Disability services in Essex County, Massachusetts

Adults 22 and older with an intellectual disability who need ICF/ID level of care, need a waiver service each month, and have lower support needs (living with family, in adult foster care, or on their own without 24 hour care).

Start with: DDS Area Office · (888) 367-4435 · Website (opens in a new tab)

Massachusetts reported no waiting lists for its home and community waivers in KFF 2026 state data. You can apply at any time; DDS decides which waiver fits your needs.

Steps

1. If you are not DDS eligible yet, apply for DDS eligibility through the regional eligibility team at your DDS regional office
2. Talk with your DDS Service Coordinator or DDS Area Office about which waiver fits
3. Fill out the waiver application
4. Send it to your DDS Area Office (preferred) or to the DDS Waiver Management Unit, 40 Broad St., Boston, MA 02109
5. Apply for MassHealth if you do not have it

Apply or start here (opens in a new tab) · About this program (opens in a new tab) · Providers for Essex County

Children from birth through age 9 with a confirmed autism diagnosis who meet ICF/ID level of care, can be safely served at home, and qualify for MassHealth Standard.

Start with: DDS Autism Division (Children's Autism Waiver Program) · (617) 624-7778 · Website (opens in a new tab)

Requests are taken only during an open request period (October 16 to 30, 2026); DDS fills open slots from that list as they open, with 55 slots set aside for children leaving Early Intervention.

Steps

1. Get the 2026 Open Request form during the open period (October 16 to 30, 2026)
2. Send one form per child by mail, email (parent or guardian only), fax 1-857-323-8379, or online; hand delivery is not accepted
3. Apply for MassHealth at the same time if your child does not have it
4. Ask your local Autism Support Center for help
5. If selected, complete the DDS level of care assessment

Apply or start here (opens in a new tab) · About this program (opens in a new tab) · Providers for Essex County

Adults 22 and older with an intellectual disability who need ICF/ID level of care, need a waiver service each month, and need moderate support that is less than 24 hours a day.

Start with: DDS Area Office · (888) 367-4435 · Website (opens in a new tab)

Massachusetts reported no waiting lists for its home and community waivers in KFF 2026 state data. You can apply at any time; DDS decides which waiver fits your needs.

Steps

1. If you are not DDS eligible yet, apply for DDS eligibility through the regional eligibility team at your DDS regional office
2. Talk with your DDS Service Coordinator or DDS Area Office about which waiver fits
3. Fill out the waiver application
4. Send it to your DDS Area Office (preferred) or to the DDS Waiver Management Unit, 40 Broad St., Boston, MA 02109
5. Apply for MassHealth if you do not have it

Apply or start here (opens in a new tab) · About this program (opens in a new tab) · Providers for Essex County

Adults 22 and older with an intellectual disability who need ICF/ID level of care and need supervision and support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for behavioral, medical, or physical needs.

Start with: DDS Area Office · (888) 367-4435 · Website (opens in a new tab)

Massachusetts reported no waiting lists for its home and community waivers in KFF 2026 state data. You can apply at any time; DDS decides which waiver fits your needs.

Steps

1. If you are not DDS eligible yet, apply for DDS eligibility through the regional eligibility team at your DDS regional office
2. Talk with your DDS Service Coordinator or DDS Area Office about which waiver fits
3. Fill out the waiver application
4. Send it to your DDS Area Office (preferred) or to the DDS Waiver Management Unit, 40 Broad St., Boston, MA 02109
5. Apply for MassHealth if you do not have it

Apply or start here (opens in a new tab) · About this program (opens in a new tab) · Providers for Essex County

Adults with an acquired brain injury that happened at age 22 or older (such as stroke, trauma, tumor or anoxia) who have lived in a facility 90+ days and can live in their own or someone else's home with community services.

Start with: Waiver Unit, UMass Chan Medical School · (866) 281-5602 · Website (opens in a new tab)

Massachusetts reported no waiting lists for its home and community waivers in KFF 2026 state data. You can apply at any time.

Steps

1. Make sure you have lived in a nursing facility or chronic or rehabilitation hospital for at least 90 days
2. Fill out the ABI-N application (PDF or Word, several languages)
3. Mail it to Waiver Unit, UMass Chan Medical School, PO Box 2635, Worcester, MA 01613
4. Call (866) 281-5602 (TTY (800) 596-1746) with questions
5. If accepted, work with your case manager on a service plan

Apply or start here (opens in a new tab) · About this program (opens in a new tab) · Providers for Essex County

Adults with an acquired brain injury that happened at age 22 or older who have lived in a facility 90+ days and need 24 hour staff supervision in a provider-operated home.

Start with: Waiver Unit, UMass Chan Medical School · (866) 281-5602 · Website (opens in a new tab)

Massachusetts reported no waiting lists for its home and community waivers in KFF 2026 state data. You can apply at any time.

Steps

1. Make sure you have lived in a nursing facility or chronic or rehabilitation hospital for at least 90 days
2. Fill out the ABI-RH application (PDF or Word, several languages)
3. Mail it to Waiver Unit, UMass Chan Medical School, PO Box 2635, Worcester, MA 01613
4. Call (866) 281-5602 (TTY (800) 596-1746) with questions
5. If accepted, work with your case manager on a service plan

Apply or start here (opens in a new tab) · About this program (opens in a new tab) · Providers for Essex County

People with a traumatic brain injury (from an outside force) who meet SHIP rules and nursing facility or chronic or rehabilitation hospital level of care; the person may already live in the community.

Start with: MassAbility Statewide Head Injury Program (SHIP) · Website (opens in a new tab)

Massachusetts reported no waiting lists for its home and community waivers in KFF 2026 state data. You can apply at any time.

Steps

1. Contact MassAbility (formerly the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission) and ask about the Statewide Head Injury Program
2. If you already have a SHIP Service Coordinator or MassAbility Connect contact, ask them about the TBI waiver
3. Complete the SHIP eligibility and level of care review
4. Apply for MassHealth if you do not have it

About this program (opens in a new tab) · Providers for Essex County

People 65 and older, or 60 to 64 with a disability, who meet nursing facility level of care, live in a qualifying community setting, and meet MassHealth Standard financial rules.

Start with: Aging Services Access Point (ASAP), via MassOptions · (800) 243-4636 · Website (opens in a new tab)

Massachusetts reported no waiting lists for its home and community waivers in KFF 2026 state data. You can apply at any time.

Steps

1. Call MassOptions at 800-243-4636 to find your local ASAP
2. Ask the ASAP for a clinical eligibility assessment for the Frail Elder Waiver
3. Or mail the Frail Elder Waiver application to your ASAP
4. Apply for MassHealth; the ASAP or MassHealth Customer Service (800) 841-2900 can help
5. Use at least one waiver service each month to stay eligible

Your local Aging and Disability Resource Center can start the application. Find the one for Essex County.

About this program (opens in a new tab) · Providers for Essex County

Adults 18+ with a disability or 65+ who have lived 90+ days in a nursing facility or chronic, rehabilitation, or psychiatric hospital and can move to their own or someone else's home with community services.

Start with: Waiver Unit, UMass Chan Medical School · (866) 281-5602 · Website (opens in a new tab)

Massachusetts reported no waiting lists for its home and community waivers in KFF 2026 state data. You can apply at any time.

Steps

1. Make sure you have lived in a nursing facility or chronic or rehabilitation hospital for at least 90 days
2. Fill out the MFP-CL application (PDF or Word, several languages)
3. Mail it to Waiver Unit, UMass Chan Medical School, PO Box 2635, Worcester, MA 01613
4. Call (866) 281-5602 (TTY (800) 596-1746) with questions
5. If accepted, work with your case manager on a service plan

Apply or start here (opens in a new tab) · About this program (opens in a new tab) · Providers for Essex County

Adults 18+ with a disability or 65+ who have lived 90+ days in a nursing facility or chronic, rehabilitation, or psychiatric hospital and need 24 hour staff supervision in a provider-operated home.

Start with: Waiver Unit, UMass Chan Medical School · (866) 281-5602 · Website (opens in a new tab)

Massachusetts reported no waiting lists for its home and community waivers in KFF 2026 state data. You can apply at any time.

Steps

1. Make sure you have lived in a nursing facility or chronic or rehabilitation hospital for at least 90 days
2. Fill out the MFP-RS application (PDF or Word, several languages)
3. Mail it to Waiver Unit, UMass Chan Medical School, PO Box 2635, Worcester, MA 01613
4. Call (866) 281-5602 (TTY (800) 596-1746) with questions
5. If accepted, work with your case manager on a service plan

Apply or start here (opens in a new tab) · About this program (opens in a new tab) · Providers for Essex County