Make a Spending Plan
What Is a Spending Plan?
Your Spending Plan explains how you will use your approved budget to pay for the supports and services in your Individual Program Plan (IPP). It can be developed with help from your support circle — family, close friends, your Regional Center Service Coordinator or Case Manager, or a hired Independent Facilitator (IF).
Your Spending Plan cannot total more than the amount in your approved budget. Once complete, it’s submitted to your Regional Center Service Coordinator, Case Manager / Social Worker, or SDP Specialist for review. Your Regional Center checks the plan against your IPP to confirm it meets SDP rules.
What Your Spending Plan Must Include:
- Each support or service you plan to use
- The provider name (or “to be hired” if you haven’t chosen someone yet)
- Number of hours or how often the service happens
- Annual cost for each item
- The budget category and service code it falls under
- A brief explanation connecting it to your Person-Centered Plan (PCP)
DDS Service Code Definitions
For Service Definitions and Codes, please view the CA Department of Developmental Services Resources & Tools page and select the tab labeled “Service Code Definitions.”
Best Practices:
- Name the specific agency or business if you’re using one and provide documentation to show that they are qualified to provide that service at the rate they would charge in the marketplace
- You don’t need to name individuals you plan to hire directly as an employee — for personal care support, for example, you can simply list the hours per week and pay rate for your personal assistants.
Examples That Get Approved:
- “Personal Assistant supports morning routine, medication reminders, and safety during cooking — matches PCP goals for independent living skills.”
- “Community integration coach helps participant attend a weekly Cantonese senior group — supports language access and social connection.”
Examples That Won’t Be Approved:
- “Gym membership because participant enjoys it” — needs a clear disability-related connection
- “Personal Assistant, 40 hours/week” — IHSS obligations must be addressed first
- “Unspecified classes” — needs a specific purpose linked to a PCP goal
What Your Regional Center Reviews:
- Does each item clearly link to a PCP goal?
- Is the cost reasonable?
- Are health and safety needs addressed?
- Does the participant need IHSS or insurance first?
- Are the items disability-related — not room, board, or medical costs?
Choosing a Financial Management Services (FMS) Provider
Every SDP participant must work with an FMS. Your FMS manages your funds and pays for your approved services, but does not control what’s in your Spending Plan — that decision is yours.
View the “Financial Management Service” section in the Build Your Support Team page→