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Do I Qualify for NHTD or TBI Waiver Services in New York?
If you’re caring for a family member with a physical disability or recovering from a traumatic brain injury, and you’ve started hearing terms like “NHTD” or “TBI Waiver,” you’re probably asking one simple question: could my family member actually qualify? There’s no way to know for certain without going through New York State’s official evaluation process — but this page walks you through the real, publicly documented basics in plain language, so you can get a sense of it before you ever pick up the phone.
Walk Through It Together
Read each question and think honestly about your family member’s situation.
1
Does your family member live in New York State?
Both the NHTD and TBI Medicaid waivers are New York State programs, administered through your local Regional Resource Development Center (RRDC).
2
Are they between 18 and 64 years old?
Both waivers are generally for adults age 18 through 64 at the time of enrollment. Different Medicaid long-term care programs typically apply for people 65 and older.
3
Do they have a diagnosed traumatic brain injury, or a physical disability that limits daily activities?
This is the key branch point: a documented traumatic brain injury generally points toward the TBI Waiver, while a physical disability (not primarily a developmental or intellectual disability) generally points toward the NHTD Waiver. If you're not sure which applies, that's completely normal — a service coordinator can help sort this out.
4
Are they currently living in a nursing home and hoping to return home, or at risk of needing nursing home care without more support?
Both waivers exist to either help someone transition out of a nursing facility back into the community, or to help someone avoid nursing home placement in the first place by adding the right supports at home.
5
Would a doctor likely agree they need a nursing-home level of care to stay safe?
Both programs require a physician-documented determination that the person needs the level of care a nursing facility provides, but that this care can be safely delivered at home instead with the right waiver services in place.
6
Is your family member enrolled in NY Medicaid, or open to applying for it?
NHTD and TBI Waiver services are funded through Medicaid, so enrollment (or willingness to apply) is part of the picture. If they're not enrolled yet, that's a normal, solvable part of the process — not a dead end.
Nothing you click here is saved, scored, or sent anywhere — this is just a private way to think it through.
What Happens Next
Nothing on this page can tell you, for certain, whether your family member qualifies for NHTD or TBI Waiver services. Only New York State, through your Regional Resource Development Center, can make that determination. Here, in plain terms, is generally how the real process works:
01
Reach Out
Contact Priority Cares Home Services or your local Regional Resource Development Center (RRDC) to start a conversation about NHTD or TBI Waiver services.
02
Evaluation
A formal evaluation reviews medical history, functional needs, and current living situation to determine which waiver — if either — may fit.
03
Physician Confirms Level of Care
Your doctor documents whether a nursing-home level of care is medically needed, and whether it can be safely delivered at home.
04
Service Plan Built
If approved, a service coordinator works with your family to build a personalized plan — home modifications, personal care, therapies, or other supports.
05
Services Begin at Home
Once the plan and paperwork are complete, home-based services start, with regular check-ins to adjust support as needs change.
A Quick, Important Disclaimer
This checklist is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice, a medical diagnosis, a clinical assessment, or an official eligibility determination, and completing it does not register your family member for services or start an application on your behalf. Only New York State, through your Regional Resource Development Center, can make an official NHTD or TBI Waiver eligibility determination.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this checklist tell me if my family member is officially eligible?
No. Only New York State, through your Regional Resource Development Center, can make an official NHTD or TBI Waiver eligibility determination. This checklist is meant to help you think through the basics before you apply — not to replace that process.
What's the real difference between NHTD and TBI Waiver services?
Both waivers offer similar home-based supports and share the same nursing-home-level-of-care requirement, but they’re built around different qualifying conditions: TBI Waiver is specifically for people with a documented traumatic brain injury, while NHTD Waiver is for adults with physical disabilities more broadly (not primarily developmental or intellectual disabilities, which are served through separate OPWDD programs).
Can Priority Cares help either way, even before we know which waiver fits?
Yes. Our care coordinators work with families through the entire process — including help figuring out whether NHTD, TBI, or a different program is the right starting point — not just after a determination is already made.
Ready to Talk Through Your Situation?
You don’t have to figure this out alone, and you don’t have to wait for a 100% clear answer before reaching out. If you’d rather talk it through with a person, our team is here.