Budget
What is an SDP Budget?
Your Self-Determination Program (SDP) budget is the total amount of money you can use each year to pay for the services and supports in your Individual Program Plan (IPP). You use it to help meet your goals and live the life you want.
How is the Budget Calculated?
Your budget is based on how much the regional center spent on your services over the past 12 months. It may be adjusted if:
- You didn’t get all the services you needed
- You are new to the regional center or to services
- Your needs have changed
The IPP team must agree on the budget amount. The regional center certifies this is what would have been provided to you had you stayed in the traditional system. Once it is approved, you will get a total dollar amount that you can use to create your spending plan.
Note: Services included in the budget do not have to be included in your spending plan.
What if You Disagree with the Budget?
If you don’t agree with the budget:
- Ask for a meeting to review it
- Share any needs that weren’t included
- You can appeal the decision if needed
An Independent Facilitator or advocate can help you with this.
How Long does it Take?
Once your Person-Centered Plan is complete and submitted, you can request in writing an IPP. The regional center has 30 days to hold an IPP from the time of request. If you do not come to an agreement at the IPP, another meeting must be scheduled within 15 days. Some regional centers may take more or less time—ask your service coordinator what to expect.
If you’re asking for a new service that needs an assessment (like adaptive skills), the budget process may take longer. But if you already have enough in your budget to get started, you can enroll in SDP now and add the new service later once the assessment is done.
What is the Regional Center’s Role?
The regional center will:
- Look at your past 12 months of utilized services to calculate the starting budget
- Review your Person-Centered Plan to see if any changes are needed
- Talk with you if you request a review or adjustment
- Give you a written budget certification when it’s approved
The regional center will certify that the amount in your budget is what would have been spent had you stayed in the traditional system.
Sample Budget
Click on the images below to view a full sample budget.
There is no standardized budget template. DDS provides a sample, and most regional centers use a version of it. You don’t need to create this budget—your IPP team will do that. But it’s helpful to understand what is included.
Important:
Budgets are based on each person’s unique needs, so they will be different for everyone. That’s why your Person-Centered Plan matters—it helps create a budget that’s right for you.