West Virginia Waitlist Support Grant: Funding While You Wait for an IDD Waiver Slot

What the Waitlist Support Grant Is

The Waitlist Support Grant is an interim funding program administered by the Bureau for Behavioral Health's Developmental Disabilities Division. It exists specifically for individuals who have been medically approved for the IDD Waiver but cannot access full waiver services because they are on the managed enrollment waitlist.

The grant is not a full replacement for the IDD Waiver. It provides a limited but meaningful set of services to help families maintain essential supports while they wait for a slot — which, given the waitlist of over 1,000 individuals, can take years.

Who Qualifies

To access the Waitlist Support Grant, the individual must:

• Be medically eligible for the IDD Waiver (meaning they have completed the application process and Acentra Health has confirmed medical eligibility)
• Be on the managed enrollment waitlist
• Live in a natural family home setting (not a group home or institutional setting)

If the individual has not yet applied for the IDD Waiver or has not completed the medical eligibility determination, they do not qualify for the grant. The waiver application — including successfully navigating the 14-day psychologist selection deadline — must be completed first.

What the Grant Covers

The Waitlist Support Grant funds several categories of services:

Behavior support — up to $325 per quarter. This covers behavioral assessments and intervention plans for individuals whose behavior needs create barriers to community participation or family stability.

Transportation assistance — up to $450 per quarter. For families without reliable transportation to medical appointments, day programs, or community activities.

Prevocational services, day habilitation, and supported employment — up to 936 combined units per year. These services provide structured daytime activities, community engagement, and employment support. The 936-unit cap is shared across all three categories, so families must prioritize based on the individual's needs.

Respite care — available through the grant to give primary caregivers temporary relief. Respite allows family members to manage their own health, work obligations, and other responsibilities without leaving their family member without support.

Environmental and vehicle modifications — funding for accessibility adaptations in the home or vehicle. These might include ramps, bathroom modifications, door widening, or vehicle lifts.

Case management — case managers receive a $200 per quarter allocation to coordinate services under the grant. The case manager helps families identify eligible services, connect with providers, and navigate the administrative requirements.

The Unmet Needs Grant

A separate but related program, the Unmet Needs Grant, provides funding for specialized items not covered by standard Medicaid. It targets individuals with IDD who live in family settings and need transition items, safety equipment, or medical devices that fall outside routine coverage.

This grant is significantly underutilized. Recent spending dropped to approximately $200,000 against a $300,000 state-allocated budget. If your family member needs adaptive equipment, specialized safety modifications, or other items that standard Medicaid and the Waitlist Support Grant do not cover, this is worth pursuing.

How to Apply

The Bureau for Behavioral Health Developmental Disabilities Division administers the grant. Families typically access it through their assigned case manager after the IDD Waiver medical eligibility determination is complete.

If you are on the waitlist and do not have a case manager, contact the BBH Developmental Disabilities Division directly at 304-356-4811 to request assignment and to begin the grant application process.

Documentation you should have ready:

• Proof of IDD Waiver medical eligibility (the determination from Acentra Health)
• Verification of waitlist placement
• Current assessment or evaluation documentation
• A description of the services needed and why they are necessary

The West Virginia IEP Transition to Adulthood Guide covers the complete Waitlist Support Grant application process alongside the IDD Waiver workflow, helping families secure interim services while navigating the waitlist.

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