This checklist helps Texas families organize the HCS, TxHmL, or CLASS application — from confirming Medicaid enrollment through contacting your LIDDA and tracking the interest list. It is an organizer, not an eligibility decision.
Step 1
Identify your waiver track
Texas runs several HCBS waivers through HHSC. HCS and TxHmL serve people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD); CLASS serves people with related conditions such as traumatic brain injury, autism (without IDD), and cerebral palsy; DBMD serves people who are deaf-blind with additional disabilities; STAR+PLUS HCBS serves adults eligible for a nursing-facility level of care through managed care. The right track determines which Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority (LIDDA) or agency manages your enrollment.
Official source ↗Step 2
Confirm Texas Medicaid eligibility
All HCBS waiver services in Texas require active Medicaid enrollment. Apply through YourTexasBenefits.com, by phone at 2-1-1 (option 2), or at a local Health and Human Services office. Keep the Medicaid application confirmation number and the Medicaid ID once issued — both are needed throughout the waiver process.
Official source ↗Step 3
Contact your local LIDDA for HCS or TxHmL
For HCS and TxHmL, the Local Intellectual and Developmental Disability Authority (LIDDA) is your entry point — HHSC does not accept direct family applications for these programs. The LIDDA completes an eligibility determination (including HHSC Form 2060) and places eligible individuals on the interest list. Find your LIDDA using the HHSC search tool.
Official source ↗Step 4
Get on the HCS/TxHmL interest list — date matters
Texas operates an interest list, not a traditional waitlist — placement order is based on the date you were added. HCS wait times in many Texas regions exceed several years. Being on the interest list does not guarantee enrollment or a timeline. Request written confirmation of your interest list date from the LIDDA and keep it.
Official source ↗Step 5
For CLASS: contact a CLASS program provider
CLASS enrollment is managed through CLASS program providers authorized by HHSC — there is also a CLASS interest list. Contact HHSC or a CLASS provider to start. The CLASS program serves people with related conditions (not IDD) who need assistance with functional limitations. Document the date you contacted each provider.
Official source ↗Step 6
Assemble eligibility documents before your LIDDA meeting
Gather a current diagnosis or psychological evaluation confirming the qualifying condition, proof of Texas residency, Medicaid card or enrollment confirmation, and identity documents (birth certificate, state ID or Social Security card). For HCS/TxHmL the LIDDA needs a completed Form 2060 — it may need to be obtained through a physician or evaluation team. Having records ready prevents delays at intake.
Official source ↗Step 7
Understand the interest list update process
HHSC contacts families on the HCS/TxHmL interest list periodically to verify they still want services. Missing an update can result in removal from the list. Record every contact from LIDDA or HHSC, and keep your address, phone, and email current with the LIDDA — an unanswered update letter can cost years of waiting.
Official source ↗Step 8
Log every call, meeting, and document exchange
Keep a single running log of every contact with HHSC, your LIDDA, providers, and managed care organizations: date, person, what was said, and next steps. Texas waiver processes involve multiple agencies and handoffs — your log is the only complete record you own.
Official source ↗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.
