The CADI Waiver in Minnesota: A Family Guide for Children with Disabilities

What is the CADI waiver?

The CADI waiver is one of Minnesota's disability waivers — programs under Medical Assistance (MA, Minnesota's Medicaid) that “waive” certain rules so people can get support at home and in the community instead of in an institution. CADI stands for Community Access for Disability Inclusion. You may still see its older name, Community Alternatives for Disabled Individuals, on forms and websites.

For families, CADI is less a single service and more a funding stream. Once your child is on the waiver, a case manager helps you build a support plan from a menu of services paid for by MA. It sits on top of regular MA benefits like therapy and PCA/CFSS — it doesn't replace them.

If you're new to the waiver system, our guide to waivers, PCA/CFSS and CDCS gives the big-picture map. This article goes deeper on CADI specifically.

Who qualifies for the CADI waiver?

Eligibility is based on your child's disability and support needs. In general, a person must meet all of the following:

• Be under 65 when the waiver opens — children of any age can qualify
• Be eligible for Medical Assistance
• Be certified disabled, by the Social Security Administration or Minnesota's State Medical Review Team (SMRT)
• Be assessed through MnCHOICES as needing the level of care typically provided in a nursing facility
• Choose to live at home or in the community, with needs that can be safely met there

What does “nursing-facility level of care” mean for a child?

It sounds dramatic, but it's a technical threshold about how much help, supervision and monitoring someone needs — for a child, compared with other children the same age. Many children with autism, significant behavioral needs or complex medical conditions meet it.

The MnCHOICES assessor makes that determination, not your doctor or a provider agency. That's why describing your child's real, everyday needs during the assessment matters so much.

On income: for children with disabilities, Minnesota generally looks at the child's own income and assets for waiver-related MA, not the parents'. Families may owe a parental fee on a sliding scale based on household income and size. Fee amounts are set by the state and change, so ask your county for an estimate before you decide.

What can the CADI waiver pay for?

The exact service list is set by the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) and updated from time to time. Waiver services pay for things MA doesn't already cover, so therapies like ABA through EIDBI, speech and occupational therapy continue to be billed to MA or private insurance separately.

Most families choose between traditional services and Consumer-Directed Community Supports (CDCS). With CDCS, your family manages an individual budget: you can often hire your own support staff, buy approved goods and services, and shape supports around your child's routines. It takes more paperwork, and you'll work with a financial management services provider that handles payroll, but families who want flexibility — or who struggle to find agency staff — often prefer it.

For children and families, CADI commonly funds:

• Individualized home supports — teaching daily living, social and community skills at home and out in the community
• Respite care — short breaks for parents and caregivers, in or out of the home
• Family training — coaching for parents and caregivers, sometimes delivered alongside individualized home supports
• Environmental accessibility adaptations — home modifications such as safety fencing, door alarms or accessible bathrooms
• Specialized equipment and supplies not covered by regular MA
• Positive support services — behavior support planning from qualified professionals
• Case management to coordinate everything

CADI vs. DD waiver: which one fits an autistic child?

Autistic children in Minnesota usually end up on one of two waivers. Their service menus overlap a lot — both include respite, in-home supports, home modifications and CDCS — but budgets, rules and availability can differ. The main difference is the type of disability and the level of care used for eligibility:

• DD waiver: for people with a developmental disability or a “related condition” who need the level of care provided in an intermediate care facility for people with developmental disabilities (ICF/DD). Autism can count as a related condition when it causes substantial functional limitations.
• CADI waiver: for people with disabilities who need a nursing-facility level of care. Many autistic children without an intellectual disability are served here.

How do you apply for the CADI waiver in Minnesota?

You don't have to pick a waiver on your own — the MnCHOICES assessment determines which ones your child is eligible for, and your assessor or case manager can explain the options side by side. Here's the typical path:

1. Call your county's human services intake line (or your tribal nation's social services) and say: “I'd like to request a MnCHOICES assessment for my child for disability waiver services.” In Hennepin County, that's the Front Door at (612) 348-4111.
2. Apply for Medical Assistance if your child isn't enrolled — through MNsure or your county. Ask about MA-TEFRA if your income is over regular MA limits.
3. If your child doesn't have a disability finding from Social Security, ask your county to start a disability determination through SMRT.
4. Complete the MnCHOICES assessment, usually at home. Describe your child's hardest days, not their best.
5. Receive the eligibility decision in writing. If approved, you'll be assigned a case manager.
6. Build and sign a support plan, choose traditional services or CDCS, and pick providers.

Is there a waitlist for the CADI waiver?

Honest answer: it depends, and it has changed over time. Counties and tribal nations manage enrollment within limits set by the state, and state budget decisions can affect how quickly new people are added. Ask your county directly: “Is CADI currently open to new enrollees, and what's the expected timeline?”

Staffing is often the bigger bottleneck. Even with an approved plan, finding respite or in-home support workers can take time — especially outside the metro, in areas around Duluth, St. Cloud or Rochester. Getting on more than one provider list, and considering CDCS so you can recruit your own staff, can help.

Keep in mind

This article is general information, not legal, medical or benefits advice. Waiver names, service lists, parental fees and enrollment rules change, sometimes year to year. Confirm current details with your county or tribal nation, your case manager, or the Minnesota Department of Human Services before making decisions.

If your child is denied or you disagree with a decision, you have the right to appeal. The written notice explains how and by when — read it carefully and act quickly.