Resources
Resources for self-directing your care in Minnesota
Real answers to the questions families actually ask.
Featured guides
7 min read
Who Qualifies for CDCS in Minnesota?
A plain-English breakdown of who qualifies for Consumer Directed Community Supports (CDCS) in Minnesota, including how the paid parent and spouse rules work.
Read the guide9 min read
How to Enroll in Self-Directed Services: A Step-by-Step Guide
A clear, step-by-step walkthrough of how to enroll in CDCS or CFSS Budget Model in Minnesota, from Medicaid eligibility to your first paycheck.
Read the guide7 min read
CDCS vs. CFSS Budget Model: What's the Difference?
A side-by-side comparison of Minnesota's two main self-directed programs, CDCS and CFSS Budget Model, and how to know which one applies to you.
Read the guide7 min read
Agency Model vs. Budget Model: What's the Difference?
A plain-English comparison of the Agency Model and the Budget Model in Minnesota's CFSS, and how to decide which one fits your situation.
Read the guide6 min read
CSG Is Going Away: Here's What That Means for You
Minnesota is phasing out the Consumer Support Grant (CSG) and moving everyone to Community First Services and Supports (CFSS). Here's what's happening, when, and what to do.
Read the guide9 min read
Getting Paid as a Parent or Spouse: The Honest Guide
Everything Minnesota parents, spouses, and family caregivers need to know about getting paid through CDCS and CFSS Budget Model, what's allowed, what's required, and how the taxes work.
Read the guideCommon questions
The questions families ask us first
Can I get paid to take care of my family member in Minnesota?
Often, yes. If the person you care for has Medical Assistance and is enrolled in a self-directed program like CDCS or CFSS Budget Model, they can hire and pay their own caregiver, and that caregiver can be you. Parents, spouses, and adult children are the majority of the people we work with.
What is a Financial Management Services (FMS) provider?
An FMS provider is the organization that handles the money and the paperwork behind a self-directed budget. Aspen registers you as a household employer, runs payroll, withholds and files taxes, issues W-2s, tracks the budget, processes EVV timesheets, and keeps everything audit-ready. You direct the care. We handle the administration.
What does Aspen FMS cost me?
Our fee is paid by the program, not out of your pocket and not out of your budget for care. Starting your enrollment is free and carries no commitment.
Can a parent be paid to care for their own child?
Under CDCS, yes, and CFSS opened this up considerably compared to the old PCA rules. The specifics depend on the child's age, the program they are on, and what their assessment authorizes. Our guide on getting paid as a parent or spouse walks through what is allowed and what is required.
What is the difference between CDCS and CFSS Budget Model?
Both let you direct your own care and hire your own workers, but they come from different places in Minnesota's system. CDCS is a waiver service option with a broader budget that can cover goods and services beyond staffing. CFSS Budget Model is the state plan program replacing PCA and CSG. Which one applies to you is usually decided by the program you are already on. See the full CDCS vs. CFSS comparison.
What is happening to the Consumer Support Grant (CSG)?
Minnesota is phasing out CSG and transitioning participants to CFSS. If you are on CSG today, you will need to move, and the details matter for your budget and your workers. We cover the timeline and what to do in CSG Is Going Away.
How long does it take before I get my first paycheck?
It depends where you are starting. A new Medical Assistance application typically takes 30 to 45 days, an assessment about 20 days, and waiver approval another 30 to 60. Once your services are authorized, Aspen can have you set up and paid within 5 to 10 business days. The how it works page lays out all eight steps with the real timelines.
Do caregivers need a background study?
Yes. Minnesota requires a background study for paid caregivers, and it is one of the things Aspen coordinates for you as part of enrollment, along with any required training.
Do I have to pay taxes on what I earn as a paid caregiver?
Caregiver pay is employment income, so payroll taxes generally apply, and Aspen withholds and files them for you and issues your W-2 at year end. There are special federal tax rules that can apply when a parent or spouse is the paid caregiver, which is one reason it helps to work with an FMS that sees these situations every day. We are not tax advisors, so please confirm your own situation with a tax professional.
Can I switch to Aspen from another FMS provider?
Yes. Changing FMS providers does not change your program, your budget, or your workers. Tell us who you are with now and we will walk you through the transfer.
Learn as you go
Understand the system before you commit.
Our guides and specialists explain CDCS, CFSS, and the paid-parent rules in plain English, no jargon.