Hello Participants, Primary Contacts and Brokers,

OPWDD has released a new SD Budget Template, dated July 7, 2026 – link to the template below.

The July 7, 2026 Self-Direction Budget Template is required to be used as of July 14, 2026 for ALL Self-Direction Budgets, including Start-Up, Initial Budgets, Full Budget Amendments (FBA) and Cost Neutral Budget Amendments (CNBA).

We are still able to review and submit the June 2025 Budget Templates in our queue to OPWDD before August 1, 2026. However, if a budget is returned for errors, the July 2026 Budget Template must be used when resubmitting.

The July 7, 2026 Self Direction Budget Template includes increases to each participant’s PRA, as well as increased Housing Subsidies to the 2026 HUD Fair Market Rent values.

OPWDD is also providing a temporary modification to the requirement of verifying a current CAS/CANS Assessment for certain Budget Amendments on the July 2026 Self Direction Budget Template.  Verification for a current CAS/CANS Assessment will not be required for Full Budget Amendments (FBA) or Cost Neutral Budget Amendments (CNBAs) that ARE NOT adding new services (*New services are defined as any additional service added to the “Services Requested” section on the Demographics tab of the July 2026 Self-Direction Budget Template.)

  • Start Up and Initial Budgets are still required to have a current CAS/CANS Assessment

Please see a copy of OPWDD’s Memorandum for more information. Additionally, the maximum Support Broker Hourly rate has increased to $47.52/hour. In order to be paid at this amount, we need a newly signed Support Broker Agreement (link to the ISS Broker Agreement below, as well as located on our website) as well as an updated Budget (reflecting this rate on the July 7, 2026 template), submitted to review@issny.org.

Please remember Support Broker rate increases are not automatic and must be agreed to the person receiving the Support Broker service.

Please also remember that each Support Broker Agreement (SBA) must be completed in its entirety; missing information, pages or signatures will be sent back for correction.

If there are any questions or concerns, please let us know.

Thank you!

In Other News:

The NYS Chief Disability Office in partnership with Positive Exposure is now accepting nominations for Beauty & Richness: Celebrating New York State’s Disability Community. View details by clicking on this link: https://www.ny.gov/programs/office-chief-disability-officer