Lifeworks Customized Support

A shift in funding in Minnesota in 1999 gives people with disabilities and their families more control over the services they receive. Lifeworks Customized Support offers the Agency with Choice and Fiscal Support Entity services required for families to access these waivered funds. This allows children to continue to live at home, gives families the freedom to live a more normal life, and saves money for Minnesota taxpayers.

We work with individuals or families who want to hire their own staff to provide the support they need. We are proud to be able to say "yes, you can do that" to simple requests that have been out of reach for so many people. We listen and plan with each individual so they can design services that truly help them make life work.

Fiscal Support Entity Services (FSE) - Lifeworks bills the waiver or funding source on behave of the client for the goods and services in their approved plan, and handles all payments or reimbursements. We also monitor spending, and send reports to the client and the county.

Lifeworks Customized Support staff assists clients who access the following programs:

Consumer Directed Community Supports (CDCS) - a waiver service option that gives persons more flexibility and responsibility for directing their services and supports, including hiring and managing direct care staff. CDCS may include services, support and/or items currently available through the waiver, as well as additional allowable services that provide needed support.

Agency with Choice or Employer of Record - The individual with disabilities, their family or guardian acts as the support manager. Lifeworks manages the employment tasks and bills the state for services. Employment tasks include:
- Completing background and driving record checks.
- Verifying citizenship.
- Issuing paychecks.
- Withholding and filing employment taxes.
- Providing Workers Compensation and liability insurance.
- Assisting with the employment relationship, including hiring, firing, and benefits.
Payroll Model - when the individual or their family becomes the employer, Lifeworks provides payroll services, including taking care of the taxes and withholdings.
Fiscal Intermediary Model - when the individual or their family is the employer, they take care of the payroll, including taxes and withholding. Lifeworks provides FSE services.
Support Planner - Lifeworks certified support planner assists the individual or family with writing, implementing, or monitoring their plan. They may also help arrange the day-to-day services covered in the plan. Lifeworks cannot provide both support planning and any direct care service to the same individual.

PCA Choice - a Personal Care Assistance program option that gives individuals more control over their own care by allowing them to hire, supervise and train their PCAs. Lifeworks is a PCA Choice provider with the State of Minnesota and provides employer of record service.

Qualified Professional - Lifeworks qualified professional provides support to individuals on the PCA Choice program, assisting with developing the care plan and supervising the PCAs.

Consumer Support Grant (CSG) - a state-funded alternative to medical assistance home care programs, CSG is administered by the county. Eligible participants receive monthly cash grants, through a fiscal support entity like Lifeworks, to purchase services, goods, and supports.

Personal Support - is a developmental disabilities waiver service that provides supervision and assistance to increase the client's independence, productivity, and inclusion in the community.

With these programs, Lifeworks provides the level of support determined by the individual.

The services provided through the Customized Support program are also available to individuals who choose to private pay for these services.