Wisconsin · self-direction option
IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct) in Wisconsin
IRIS is Wisconsin Medicaid's self-directed long-term care program for adults. The participant gets a budget, writes a plan, and hires their own workers — including relatives and, through IRIS Self-Directed Personal Care, a spouse. A fiscal employer agent runs payroll and taxes.
Also called: IRIS · IRIS Wisconsin · Include Respect I Self-Direct · IRIS self-directed personal care · SDPC · IRIS program
Who do you care for?
Quick facts
- Pay
- $12–$17/hr
- Adult children & other relatives
- Yes
- Spouse
- Yes
- Parent of a minor child
- IRIS serves adults 18+; children use the CLTS Waiver, which does not pay parents in the household.
- Waitlist
- none
Who qualifies for IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct)
- Lives in Wisconsin and is 18 or older.
- An older adult or an adult with a physical, intellectual or developmental disability.
- Enrolled in (or eligible for) Wisconsin Medicaid, confirmed by the income maintenance agency.
- Functionally eligible on the Long-Term Care Functional Screen done by the ADRC.
- Lives in a home, apartment, adult family home or residential care apartment complex.
Who can be paid as the caregiver
- Adult children & other relatives Yes
- participants can hire relatives as participant-hired workers after a background check through the fiscal employer agent.
- Spouse Yes
- DHS materials say IRIS Self-Directed Personal Care allows the participant to hire a spouse as a caregiver.
- Parent of a minor child
- IRIS serves adults 18+; children use the CLTS Waiver, which does not pay parents in the household.
- Living together
- the worker may live with the participant or elsewhere.
Who employs the caregiver: Self-directed. The participant is the employer of their workers; the fiscal employer agent (GT Independence, iLIFE or Premier today) handles background checks, payroll and taxes. DHS has chosen one statewide FEA, Public Partnerships LLC (PPL), with transfers starting no earlier than 2027.
Spouse rules differ by program — see spouse pay in Wisconsin.
How much IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct) pays
$12–$17/hr. DHS does not publish a set IRIS wage. The participant sets the worker's pay within the IRIS budget, and the fiscal employer agent processes payroll and withholding. $12–$17/hr is a typical range reported for family caregivers, not a state rate.
Hours and budget: Each participant gets an individual budget for goods, supports and services. The IRIS consultant helps write a plan that must fit within that budget; self-directed personal care hours are set through a separate assessment. Some people owe a monthly cost share based on income.
Compare with other Wisconsin programs on the Wisconsin caregiver pay page, or across states in pay rates by state.
Is there a waitlist?
IRIS is available statewide as part of Wisconsin's long-term care entitlement; DHS does not list a waitlist for adults who meet the rules.
How to apply for IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct)
- Contact your local Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) or Tribal aging and disability resource specialist.
- Complete the Long-Term Care Functional Screen and apply for Medicaid through the income maintenance agency (the ADRC can help).
- Choose IRIS, then choose an IRIS consultant agency and a fiscal employer agent.
- Work with your IRIS consultant to build a plan and hire your family member through the fiscal employer agent.
- IRIS Call Center (Wisconsin DHS) · 888-515-4747 · official site
- GT Independence (IRIS FEA) · 877-659-4500 · official site
- iLIFE Financial Management Services (IRIS FEA) · 888-800-5599 · official site
- Premier Financial Management Services (IRIS FEA) · 855-224-5810 · official site
Full detail: the Wisconsin IRIS guide.
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IRIS (Include, Respect, I Self-Direct) questions
Can IRIS pay my husband or wife to care for me?
Yes. Wisconsin DHS says IRIS Self-Directed Personal Care allows a participant to hire a spouse as a caregiver. That is unusual among states.
Is there a waitlist for IRIS?
DHS does not list one. Adults who meet the functional and Medicaid rules can choose IRIS through their ADRC.
Who pays the caregiver in IRIS?
The fiscal employer agent — GT Independence, iLIFE or Premier today — runs payroll and taxes from the participant's budget. DHS picked PPL as the single future agent, with moves starting no earlier than 2027.
What is the difference between IRIS and Family Care?
Both are for adults who need long-term care. In Family Care a managed care organization arranges services. In IRIS you manage your own budget and hire your own workers.
Can a child use IRIS?
No. IRIS is for adults 18 and older. Children with disabilities use the Children's Long-Term Support (CLTS) Program.
Sources: dhs.wisconsin.gov · dhs.wisconsin.gov · dhs.wisconsin.gov · dhs.wisconsin.gov · dhs.wisconsin.gov · medicaidplanningassistance.org · Updated 2026-10-08. Program rules change — always confirm with the program.
Where most Wisconsin caregivers are
Counties with the most residents aged 65 and older. The rules are the same everywhere in Wisconsin — pick yours for the local picture.
Across the line
States that border Wisconsin
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.