Family and Individual Support (FIS) Waiver – Virginia

The Family and Individual Support (FIS) Waiver is a Virginia Medicaid developmental disability waiver that helps children and adults receive services in their home and community instead of in an institution.

The Henrico Pierce Foundation provides education and navigation support to help Portsmouth families understand Virginia’s developmental disability waivers and connect with the right local services.

Who the waiver serves

The FIS Waiver is for children and adults with a developmental disability who live with family, friends, or in their own home.
It is one of Virginia’s three developmental disability waivers:

1. Building Independence (BI) : is for adults 18 years and older who can live mostly independently. They do not need supports all the time. People with this waiver usually own, lease, or control their own living arrangements and supports are complemented by non-waiver-funded rent subsidies.

   En Español - Hoja Informativa de la Exención de Ayuda a la Independencia (BI)

2. Family and Individual Support (FIS) : is available to both children and adults. People with this waiver may live with their family, friends, or in their own homes. Some people may need functional, behavioral, or medical supports.

   En Español - Hoja Informativa de la Exención de Apoyos Familiares en Individuales (FIS)

3. Community Living (CL) : is available to both children and adults. People with this waiver usually require supports in their homes all the time. Some people may need to live in a home that has staff to support them with functional skills and/or complex medical and/or behavioral needs.

   En Español - Hoja Informativa para la Exención de Vida Comunitaria (CL)

Basic eligibility

To qualify for the FIS Waiver, an individual must:

• Have a developmental disability.

• Meet the level of care criteria for an Intermediate Care Facility for Individuals with Intellectual Disability (ICF/IID).

• Be willing to accept waiver services within 30 days of being offered a waiver “slot.”

Screening and assessment for waiver services begin through the local Community Services Board or Behavioral Health Authority.

Services that may be covered

Depending on the person’s needs, the FIS Waiver may cover:

• In‑home supports

• Respite care

• Companion services

• Community engagement services

• Employment supports

• Crisis services

• Assistive technology

• Environmental modifications

• Therapeutic consultation

• Certain nursing services

These supports are intended to help people remain safely in the community and reduce the need for institutional placement.