Medicaid waivers for autism in Florida
Floridians with a developmental disability, served through the iBudget Home and Community-Based Services waiver.
- Main program
- iBudget Florida Waiver (APD)
- Typical wait
- Often 10+ years — one of the longest in the country
- Administered by
- Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD)
- Phone
- (866) 273-2273
How to get on the list
Apply to your local APD office online, by post or in person, or call 1-866-273-2273. If your family is in crisis — homelessness, life-threatening behaviours, or a caregiver who can no longer safely provide care — contact your APD Regional office directly and say so explicitly. Crisis status is assessed separately and can move a family up the categories.
Open the official Florida page →Does autism qualify?
Autism qualifies, but Florida applies a functional test: you must show severe functional limitations in at least three major life activities — self-care, learning, mobility, self-direction, understanding and use of language, or capacity for independent living. A diagnosis alone is not enough, so documentation of daily functional impact matters more here than in many states.
How the waiting list works
Florida does not run a simple first-come queue. Applicants are sorted into seven crisis categories, Category 1 being the highest priority. Most families sit in the lower categories and wait years; the reported waiting list stood at 22,372 people, with many waiting more than a decade.
- People on the waiting list22,372 (as reported for January 2023)
- Typical wait in lower categoriesFrequently 10+ years
What it can pay for
- Personal supports and companion services
- Respite care
- Behaviour analysis and assistant services
- Therapies
- Supported employment
- Residential habilitation
Other programs worth knowing
Crisis enrollment
The most under-used route in Florida. A family facing homelessness, danger to the child or others, or a caregiver in extreme duress can be enrolled ahead of the general list. If your circumstances change while you wait, tell APD — your category can be reassessed.
Floridaproviders & resources →
Local help you can access now, while you wait.
Waivers explained →
What to do while you're on the list, and what to ask.
Sources · last checked August 2026
- APD — applying for services
- AHCA — iBudget waiver overview
- USF — DD waiver waitlist information
- Disability Rights Florida — APD
Waiting lists and eligibility rules change. Always confirm current details with the agency before making decisions. If something here is out of date, tell us.