Georgia's NOW and COMP waivers help eligible people with intellectual and developmental disabilities receive services in homes and communities rather than relying only on institutional care. NOW means New Options Waiver. COMP means Comprehensive Supports Waiver.

Both programs are administered through the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) and are connected to Medicaid. They can be life-changing, but they are not immediate entitlement programs. Available waiver slots are limited, and many families wait years after applying.

The most important message is simple: if a waiver may be needed in the future, begin the intake and eligibility process as early as possible. Getting on a planning list is not a guarantee of services, but waiting to start can make an already long process longer.

Eligibility typically includes several parts:

• A qualifying intellectual or developmental disability diagnosis and supporting records.
• Georgia residency.
• Eligibility for Medicaid or the ability to become Medicaid eligible when a waiver slot is offered.
• A demonstrated need for an institutional level of care, even though services are intended for the community.
• A need for the types of supports offered through the waiver.

DBHDD and its regional offices review information and determine the next steps. Exact criteria and priorities can change, so ask the intake team what documentation and screening are currently required.

Families often worry that “level of care” means agreeing to place a loved one in a facility. It does not. The assessment asks whether the person's support needs are significant enough that institutional-level services would otherwise be appropriate. The waiver exists to help meet qualifying needs in community settings.

The NOW waiver is generally designed for a more flexible set of community supports. It can include services such as community access, supported employment, personal support, respite, and other individualized supports within waiver limits.

The COMP waiver generally supports people with more intensive needs and can include broader or more extensive residential and comprehensive support options. Both waivers use person-centered planning, and available services depend on assessed needs, authorization, provider availability, and individual budget rules.

Covered services vary by plan, but may include:

• Residential supports and community living arrangements.
• Personal support and community access services.
• Day programs and community participation.
• Supported employment and employment-related coaching.
• Respite for family caregivers.
• Behavioral or clinical supports when authorized.
• Specialized equipment, environmental modifications, and transportation-related supports in certain circumstances.

A waiver is not a blank check. Services must be medically or functionally appropriate, included in the approved plan, and delivered by an enrolled provider.

Start a waiver file with records that explain diagnosis, functional needs, and current supports:

• Proof of identity, Georgia residency, and Medicaid status or application information.
• Psychological evaluations, diagnostic reports, school evaluations, and IEP documents.
• Medical records, therapy notes, behavior support plans, and hospital summaries when relevant.
• A current list of medications, providers, supports, and daily care needs.
• Documentation of safety concerns, caregiver limitations, or urgent changes in support needs.
• Guardianship or legal decision-making documents, if applicable.

1. Contact DBHDD or your regional developmental disability office and ask for NOW/COMP intake or waiver eligibility screening.
2. Submit requested diagnostic, school, medical, and functional records.
3. Participate in assessments and answer questions about daily support needs honestly and specifically.
4. Ask how your information is being used for planning-list or service priority decisions.
5. Keep your address, phone number, caregiver information, and Medicaid status current.
6. When a slot is offered, complete Medicaid and planning requirements promptly.
7. Work with the assigned Support Coordinator to create an individualized service plan.

If the process feels hard to organize, Start Your Free Intake. You can also View Our Services to see how we help families prepare for benefit and waiver systems.

Families often hear the term “waitlist,” while state systems may use planning-list or priority terminology. In practical terms, there can be a lengthy wait for a waiver slot. Waits are often five to 10 years or longer, although timing varies by funding, region, priority, and individual circumstances.

Do not assume silence means your name has been removed. Check in periodically, save confirmation letters, and ask how to report significant changes. A new safety risk, loss of a caregiver, housing instability, medical decline, or other crisis may affect the urgency review, but only DBHDD can determine priority.

If a person faces an immediate health, safety, housing, or caregiver crisis, tell DBHDD and the Support Coordinator right away. Emergency needs should also be addressed through 911, crisis services, medical providers, or local emergency resources as appropriate. Waiver planning is important, but it is not a substitute for emergency care.

Once services are available, a Support Coordinator helps guide the person-centered planning process. They may help identify goals, locate providers, request authorizations, monitor services, and address concerns. Families should prepare for meetings by writing down what is working, what is not working, and what a meaningful week looks like for the participant.

Plans are reviewed at least annually and may be updated when needs change. Ask questions about service hours, provider options, backup plans, and how to document unmet needs.

Some participants may have self-direction options, allowing them more control over selecting and managing certain supports within program rules. Self-direction requires planning and administration, so ask what responsibilities, training, and fiscal supports are available.

Because waiver access can take years, start early. A child nearing adulthood or an aging caregiver are strong reasons to begin gathering records now.

A missed letter or disconnected number can create serious delays. Update DBHDD, Medicaid, and the Support Coordinator whenever there is a move, new guardian, or phone change.

Needs change. Bring concerns to the annual plan meeting and request review when safety, health, behavior, work, housing, or caregiver circumstances change.

Authorization does not guarantee an available provider. Ask for multiple options, document calls, and tell the coordinator about repeated access barriers.

DBHDD is the lead state agency for developmental disability waiver services. Start with dbhdd.georgia.gov and ask for the regional office serving your county. DFCS and Georgia Gateway manage Medicaid eligibility steps that may be needed alongside a waiver.

Georgia's Aging and Disability Resource Connection can help families locate local disability and caregiver resources. Keep names, dates, and case references from every conversation; this simple habit is especially valuable during a long wait.

Potential eligibility depends on the person's diagnosis and needs, not simply adult age. Ask DBHDD for current intake guidance as early as possible.

No. The waiver is a Medicaid-funded pathway for specific home- and community-based services. A person usually needs Medicaid eligibility when services begin.

Many families wait five to 10 years or more, but no one can promise a date. Check in and keep your information current.

Choice may be available among enrolled providers with capacity, but local availability can be limited. Your Support Coordinator can discuss options.

A long wait is discouraging, but early action still matters. Build a record of needs, stay connected to DBHDD, and use the time to explore Medicaid, school transition, and community supports. When you need a steady organizing partner, Start Your Free Intake or View Our Services.