About INCharge Self-Directed Services
The Indiana Family and Social Security Administration (FSSA) offers the option to self-direct home and community-based services (HCBS). This is known as INCharge Self-Directed Services. This option aims to help older adults and people with disabilities have the support they need to live in their communities.
Self-Direction gives the person more choice and control over WHO supports them and HOW they are supported. Those who self-direct their services hire, pay, and manage the people who support them directly, instead of a provider agency.
The ability to self-direct an expanded list of services will be available on these home and community-based waivers:
- Community Integration & Habilitation (CIH)
- Family Support Waiver (FSW)
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Health & Wellness (H&W)
- PathWays for Aging (Pathways)
Those who choose to self-direct will have support from their case manager or MCE service coordinator as well as Financial Management Services (FMS).
They can also choose a family member, friend, or someone they trust to help with self-directed services. This is called a Representative for Self-Direction. The representative role is not paid and cannot be hired as a self-directed worker.
Financial Management Services
INCharge Self-Directed Services will include Financial Management Services (FMS). FMS supports with activities to pay employees such as with necessary forms, payroll, and taxes. The contracted FMS vendor is Palco, Inc.
Welcome to INCharge Self-Directed Services
The Indiana Family and Social Security Administration (FSSA) offers the option to self-direct home and community-based services (HCBS). This is known as INCharge Self-Directed Services. This option aims to help older adults and people with disabilities have the support they need to live in their communities.
- What is self-direction?
Self-Direction gives you more choice and control over WHO supports you and HOW you are supported. Those who self-direct their services hire, pay, and manage the people who support them directly, instead of a provider agency.
- Who can self-direct?
The following home and community-based waivers offer self-directed services.
- Health and Wellness (H&W)
- PathWays for Aging (PathWays)
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Family Support Waiver (FSW)
- Community Integration and Habilitation (CIH)
If you are enrolled in any of these waivers, you can decide to self-direct certain services.
- What services can I self-direct?
The following services on each waiver can be self-directed:
H&W PathWays TBI FSW CIH Attendant Care Attendant Care Attendant Care Participant Assistance & Care Residential Habilitation & Support (hourly) Respite Respite Respite Respite Respite Home & Community Assistance Home & Community Assistance Home & Community Assistance Workplace Assistance Workplace Assistance - What does self-direction require?
You will be in charge of finding people to hire as your self-directed workers and managing your supports. This can include things like:
- Writing job descriptions
- Interviewing and hiring
- Deciding how much to pay
- Training your self-directed workers
- Setting and monitoring work schedules
- Supervising your self-directed workers
- Having a back-up plan
- Firing self-directed workers, if necessary
- What if I need assistance with self-direction?
If you choose to self-direct, you will have support from your case manager or service coordinator as well as Financial Management Services (FMS). The FMS is involved with activities to pay your self-directed workers such as helping with necessary forms and documentation, payroll, and taxes.
You can also choose a family member, friend, or someone you trust to help you self-direct your services. This is called a Representative for Self-Direction. The representative role is not paid. Your representative cannot be hired as your self-directed worker.
- Who can I hire as a self-directed worker?
You can hire friends, family members, neighbors, or someone you recruit as your self-directed worker. Your spouse or legal guardian cannot be hired as your self-directed worker. Parents of minor children and legal guardians cannot be self-directed workers. Self-directed workers must:
- Be at least 18 years of age
- Pass a criminal background check
- Receive required training
- What is a self-directed budget?
Your person-centered plan will include the type and amount of services based on your needs. Those services in your plan that you choose to self-direct will have a budget amount. This is called the self-directed budget. You can use your self-directed budget to decide the wages that you will pay your self-directed workers. The wages paid must fall within a range.
- How can I get more information?
Talk to your case manager or service coordinator about INCharge Self-Directed Services to see if self-direction is a good fit for you.
- Core values of self-direction
Choice & Control Dignity, Respect & Rights Interdependence & Autonomy Self-direction is having the power to make decisions and be in control of your life. This includes receiving all the information necessary to make informed choices. The power to make your own choices includes the authority to manage your own budget and hire the people you want to provide your supports. You have the right to be treated with dignity and respect. You have the right to share your skills, talents, and self with your community. You have the right to take risks, make mistakes and learn from them. You have the right to be part of your community. All supports will be delivered based upon your vision for your life. Self-direction provides flexibility and equitable access to supports that enable individuals’ autonomy in their employment, housing, and social opportunities. As a person’s interests or needs change so should the services that support them.