# NJ DDD Supports Program: A Complete Guide for Essex, Hudson, and Bergen County Families
If your family includes an adult with a developmental disability in northern New Jersey, the NJ DDD Supports Program is likely the most important public benefit you can access. Yet many families — particularly in cities like Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, and Hackensack — are never told it exists, or spend years on waiting lists without knowing how to navigate the system.
This guide explains what the NJ Division of Developmental Disabilities (DDD) Supports Program actually provides, who qualifies, and what steps families in Essex, Hudson, Bergen, Passaic, and Union counties need to take to access services.
What Is the NJ DDD Supports Program?
The New Jersey Division of Developmental Disabilities is a state agency that coordinates and funds community-based services for adults with developmental disabilities. The Supports Program is DDD’s primary service model for adults who live in the community — at home with family, with housemates, or on their own.
“Supports” refers to the wide range of services available to enrolled participants, funded through a combination of state funds and federal Medicaid (specifically the Community Care Waiver). Services are designed to help individuals live as independently as possible in their community.
The Supports Program is not a waiting list program for many services. Unlike some states with years-long waits for developmental disability services, New Jersey’s DDD has restructured many supports to reduce wait times for individuals who qualify under the established eligibility criteria.
Who Qualifies for NJ DDD?
To qualify for DDD services in New Jersey, an individual must meet all of the following:
1. New Jersey residency
The individual must be a New Jersey resident.
2. Age
DDD primarily serves adults age 21 and older. Individuals under 21 may be served by the Children’s System of Care (CSOC) instead.
3. Developmental disability diagnosis
The individual must have a developmental disability that originated before age 22. Qualifying diagnoses include:
- Intellectual Disability (ID)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Cerebral Palsy
- Epilepsy (when accompanied by another qualifying condition)
- Prader-Willi Syndrome and other specific conditions
Acquired brain injuries (TBI, stroke) do not qualify for DDD. Psychiatric diagnoses alone (such as schizophrenia or bipolar disorder without intellectual disability) do not qualify.
4. NJ Medicaid (NJFamilyCare)
Most DDD services are funded through Medicaid. Individuals who do not have NJ Medicaid will be assisted in applying for NJFamilyCare as part of the DDD enrollment process.
5. Level of care determination
A qualified assessment team determines whether the individual’s needs meet DDD eligibility criteria. This includes a standardized assessment of adaptive behavior and functional skills.
What Services Does the Supports Program Cover?
The NJ DDD Supports Program funds a range of services based on the individual’s assessed needs. Common services for Essex, Hudson, and Bergen County participants include:
Residential Supports
Assistance for individuals living at home with family or on their own — including personal care support, skill-building, and daily living assistance.
Community-Based Supports (CBS)
Flexible, person-centered support to help individuals participate in community life — shopping, appointments, recreation, social activities, and more.
Day Habilitation
Structured daytime programming in a community setting that builds daily living skills, social skills, and vocational readiness.
Supported Employment
Job coaching, vocational training, and on-the-job support to help individuals with developmental disabilities gain and maintain competitive, integrated employment in their community.
Transportation
Transportation to and from day programming, employment, medical appointments, and community activities.
Respite Care
Temporary relief for family caregivers — in-home respite, out-of-home respite, or overnight respite — so primary caregivers can rest and recharge.
Crisis Services
Emergency intervention and stabilization services for individuals experiencing a behavioral or psychiatric crisis.
Assistive Technology
Devices, applications, and tools that help individuals with developmental disabilities communicate, navigate, and function more independently.
Home Modifications
Physical modifications to the home (ramps, accessible bathrooms, lift systems) that support safer independent living.
The Supports Budget: How DDD Funding Works
Each enrolled individual in the Supports Program receives a Supports Budget — a dollar amount allocated based on their assessed needs. This budget is used to purchase the services included in their Person-Centered Plan (PCP).
The budget is not cash paid to the individual. It is managed by a Medicaid-contracted support coordinator who helps the individual and family choose qualified providers and coordinate services.
The size of the budget depends on the assessment results, so the enrollment and assessment process is critical. Families should be thorough and specific when describing their loved one’s daily support needs during the assessment.
How to Enroll in NJ DDD in Essex, Hudson, or Bergen County
Step 1: Apply to DDD
Application is submitted to the New Jersey DDD through the Division’s online portal or by contacting the DDD Regional Office. Northern NJ is served by the Metro and Northern Regional Offices.
Step 2: Eligibility Determination
DDD reviews diagnostic documentation and conducts eligibility assessments. This typically includes a review of school records, medical records, and a standardized adaptive behavior assessment.
Step 3: Person-Centered Planning
Once eligible, a Support Coordinator facilitates the Person-Centered Planning process — working with the individual and family to identify goals, preferences, and needed services.
Step 4: Supports Budget Determination
DDD determines the individual’s annual Supports Budget based on the assessed level of need.
Step 5: Provider Selection and Services Begin
The individual and family select qualified DDD providers for each service. Priority Groups NJ is a qualified DDD provider serving Newark, Jersey City, Hackensack, Paterson, Elizabeth, and surrounding communities.
Why Families in Newark, Jersey City, and Hackensack Choose Priority Groups NJ
Northern New Jersey’s major cities have some of the highest concentrations of DDD-eligible individuals in the state. Yet many families — especially those for whom English is a second language — find the DDD system difficult to navigate.
Priority Groups NJ provides:
- Free eligibility reviews and application support
- Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, Arabic, and Hindi-speaking care coordinators
- DDD Supports Program services across Essex, Hudson, Bergen, Passaic, and Union counties
- Supported Employment services helping individuals find and keep competitive employment
- Respite care for family caregivers across northern NJ
Call our NJ office at (201) 305-0936 for a free consultation. We serve Newark, Jersey City, Paterson, Elizabeth, Hackensack, East Orange, Irvington, Bayonne, Union City, Clifton, Bloomfield, Teaneck, Englewood, Plainfield, and Passaic.
The NJ DDD Supports Program can make an enormous difference for adults with developmental disabilities and their families. If you believe your loved one may qualify, do not wait — start the conversation with Priority Groups NJ today.