Florida · APD / iBudget checklist

Florida Medicaid waiver checklist

This organizer helps Florida families track APD iBudget waiver application steps, gather required documents, and log follow-up calls. It is not an eligibility decision and does not replace official forms or agency contact. Confirm every step, form, and timeline with your APD regional office or case manager.

WaiverPath is not a government agency, law firm, Medicaid provider, or benefits advisor. We help you organize information, documents, and follow-up tasks. Always verify requirements with the official agency or a qualified professional.

Which Florida track applies to your family?

Confirm with APD, AHCA, or your case manager — WaiverPath does not determine eligibility.

APD iBudget Waiver

Generally for: People with a qualifying developmental disability (autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, Prader-Willi, spina bifida, Down syndrome, Phelan McDermid, or at high risk age 3–5) who meet APD eligibility.
How to apply: Download the Application for Services at apd.myflorida.com/customers/application/, complete and sign it in ink, and mail or hand-deliver it to the APD regional office that serves your Florida county.
Confirmation note: Confirm current eligibility criteria, waitlist status, and correct office routing with APD before you mail — WaiverPath does not determine eligibility.

SMMC Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS)

Generally for: Adults 18+ or children with complex medical needs who meet nursing-facility level of care and have Florida Medicaid.
How to apply: Enroll with a Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) plan. Your MCO manages LTSS authorization — intake is not through APD.
Confirmation note: Confirm current plan options, LTSS coverage, and enrollment steps with AHCA or flmedicaidmanagedcare.com — WaiverPath does not enroll you in an MCO.

Florida Katie Beckett / TEFRA Waiver

Generally for: Children under 18 who meet institutional level of care; parent income is generally treated as unavailable for eligibility.
How to apply: Apply through AHCA. The APD developmental-disability track is separate — confirm which track applies with AHCA or a case manager before you start.
Confirmation note: Confirm current eligibility criteria and the correct application track with AHCA — WaiverPath does not determine which waiver is right for your family.

FALD Waiver (Early-Onset Alzheimer's)

Generally for: Adults with early-onset Alzheimer's disease (age limits and eligibility criteria apply — confirm with APD).
How to apply: Also administered through APD. Use the same Application for Services process — contact APD to confirm the correct intake path for FALD.
Confirmation note: Confirm current FALD intake steps, eligibility, and age limits with APD.

Track	Generally for	How to apply	Confirmation note
APD iBudget Waiver	People with a qualifying developmental disability (autism, cerebral palsy, intellectual disability, Prader-Willi, spina bifida, Down syndrome, Phelan McDermid, or at high risk age 3–5) who meet APD eligibility.	Download the Application for Services at apd.myflorida.com/customers/application/, complete and sign it in ink, and mail or hand-deliver it to the APD regional office that serves your Florida county.	Confirm current eligibility criteria, waitlist status, and correct office routing with APD before you mail — WaiverPath does not determine eligibility.
SMMC Long-Term Services and Supports (LTSS)	Adults 18+ or children with complex medical needs who meet nursing-facility level of care and have Florida Medicaid.	Enroll with a Statewide Medicaid Managed Care (SMMC) plan. Your MCO manages LTSS authorization — intake is not through APD.	Confirm current plan options, LTSS coverage, and enrollment steps with AHCA or flmedicaidmanagedcare.com — WaiverPath does not enroll you in an MCO.
Florida Katie Beckett / TEFRA Waiver	Children under 18 who meet institutional level of care; parent income is generally treated as unavailable for eligibility.	Apply through AHCA. The APD developmental-disability track is separate — confirm which track applies with AHCA or a case manager before you start.	Confirm current eligibility criteria and the correct application track with AHCA — WaiverPath does not determine which waiver is right for your family.
FALD Waiver (Early-Onset Alzheimer's)	Adults with early-onset Alzheimer's disease (age limits and eligibility criteria apply — confirm with APD).	Also administered through APD. Use the same Application for Services process — contact APD to confirm the correct intake path for FALD.	Confirm current FALD intake steps, eligibility, and age limits with APD.

Florida APD application steps

Step 1

Confirm the correct Florida pathway

Start with APD if the applicant has a developmental disability and is seeking APD services or the iBudget HCBS waiver. Confirm current steps with your APD regional office.

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Step 2

Gather proof of diagnosis and Florida domicile

APD says documentation may include school, testing, or medical records, and lists examples of domicile proof such as a Florida ID, voter registration, lease, mortgage, or school/employment records. Confirm current steps with your APD regional office.

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Step 3

Download the current APD application

Use the official APD application download page and keep a copy of the submitted packet for your records. Confirm current steps with your APD regional office.

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Step 4

Submit to the APD office that serves your area

APD instructs applicants to submit by mail or hand delivery to the regional office; faxed submissions may be returned for an original signature. Confirm current steps with your APD regional office.

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Step 5

Log follow-up calls and letters

Record dates, names, phone numbers, next actions, and requested documents so the family has one timeline. Confirm current steps with your APD regional office.

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Step 6

Track Medicaid managed care items separately

Use the Florida Medicaid Managed Care portal for member portal access, plan information, complaints, and fair hearing links where relevant. Confirm current steps with your APD regional office.

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Step 7

Confirm APD received your application

Call the APD regional office approximately 14 business days after mailing. Ask for written acknowledgment of receipt. Log the date, contact name, and the expected next step. Confirm current intake timelines with APD.

Step 8

Monitor and respond to APD correspondence

APD may request additional documents or schedule a clinical assessment. Keep every letter, note the date received, what you sent back, how you sent it, and the expected next step. Confirm timelines after each contact with APD.

What to gather before you mail

Confirm the current document requirements with APD before you mail.

Diagnosis proof

Examples: Psychological or other testing records, medical records, school records. APD's Quick Guide references all three types.
Confirmation note: Confirm the current document list with APD before you mail.

Florida domicile proof

Examples: Florida ID or driver license, voter registration card, lease or mortgage, or school/employment records.
Confirmation note: Confirm current domicile requirements with APD.

Signed Application for Services

Examples: The current APD application, completed and signed in ink. APD returns faxed submissions for a missing original signature.
Confirmation note: Keep a dated copy of the signed form and every enclosure before you mail or hand-deliver.

Medicaid / waiver enrollment tracking

Examples: Track your Medicaid enrollment date and case number alongside the APD application. If Medicaid is pending, note the DCF/DFR application case number.
Confirmation note: Medicaid enrollment is part of the waiver process — not a separate gate before applying to APD. Confirm the sequence with DCF and your APD regional office.

Legal representative authority

Examples: Court order, power of attorney, health care surrogate designation, or HIPAA authorization if someone other than the applicant is applying.
Confirmation note: Confirm the required legal authority type with APD for your situation.

Document type	Examples	Confirmation note
Diagnosis proof	Psychological or other testing records, medical records, school records. APD's Quick Guide references all three types.	Confirm the current document list with APD before you mail.
Florida domicile proof	Florida ID or driver license, voter registration card, lease or mortgage, or school/employment records.	Confirm current domicile requirements with APD.
Signed Application for Services	The current APD application, completed and signed in ink. APD returns faxed submissions for a missing original signature.	Keep a dated copy of the signed form and every enclosure before you mail or hand-deliver.
Medicaid / waiver enrollment tracking	Track your Medicaid enrollment date and case number alongside the APD application. If Medicaid is pending, note the DCF/DFR application case number.	Medicaid enrollment is part of the waiver process — not a separate gate before applying to APD. Confirm the sequence with DCF and your APD regional office.
Legal representative authority	Court order, power of attorney, health care surrogate designation, or HIPAA authorization if someone other than the applicant is applying.	Confirm the required legal authority type with APD for your situation.

After you mail — what to log

APD regional office name, address, and phone for your county — confirm by calling before you mail.
Submission date and method (mail or hand delivery); postal tracking or hand-delivery receipt.
A dated copy of the signed application and every enclosure.
Date you called APD to confirm receipt, who you spoke with, and the outcome.
Any additional document requests from APD: date received, what was requested, date you replied.
Any interest-list or waitlist confirmation APD provides in writing.
If SMMC LTSS applies: MCO name, member services number, and LTSS authorization reference.

Organizer mistakes to avoid

These are paperwork-tracking notes, not legal advice.

Faxing the application to APD

APD instructs applicants to submit by mail or hand delivery. Faxed submissions may be returned for a missing original signature. Confirm the current submission method with your APD regional office before sending.

Mailing to the wrong APD office

Florida has 14 APD offices; the county of residence determines which office receives the application. Call your regional office to confirm routing before you mail — county-to-office assignments can change.

Mixing up APD application and Medicaid enrollment

Applying to APD for waiver services and enrolling in Florida Medicaid are related but separate processes. Families can submit to APD through the APD Online Application System while Medicaid enrollment is still in progress. Confirm the correct sequence for your situation with APD and DCF — WaiverPath does not determine enrollment order.

Assuming APD iBudget is the only Florida track

SMMC LTSS (aging and physical disability) and the Florida Katie Beckett/TEFRA waiver (children) have different intake paths and agencies. Confirm which track applies with the correct agency before you start.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Florida APD iBudget Waiver?

The iBudget Florida Waiver is a Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver administered by the Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD). It provides individualized community supports for eligible individuals with qualifying developmental disabilities. WaiverPath helps families organize the application steps — confirm eligibility and current waiver details with APD.

How do I apply for the Florida APD iBudget Waiver?

Download the current Application for Services from apd.myflorida.com/customers/application/, complete and sign it in ink, and mail or hand-deliver it to the APD regional office for your Florida county. Keep a dated copy of the signed form and every enclosure before you mail. APD returns faxed submissions for a missing original signature. Confirm current submission steps with your APD regional office.

What documents do I need for the APD application?

APD requires proof of a qualifying developmental disability diagnosis (psychological testing, medical records, or school records) and proof of Florida domicile (Florida ID, voter registration, lease, mortgage, or school/employment records). Also have your Medicaid number or pending DCF case number and, if a representative is applying, the legal authority document. Confirm the current document list with APD before you mail.

Which APD regional office receives my application?

The Florida county of residence determines the APD regional office. Florida has 14 APD offices and field offices. Contact your regional office by phone before mailing to confirm the current address and that the office serves your county — routing details can change. WaiverPath's official source links below point to the APD regional office page.

Is there a waitlist for the Florida APD iBudget Waiver?

APD maintains a waiting list for iBudget services. Submitting an application establishes your registration date. Confirm current wait-time estimates and waitlist status directly with APD — WaiverPath cannot provide current figures.

What happens after I mail the APD application?

Contact the APD regional office to confirm your application arrived. Log the date, who you spoke with, and the next step. APD may request additional documents or schedule assessments. Keep every letter and note the date. Confirm expected timelines with APD.

What is the difference between APD iBudget and SMMC LTSS?

APD iBudget is for eligible individuals with a qualifying developmental disability, administered by the Florida Agency for Persons with Disabilities. SMMC LTSS (Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Services and Supports) covers adults and children with complex medical needs or aging-related supports who meet nursing-facility level of care and have Medicaid; it is managed through Medicaid managed care organizations. Confirm which track applies with APD or AHCA — WaiverPath does not determine which waiver is right for your family.

What is the Florida Katie Beckett TEFRA waiver for children?

The Florida Katie Beckett (TEFRA) Waiver allows children under 18 who meet institutional level of care to receive Medicaid-funded community services. Parent income is generally treated as unavailable for eligibility. It is administered through AHCA, not APD. Confirm current eligibility criteria and the correct application track with AHCA — WaiverPath does not determine eligibility.

Does WaiverPath submit my APD application?

No. WaiverPath is an organizer only. It helps families track steps, gather documents, and log follow-up calls. Families prepare and submit the application directly to the APD regional office. WaiverPath does not contact any agency on your behalf, does not determine eligibility, and does not create or extend any deadlines.

What is the FALD Waiver in Florida?

The Florida Assisted Living for Adults with Developmental Disabilities (FALD) Waiver is administered by APD for adults with early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Age limits and eligibility criteria apply — confirm current intake steps, eligibility, and age limits with APD before you start.

Save this Florida checklist Florida APD form assistant Florida waiver programs Florida Katie Beckett waiver iBudget waiver overview HCBS waiver eligibility

Last reviewed: August 2026.

Official sources

Last reviewed by WaiverPath: August 26, 2026.

Medicaid.gov Home & Community Based ServicesFederal HCBS overview describing home and community-based services for Medicaid beneficiaries.Florida APD Applying for ServicesFlorida APD application page with documents, submission instructions, and regional-office guidance.Florida APD iBudget FloridaFlorida APD page for iBudget Florida waiver information and related notices.Florida Statewide Medicaid Managed CareFlorida portal for Medicaid managed care programs, member portal access, plans, complaints, and hearings.AHCA Familial Dysautonomia WaiverFlorida AHCA page for the Familial Dysautonomia HCBS waiver. Confirm current eligibility criteria and intake steps with AHCA.