What happens after you choose Consumer Directed Services?
Five steps. A simple step-by-step overview.
Administrative setup
- ✓Organizing the applicable employment packet
- ✓Required applicant verification and checks
- ✓Payroll and tax administration
- ✓Budget reporting and ongoing FMSA support
Your employee and services
- ✓Choosing who you want to hire
- ✓Providing information and signatures that must come from you
- ✓Scheduling, training and supervising your employee
- ✓Approving accurate time and services
See the whole process before you start.
Understand the basic sequence—from choosing CDS and an FMSA to onboarding an employee and starting approved services.
From “I want CDS” to an employee getting paid.
Program-specific rules can change the details, but this is the basic flow you’ll recognize across Texas CDS programs.
Choose CDS and an FMSA
Your service coordinator or case manager explains the CDS option and provides information about choosing an FMSA. If you choose Personal Habilitation LLC, My CDS Texas will be your online resource center.
Complete employer orientation
You learn the employer role, budget basics, payroll/timekeeping rules, records and how to get help.
Choose the person you want to hire
You recruit and select the person. Eligibility, relationship, background and registry checks happen before the person is approved.
Finish the employee packet
Wage, schedule, service agreements, tax forms and other required documents are completed and reviewed.
Start services after written approval
Once the employee is cleared to work, you direct the schedule and services. The FMSA handles the financial-management functions.
Where are you right now?
I’m still deciding
Understand CDS vs. an agency model and what “self-direction” really means.
I chose CDS
Learn the employer role, designated representative and FMSA responsibilities.
I found a caregiver
Go straight to the employee packet and see what happens before the first shift.
We’re already working
Payroll, EVV, budget and corrections live here.