic self-sufficiency; and the ability to live independently.

To receive services, eligible individuals must enroll in one of DDD’s two Medicaid waiver programs—the Supports Program or Community Care Program. Waiver programs provide services that allow individuals to live in their own homes or in a community setting.

This guide can be helpful for any family whose loved one will be entering Division services, but is particularly valuable for middle and high school students with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families. A Spanish translation of the Quick Guide for Families will also be available soon.

Printed copies can be requested through the New Jersey Council on Developmental Disabilities (NJCDD), using their Quick Guide Request web form. Please note that, due to the COVID-19 public health emergency, NJCDD staff are working remotely and requests for printed copies will be fulfilled when NJCDD staff are able to return to the physical office.

The Quick Guide for Families is attached here – 

Download (PDF, 3MB)

For additional information concerning special needs trusts and disability planning, visit:

NJ Special Needs Trusts and Disability Planning

For additional information concerning social security disability appeals, visit:

Social Security Disability Appeals