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California

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How do I hire long-term services for myself or a loved one?

With self-determination, you have the right to live the life you choose. Everyone’s situation is different. For some, self-determination means the ability to receive services and support from a loved one. For others, it’s supporting parents so that they can care for children with disabilities. No matter your situation, self-determination helps you choose the long-term care and support that’s right for you.

People choose to self-direct their care for many reasons. GT Independence is here to support your decision. You make all the important choices—like who to hire, when to schedule support, how to manage your care, and even who to fire if things aren’t working out. We take care of the paperwork and are here to answer questions you may have.

You deserve to live the life you choose. GT is here to make that easier.

How GT Independence Can Help You

GT Independence is a financial management service (FMS) company that helps you live a life of your choosing. You decide what kind of support you want; we handle the details. For example, you hire providers you know and trust. We support you by taking care of all the necessary paperwork, such as timesheets, paychecks, payroll taxes, and help with liability and worker’s comp insurance.

At GT, we believe everyone should be able to decide where to live and who provides their care. Each person has a unique situation and personalized needs. GT is here to help you learn about how self-determination works in California, so you have the information to decide what is best for you.

Want to Know How to Get Started?

Understand Your Long-Term Care Options
Participants Start Here
Caregivers Start Here
Agencies & MCOs Start Here
Case Managers Start Here

Why choose GT?

  • We’ve Been In Your Shoes

    People with disabilities own and lead GT, and we have focused on self-determination since our start in 2004. We understand that directing your own care can feel complicated, but we are here to walk you through the process—from start to support.

  • Self-Determination Is All We Do

    GT is an FMS company that focuses all our attention on one thing: self-determination. Our people are experts and understand how programs work in California and in states all across the country. We serve thousands of participants nationwide, helping each person live the life of their choosing.

  • Customer Service That Cares About You

    Our customer service team is here to help you live life on your terms. Our local California team includes people fluent in English and Spanish. We can also support more than 200 languages on request. Our team is trained on the ins and outs of California’s programs. This ensures you always have access to the information you need to make informed decisions.

    At GT, we’re ready to assist participants and providers. We’re also here for service coordinators, independent facilitators, advocates, and all other people involved in care and support.

  • Tools and Resources Designed for the Details

    GT has designed many tools to help manage the details of self-determination. A secure online portal helps participants and their families keep track of services and spending. And The GT App lets providers log their hours and check the status of their paychecks. We take care of the details, so you can focus on living your life

“Finding the right care for my sister had always been challenging with the low pay rates to the caregivers. With the Self-Determination Program, I have increased the pay rate to allow for more skilled staff and improved quality of life for my sister. Additionally, we get to tailor the program to her particular needs versus sending her to a day program where she was not always happy to participate.”

Family Member
California Participant

Find a Program

Self-Determination Program

Starting June 2021, you may be able to self-direct care and support services. To do so, you or a loved one must be eligible for services under the California Self-Determination Program (SDP) Waiver for Individuals with Developmental Disabilities. SDP gives you full control over hiring and firing your providers. You can choose who gives support, from transportation to personal care. And, you are the manager of your budget.

Learn More
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Participant-Directed Services Program

If you are eligible for the Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Waiver for Californians with Developmental Disabilities, the Participant-Directed Program may be right for you. This program gives you the right to hire, fire, schedule, and train your own care providers.

Learn More

Paid Internship Program

California’s Paid Internship Program (PIP) is available to job seekers served by the regional centers. PIP exists to help people with disabilities (18 years and older) improve their job skills. The goal of the paid internship is that by the end of the program, the participant will be ready to pursue long-term employment. 

Learn More

Three Steps to Get Started

  1. Contact your California regional center.

  2. Work with your regional center to determine eligibility and find a program that best suits your needs.

  3. Choose GT Independence as your financial management services (FMS) provider and begin self-determination.

*Your eligibility does not depend on immigration status. Contact your regional center or GT for more information. Undocumented residents can get benefits.

Would you like someone to walk you through the process?

Looking for more resources?

We’ve made it easy to find what’s relevant to your state.

View All Resources
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Featured Resources

Looking for a form?

To view forms, log into your portal account and visit the resources tab.

Go to Portal

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Curious about GT’s commitment to privacy?

Your privacy and security are top priorities for GT. For this reason, we follow both company and California privacy policies. Please contact us with questions.

View GT’s Privacy Policy
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Your GT Support Team in California

Elva Chavez

Director of Operations

California Customer Support
Call: 877.659.4500
Email: customerservice@gtsd.org