Individual and Family Directed Goods and Services (IFDGS) in Maryland give eligible participants who self-direct DDA services an opportunity to address individualized needs through approved goods, equipment, activities, supplies, and related supports. When appropriately authorized, IFDGS can help a person build independence, participate in community life, and pursue outcomes identified in their Person-Centered Plan.
However, IFDGS is not an automatic benefit or unrestricted spending account. Each request must meet Maryland DDA requirements, connect directly to an assessed need or goal, use available funding appropriately, and receive approval before purchase.
HAVE Support (Housing, Advocacy, Vocational, and Employment Support Incorporated) helps individuals, families, Support Brokers, Coordinators of Community Services, and other members of a support team understand available disability service pathways. As a Maryland 501(c)(3) nonprofit, HAVE Support offers person-centered services through both provider-led and self-directed models.
What Are Individual and Family Directed Goods and Services?
Individual and Family Directed Goods and Services are a flexible funding option within Maryland’s DDA self-directed service system. They may support a participant with:
- Services
- Equipment
- Activities
- Supplies
- Staff recruitment and advertising
- Certain day-to-day administrative supports
The purpose is to address a need that is documented in the participant’s Person-Centered Plan and cannot be met through another DDA waiver service, the Medicaid State Plan, insurance, school-based services, or another available funding source.
According to the Maryland Department of Health, IFDGS should help a participant maintain or increase independence and promote opportunities for community living and inclusion. The requested item or service must benefit the participant directly and must not compromise the participant’s health, safety, or welfare.
IFDGS funding generally comes from an approved self-directed budget or eligible unallocated funds. It does not automatically create additional money outside the participant’s existing budget.
Learn more about Maryland’s Self-Directed Services Guidance and Forms.
Who May Access IFDGS in Maryland?
IFDGS is intended for people who are enrolled in an applicable Maryland DDA Medicaid waiver and use the self-directed service delivery model. A person must generally have budget authority to direct eligible services and purchases.
Eligibility is not based solely on a diagnosis, age, or a person’s desire to purchase a particular item. The participant’s approved services, waiver authority, Person-Centered Plan, assessed needs, budget, and current DDA policy all matter.
The Maryland DDA’s public IFDGS service page identifies the Community Pathways Waiver as an access pathway. Because waiver policies, service definitions, and approved funding rules may change, participants should confirm current eligibility with their Coordinator of Community Services or Support Broker.
Families and participants seeking DDA services should focus on:
- How to qualify for services
- How to apply for DDA supports
- How to access self-directed services
- How to document an assessed need
- How to choose a Community Pathways provider when provider support is needed
How IFDGS Connects to Person-Centered Planning
A successful request begins with the person, not the product.
The support team should identify what the participant wants to accomplish and what barrier is preventing progress. The requested good or service should then be evaluated as one possible way to support that outcome.
For example, a participant’s Person-Centered Plan may identify goals related to:
- Preparing meals more independently
- Participating in inclusive community activities
- Improving communication
- Increasing safety at home or in the community
- Building healthy routines
- Managing a sensory need
- Maintaining personal health
- Recruiting qualified Direct Support Professionals (DSPs)
The request should explain the connection between the goal, the assessed need, and the requested item or service. A general statement such as “the participant would like this product” may not be enough. The team may need to describe how the item will be used, why it is necessary, and why other supports or funding sources cannot meet the need.
Support levels and funding decisions depend on the person-centered plan, assessed needs, authorization, available funding, and applicable Maryland policy. There is no universal approval amount or guaranteed list of purchases for every participant.
Examples of Potentially Allowable Requests
DDA guidance describes several categories of goods and services that may be considered when they meet all applicable requirements. Examples may include:
Activities That Promote Health
Depending on the participant’s documented goals and the current reasonable-and-customary standards, a request could involve an inclusive fitness, aquatics, personal training, or horseback riding activity.
The request should include the activity’s cost, a schedule showing when it will occur, and documentation that other funding sources were explored.
Inclusive Community Programs
Some fees for inclusive art, music, dance, sports, or other community activities may be considered when they promote socialization, independence, and community participation.
The activity should be connected to the participant’s interests and outcomes. Programs designed exclusively for people with disabilities may not meet IFDGS requirements.
Independent Living Equipment
For a participant who lives independently, certain small kitchen or laundry appliances may be considered when they support self-care, meal preparation, or household independence. The participant may need to show that the item is not already available in the home and that other funding sources were explored.
Sensory and Safety Items
Sensory items or safety equipment related to a person’s disability may be considered when the need is documented and the item is not covered by insurance, the Maryland State Plan, or another resource.
Examples described in DDA materials include headphones, weighted items, protective headgear, arm guards, or other specialized equipment. Approval is not guaranteed, and the request must meet applicable cost and documentation standards.
Personal Electronic Devices
A watch, tablet, laptop, or similar device may be considered when it serves an assessed health, communication, or behavioral purpose documented in the Person-Centered Plan. The request should not duplicate equipment available through Assistive Technology or another funding source.
Professional Health-Related Services
Certain dental services, nutritional consultations, supplements, or other health-related supports may require a recommendation from an appropriately licensed professional and proof that the service is not covered elsewhere.
These requests must be medically appropriate, non-cosmetic when applicable, reasonable in cost, and directly connected to the participant’s documented needs.
Staff Recruitment and Advertising
Self-directed participants may have access to dedicated recruitment and advertising funding under current DDA rules. This may support activities such as developing, printing, and posting recruitment materials or using an approved staff registry.
Recruitment funding has separate requirements and should be reflected in the participant’s authorized self-directed budget.
What IFDGS Generally Does Not Cover
IFDGS is not intended to pay for ordinary household expenses or entertainment. Current DDA guidance identifies categories that are generally excluded, including:
- Rent, mortgage payments, deposits, or room and board
- Food and regular household utilities
- Monthly cable, telephone, or subscription charges
- Vacation expenses and recreational travel
- Vehicle maintenance or other transportation-related expenses
- Ordinary clothing and shoes
- Haircuts, nail services, and spa treatments
- Co-payments and over-the-counter medications
- Tuition, school supplies, tutors, or services available through education programs
- Staff bonuses or benefits
- Commercial equipment
- Items purchased before approval
- Goods or services that primarily benefit someone other than the participant
- Goods or services already available through Medicaid, a DDA waiver service, insurance, or another resource
This list is not a substitute for current DDA policy. The exact determination depends on the request, documentation, funding source, and applicable rules.
How to Request IFDGS in Maryland
The general process includes the following steps:
-
Discuss the need with the support team.
Work with the participant, authorized representative when applicable, Support Broker, Coordinator of Community Services, and other appropriate team members. -
Connect the request to the Person-Centered Plan.
Identify the outcome or assessed need that the proposed good or service would support. -
Explore other funding sources.
Determine whether the item or service may be covered by Medicaid, insurance, education programs, another waiver service, community resources, or personal funds. -
Gather documentation.
Documentation may include an invoice, price estimate, schedule, professional recommendation, denial from another funding source, proof that the item is not otherwise available, or other information required by DDA. -
Complete the DDA request form.
The Coordinator of Community Services generally completes the Individual and Family Directed Goods and Services Request Form with information provided by the participant and support team. -
Wait for written approval.
Do not purchase the item or service while the request is pending. DDA guidance states that purchases made before approval may not be eligible for payment or reimbursement. -
Coordinate payment after approval.
The Financial Management and Counseling Services provider processes payment according to the approved request, budget, vendor requirements, and applicable documentation standards.
Questions to Ask Before Purchasing
Before submitting an IFDGS request, ask:
- What specific Person-Centered Plan goal does this support?
- What assessed need is being addressed?
- Will the item benefit the participant directly?
- Is the request available through another DDA service or Medicaid benefit?
- Has insurance or another funding source been contacted?
- Does the participant have personal funds available?
- Is the price reasonable and customary?
- Is professional documentation required?
- Has the request been approved in writing?
- Does the vendor meet applicable Maryland requirements?
- How will payment, invoices, receipts, warranties, or delivery be handled?
- Could purchasing this item reduce funding needed for other authorized supports?
These questions can help prevent avoidable delays and protect the participant’s broader service plan.
How HAVE Support Can Help
HAVE Support promotes choice, dignity, and meaningful participation for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across Maryland. Our services include provider-led and self-directed options designed around each person’s goals, preferences, assessed needs, and approved authorization.
IFDGS requests are reviewed and authorized through Maryland’s DDA process. HAVE Support does not guarantee that a particular item, activity, or service will be approved or funded. However, our team can help individuals and families understand available service models, identify appropriate referral pathways, and explore whether HAVE Support may be an appropriate provider for authorized disability services.
To learn more about self-directed services, service models, or additional DDA supports, visit HAVE Support at www.havesupport.org.
When you are ready to explore your options, begin with the service information and referral resources available at www.havesupport.org. With the right planning and coordination, individualized supports can help each participant move toward greater independence, community inclusion, and a life shaped by personal choice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is IFDGS available to everyone who receives DDA services?
No. IFDGS is associated with self-directed services and applicable waiver authority. Eligibility depends on the participant’s enrollment, service model, Person-Centered Plan, assessed needs, available budget, and current DDA requirements.
Can I buy an item first and request reimbursement later?
Generally, no. DDA guidance states that the request must be approved before the purchase is made. Purchasing first may result in the item being ineligible for reimbursement.
Does IFDGS provide extra money?
Not necessarily. IFDGS generally uses approved self-directed budget funds or eligible unallocated funds. Using those funds may affect the participant’s remaining budget, so the team should consider the participant’s full range of needs.
Can HAVE Support approve an IFDGS request?
No. Approval is determined through the Maryland DDA process. HAVE Support can provide information about its authorized services and referral pathways, but it cannot promise approval or funding for a specific request.