The Utah Division of Services for People with Disabilities (DSPD) is managing a waitlist of 5,345 individuals as the state struggles to match the rising demand for support services with available legislative funding. While more than 7,100 Utahns currently receive active assistance, officials note that an additional 19,000 residents are estimated to be eligible for services but are not yet enrolled in the system.
Funding Gap and Fiscal Needs
The gap between service eligibility and available resources remains a primary challenge for the agency. According to data from the Utah Legislature, addressing the needs of those currently on the waitlist would necessitate an additional $74 million in annual funding. The fiscal requirement to support every eligible Utahn who is not yet receiving services is estimated at a much higher $241 million in ongoing yearly costs.
Legislative Appropriations
The Utah Legislature has responded with incremental investments over recent legislative sessions to help mitigate the backlog. In the 2025 General Session, the Legislature appropriated $6.0 million in ongoing funds from the General Fund to DSPD. This follows a trend of increasing support, including a $5 million ongoing appropriation in 2024 and a combination of $3.0 million one-time and $3.5 million ongoing funds during the 2023 session. In 2022, the Legislature provided $6 million in ongoing funding.
Persistent Demand Trends
Despite these increases, officials state that the waitlist is unlikely to disappear entirely. The Utah Legislature noted that even with additional funding, increased awareness of available services and population growth would likely drive more families to apply. This influx of new applicants often offsets the progress made by recent appropriations.
Waitlist Ranking Process
To manage limited resources, DSPD utilizes a specific ranking system to prioritize individuals based on their level of need. This assessment is conducted through a Needs Assessment Questionnaire (NAQ), which caseworkers complete with applicants during the intake process. The scoring for this ranking is divided into three distinct categories: severity of need, caregiver support, and time spent waiting.
Assessment Criteria
The severity of need accounts for 50% of an applicant's overall score, evaluating requirements for personal care, daily living, medical needs, behavioral issues, and personal safety. The availability and ability of family or caregivers constitutes 30% of the score, while the total number of days an individual has been on the waiting list represents the final 20%. Because this system is dynamic, a person's position can shift up or down if their medical or personal needs change, or if new applicants with higher-priority needs join the list.
Temporary Support Services
While waiting for full services, some individuals may qualify for temporary or emergency assistance. The Utah Division of Services for People with Disabilities stated that the state occasionally receives funding to provide short-term support to those on the list. Over the last three fiscal years, the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) spent an average of $6.5 million annually to provide respite or emergency services specifically for waitlisted individuals.
Transitioning to Services
The agency's caseworkers are tasked with maintaining contact with applicants to ensure assessments remain current. Caseworkers attempt to contact individuals on the waiting list at least once a year to update their needs assessment; failure to respond to multiple contact attempts can result in removal from the list. When funding becomes available, a transition worker is assigned to help the individual navigate the process of entering services, which includes completing paperwork, conducting assessments, and helping the recipient create a budget and select service providers.
