South Dakota DD Waiver Application

The Single Front Door: Dakota at Home

Every application for developmental disability services in South Dakota starts in the same place. Dakota at Home (1-833-663-9673, Option 2) is the centralized intake line for the Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD). There is no way to bypass this step or apply directly to a specific waiver program — all referrals route through intake specialists who manage the process from initial contact through eligibility determination.

When you call, the intake specialist will explain the documentation requirements and send you the DDD Application for Services. They will also begin collecting basic demographic and diagnostic information.

What the Application Requires

The DDD application itself is straightforward, but the clinical documentation it requires takes time to assemble. Submit these along with the completed application form:

A comprehensive psychological evaluation is required. This must include standardized intelligence testing (WAIS, WISC, or Stanford-Binet) and standardized adaptive behavior assessments (Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales or ABAS). The evaluation should be recent and include current functional information.

The evaluation must demonstrate an intellectual or developmental disability with onset before age 22. The clinical diagnosis, standardized test scores, and functional descriptions all factor into the eligibility determination.

If your child has additional diagnoses — autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, traumatic brain injury, or other conditions alongside intellectual disability — include documentation from each treating specialist.

The ICAP Assessment

Once DDD receives a complete application, an intake specialist contacts the family within seven days to schedule the Inventory for Client and Agency Planning (ICAP) assessment. The ICAP is a structured clinical interview that evaluates the applicant across multiple functional domains: motor skills, social and communication skills, personal living skills, community living skills, cognitive capacity, and any challenging behaviors.

The ICAP produces a service score that determines the level of care. To qualify for waiver services, the applicant must demonstrate substantial functional limitations in at least three of seven areas: self-care, receptive and expressive language, learning and cognitive competence, mobility, self-direction, capacity for independent living, and economic self-sufficiency.

Prepare for the ICAP by documenting your child's actual daily functioning — not their best-day performance. Describe what happens without prompts, without reminders, without supervision. The goal is not to paint a negative picture but to ensure the assessment reflects the level of support your child genuinely needs.

Eligibility and Timeline

DDD must issue an eligibility determination within 45 days of receiving a completed application packet. The 45-day period runs from receipt of a complete packet, so submit everything together to avoid delays.

Financial eligibility requires that the individual's monthly income be less than $2,982 (300% of the 2026 Federal Benefit Rate) and countable resources below $2,000. Waiver programs waive parental income — the evaluation looks only at the applicant's individual income and resources, not the household.

If eligible, DDD assigns the individual to either a CHOICES case manager or a Family Support 360 Service Coordinator based on the assessed level of support need. The CHOICES waiver serves individuals requiring intensive or 24-hour supports; Family Support 360 serves individuals whose needs can be met with self-directed, family-centered supports.

After Eligibility

Once assigned to a waiver, a case manager or service coordinator develops the Person-Centered Individual Service Plan (ISP). This plan identifies the specific services, hours, and providers your child will receive. The ISP is reviewed and updated annually — or more frequently if needs change.

For CHOICES, services are administered by licensed Community Support Providers (CSPs) and coordinated through Conflict-Free Case Management agencies. For Family Support 360, the participant and family manage their own budget and hire their own support staff.

Families should initiate the DDD intake process as soon as the young adult turns 18, regardless of whether they are still in school. The 18-21 transition window is the best time to secure waiver placement while school-funded services continue as a bridge.

The South Dakota SSI at 18 & Adult Disability Benefits Guide walks through the full DDD application process with a Waiver Application Preparation Worksheet that tracks every document, deadline, and decision point.

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