Kentucky · waiver service
Michelle P. Waiver (MPW) in Kentucky
The Michelle P. Waiver is a Kentucky Medicaid waiver for children and adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities who can live at home. Through PDS, the member or family can hire friends, relatives, spouses or parents. Parents and spouses together are capped at 40 paid hours a week, and the yearly PDS budget is generally $40,000.
Also called: MPW · Michelle P · Michelle P. Waiver · Kentucky Michelle P waiver
Who do you care for?
Quick facts
- Pay
- $29.04/hr (reported PDS max)
- Adult children & other relatives
- Yes
- Spouse
- Yes
- Parent of a minor child
- Sometimes
- Waitlist
- long
Who qualifies for MPW
- Has an intellectual or developmental disability and meets ICF/IID level of care.
- Kentucky resident eligible for Medicaid.
- Gets a slot from the statewide Michelle P. waiting list.
Who can be paid as the caregiver
- Adult children & other relatives Yes
- friends, family members and other relatives can be PDS providers.
- Spouse Yes
- a spouse can be paid, capped at 40 hours a week.
- Parent of a minor child Sometimes
- parents can be paid but a parent, or both parents combined, may not exceed 40 hours a week regardless of how many children get waiver services.
- Living together
- not required.
Who employs the caregiver: Either. Agency-delivered services, or PDS where the member hires workers and a financial management agency handles payroll.
Spouse rules differ by program — see spouse pay in Kentucky.
How much MPW pays
$29.04/hr (reported PDS max). Per 907 KAR 1:835, PDS rates effective January 1, 2025 include attendant care $6.36 and personal care $9.08 per 15 minutes; a 2026 attendant care maximum of $29.04/hr is reported. The 12-month PDS budget is capped at $40,000 unless DMS approves more, within a $63,000 overall annual limit.
Hours and budget: The support broker sets a 12-month budget from the plan (up to $40,000 unless an adjustment is approved). Many services combined are capped at 40 hours a week.
Compare with other Kentucky programs on the Kentucky caregiver pay page, or across states in pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist?
Michelle P. has a long-standing multi-year statewide waitlist (9,133 people in June 2024). People on it must file a provider attestation by January 31, 2027 to stay on the list.
How to apply for MPW
- Apply at kynect.ky.gov or call 855-306-8959 to be placed on the Michelle P. waiting list.
- Keep your place by filing the provider attestation (diagnosis, services needed, approved provider signature) by January 31, 2027.
- When a slot opens, complete the level-of-care assessment and choose PDS to hire a family member.
- Medicaid Waiver Help Desk · 844-784-5614 · official site
- kynect · 855-306-8959 · official site
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MPW questions
Can parents get paid on the Michelle P. waiver?
Yes, through PDS, but a parent or both parents combined may not exceed 40 hours a week.
How long is the Michelle P. waiting list?
Long. It had over 9,000 people in 2024, and about 25 slots open per month on average.
What do I need to do by January 31, 2027?
Submit a provider attestation with the diagnosis, needed services and an approved provider's signature to stay on the waitlist.
What is the Michelle P. PDS budget?
Up to $40,000 a year unless the support broker asks for and DMS approves an increase.
Can a spouse be paid?
Yes, up to 40 hours a week.
Sources: apps.legislature.ky.gov · chfs.ky.gov · apps.legislature.ky.gov · Updated 2026-10-08. Program rules change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Kentucky caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Kentucky — pick yours for the local picture.
Across the line
States that border Kentucky
Each state writes its own rules, and they differ more than people expect — a spouse who can be paid on one side of the line often cannot be on the other.