Indiana Family Supports Waiver Application: BDS Gateway Steps and Waitlist

The Family Supports Waiver is the primary Medicaid waiver for Hoosiers with intellectual and developmental disabilities who live at home with family. It funds respite care, participant assistance, transportation, assistive technology, and other community-based supports up to $26,482 per year per person. Getting on the waiver starts with a single portal and two forms — but the waitlist strategy matters as much as the application itself.

Eligibility Requirements

Before applying, the individual must meet three criteria:

Diagnostic eligibility. A documented intellectual disability, developmental disability, or related condition with onset before age 22 that is expected to continue indefinitely.

Level of care. The individual must meet the clinical standard for admission to an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities (ICF/IID). In practice, this means substantial functional limitations in at least three of six major life areas: self-care, learning, self-direction, capacity for independent living, understanding and use of language, and mobility. Indiana now uses the interRAI assessment tool (replacing the older LOCSI instrument as of January 2026) to make this determination.

Financial eligibility. Personal monthly income must not exceed approximately $2,982 (300% of the SSI federal benefit rate) unless a valid Miller Trust is used for excess income, and countable personal assets must not exceed $2,000. For applicants under 18, parental income and resources are excluded — only the child's own finances count.

Step-by-Step Application Process

Step 1: Create an Access Indiana account. You will need this login for the BDS Gateway portal and most other FSSA digital services. Go to access.in.gov to register.

Step 2: Submit State Form 55068 (Application for Developmental Disabilities Services). This is the foundational application that establishes the individual's record with the Bureau of Disabilities Services. It captures identifying information, disability history, and current living situation.

Step 3: Submit State Form 54727 (Confirmation of Diagnosis). This form must be completed and signed by a licensed physician (MD or DO). It documents the specific diagnosis, the age of onset, and the functional impact. If the COD is more than 12 months old at the time you receive a waiver invitation, you will need an updated one — so keep a relationship with a physician who knows the individual's history.

Both forms are submitted online through the BDS Gateway at bddsgateway.fssa.in.gov. You can also submit them in person at your local BDS District Office or mail them to DDARS Central Office, 402 W. Washington St., Room W453, Indianapolis, IN 46204. The toll-free number for assistance is 1-800-545-7763.

Step 4: Level of care assessment. After BDS receives the application, the local district office schedules an interRAI assessment. This clinical evaluation determines whether the applicant meets the ICF/IID level of care standard. If the assessment results in a denial, you have 33 days to file a written appeal (and 10 days to preserve existing services during the appeal — see the appeal process guide for details).

Step 5: Waitlist placement. If the applicant meets both the diagnostic and level of care criteria, they are placed on the statewide FSW waiting list. Indiana's waiver slots reached maximum capacity in late 2025, meaning new applicants are not immediately enrolled — they wait until a slot opens.

The School-Exit Priority

There is one critical shortcut. Individuals aged 18 through 24 who have aged out of, graduated from, or permanently separated from their school setting qualify for priority status on the FSW waiting list. This allows them to bypass the chronological waitlist and receive an immediate waiver invitation.

To claim priority status:

1. Obtain written documentation of school separation — a diploma copy, certificate of completion, or a letter from the school district documenting the exact exit date.
2. Submit this documentation to your local BDS District Office alongside the application forms.
3. Verify through the BDS Waitlist Web Portal that the application is flagged with priority status.

This priority window is time-limited. If you wait until the individual is 25 or older, the school-exit category no longer applies and they enter the standard chronological queue. Families should begin the application process well before graduation — ideally starting at age 14 when IEP transition planning begins — to ensure the waitlist spot exists and documentation is current.

Responding to the Waiver Invitation

When a slot opens (either through priority placement or chronological turn), BDS sends a formal FSW Invitation Letter. The representative must respond within 30 calendar days — in writing or by calling the BDS office to accept the slot. Missing this 30-day window means the slot is revoked and the individual is removed from the waiting list entirely. If the COD on file is more than 12 months old, a physician must complete and return an updated form within 21 days of the invitation date.

After acceptance, BDS provides a list of the five contracted Case Management Organizations (CMCOs). The family selects one, and the case manager begins developing the Person-Centered Individualized Support Plan that defines what services the waiver will fund.

Starting Early

The most effective waiver strategy is the simplest: apply as early as possible. There is no minimum age requirement for the application — families can submit State Form 55068 and the COD when their child is young, securing a waitlist spot years before the transition to adult services. Even if the child does not need waiver services yet, establishing a chronological position protects them if priority criteria do not apply or if their circumstances change.

The Indiana SSI at 18 & Adult Disability Benefits Guide covers the full waiver application process alongside the SSI transition, Medicaid preservation, and financial planning tools that work in concert with the FSW.

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