4910 SSPD Program Description

Revision 25-5; Effective Dec. 1, 2025

Special Services to Persons with Disabilities (SSPD) helps people with disabilities achieve habilitative or rehabilitative goals per their service plan.

The service plan is developed by the provider agency and must contain the following information:

• services;
• tasks; and
• frequency of services a particular person will receive.

These services must be part of the provider agency's service array outline in the plan of operation.

Services included in the service plan include counseling, personal care and help with the development of skills needed for independent living in the community. Support services may include transportation, information and referral.

Services vary depending on the regional contract. The Community Care Services Eligibility (CCSE) supervisor can provide specific information about regional contracts.

Refer to Appendix XX, Mutually Exclusives Services for other services that can be authorized with SSPD services.

4920 SSPD Eligibility

Revision 25-3; Effective June 1, 2025

To be eligible for Special Services to Persons with Disabilities (SSPD), the applicant must:

• be at least 18 or older;
• have Medicaid or meet financial eligibility criteria; and
• have a functional assessment score of at least nine.

Use the guidelines in Appendix III, Appropriate or Inappropriate Individual Characteristics Special Services to Persons with Disabilities, to determine if the applicant’s needs can be met adequately by the SSPD PAS program if the applicant appears to need personal attendant services (PAS). Applicants may be admitted to the attendant services program only if their needs do not exceed the program's available services.

Related Policy

Notice of Ineligibility or Service Reduction, 2810
Eligibility for Services, 3000

4930 Service Referral, Initiation and Delivery

Revision 25-3; Effective June 1, 2025

Special Services to Persons with Disabilities (SSPD) is currently available only in regions 03 and 07. Complete and send Form 2101, Authorization for Community Care Services to the provider to refer interested people in these locations. Conduct reauthorizations annually per the same procedure. Follow procedures in 2550, Identifying People at Risk when necessary.

The provider agency must develop the service plan before services can be started.

• The provider agency must start services:
  • within 14 calendar days after the referral date on the HHSC Authorization for Community Care Services form; or
  • as required by the procedures developed in the HHSC region where services are delivered.

The provider agency may deliver services in the following settings:

• an adult day care facility; or
• other settings approved by the contract manager.