Transition from PCA and CSG to CFSS
Page updated: 8/11/25
In October 2024, DHS started the transition from personal care assistance (PCA) and the Consumer Support Grant (CSG) to Community First Services and Supports (CFSS).
This page provides information about the following topics:
Why is DHS making this change?
Federal changes allowed DHS to implement changes that will give people more choice and control of how they use services.
What will not change for people using PCA?
Many things will stay the same for people using PCA, including, but not limited to:
Note: In PCA, this representative is called the “responsible party (RP).” In CFSS, this representative is called the “participant’s representative.”
For more information, refer to CFSS roles and responsibilities training.
What will change for people using PCA?
The following sections provide brief descriptions of what will change for people using PCA. For additional information, refer to CFSS overview training.
Consultation services providers
CFSS consultation services providers will help a person succeed by ensuring they:
For more information, refer to CFSS Manual – CFSS consultation services overview, Consultation services provider training and CFSS roles and responsibilities training.
PCA does not include consultation services providers.
Budget model
The CFSS budget model gives a person more control over employment-related activities. Financial management services (FMS) providers will support people using the budget model. For more information, refer to CFSS Manual – PCA service options and CFSS service models, Agency and budget models training, CFSS math training and CFSS roles and responsibilities training.
PCA does not have a budget model.
Family members serving as workers
In CFSS, a person’s spouse or parent of a minor will be able to provide CFSS services to that person. DHS recognizes the value of allowing people to receive supports from family members. For more information, refer to CFSS Manual – Paying a spouse or parent of a minor for PCA/CFSS services and New potential workers training.
In PCA, a person’s spouse or parent of a minor previously was not able to provide PCA services. However, starting on Oct. 1, 2024, they will be able to provide services. For more information, refer to the July 30, 2024, eList announcement.
People using CFSS serving as workers
A person using CFSS will be able to provide CFSS services to other people. There are many benefits when people who receive services are also able to provide services. People who receive services have a right to competitive employment opportunities. Expanding the pool of potential workers benefits everyone who uses these services.
People often ask DHS how it is possible for people who receive services to also provide services. People who use CFSS have a wide variety of skills and needs. For example, a person might need support eating because of a swallowing disorder, and they are able to provide services to another person who needs support with transfers. For more information, refer to New potential workers training.
In PCA, a person using PCA cannot serve as a PCA worker for another person.
Purchase of goods and services
In CFSS, a person will be able to purchase allowable goods and services to replace the need for human assistance and/or give the person more independence and control. Examples of goods and services include:
For a person on the CFSS agency model, a CFSS provider agency will employ their workers, and an FMS provider will support them with purchasing goods and services.
For a person on the CFSS budget model, an FMS provider will support them with purchasing goods and services.
For more information, refer to CFSS Manual – Goods and services through CFSS, Goods, services and personal emergency response systems (PERS) training and CFSS math training.
In PCA, a person is not able to purchase goods and services.
Purchase of PERS
In CFSS, a person will be able to purchase PERS to help them remain safe while alone in their own home. For more information, refer to CFSS Manual – CFSS PERS and Goods, services and PERS training.
In PCA, a person is not able to purchase PERS.
Worker training and development
In CFSS, agencies and people who employ CFSS workers will have a separate, dedicated budget for training about the specific needs of the person the worker supports. This will give agencies and people who employ workers more flexibility in training workers, and it will allow workers to best serve people’s specific needs. When CFSS launches, the worker training and development budget will be $1,272.96 per year. The rate may change in the future in response to legislation. For more information, refer to CFSS Manual – CFSS worker training and supervision and Worker training and development training.
In PCA, the qualified professional (QP) is responsible to train and supervise PCA workers. The worker training and development budget replaces QP units.
Note: The CFSS agency’s supervising professional will still be responsible to train the worker, ensure they are competent and supervise them. However, the qualifications are more flexible, and multiple supervising professionals can work with a person’s workers, if appropriate.
For more information, refer to CFSS roles and responsibilities training.
Eligibility for rating LT
In CFSS, a person who continues to meet the eligibility for the current rating LT will now have the rating P, Q or R and be eligible for at least five units per day. The rating LT will no longer exist in CFSS.
In PCA, a person with the rating LT receives two units per day.
For more information, refer to CFSS Manual – PCA/CFSS unit determination and CFSS eligibility training.
Flexibility of dollars/units
In CFSS, a person will have increased flexibility for distributing units/dollars throughout the year. They can choose to distribute units/dollars through their service plan year, unless they are on the Minnesota Restricted Recipient Program (MRRP). For more information, refer to CFSS Manual – Flexible use of PCA/CFSS services.
In PCA, a person has some flexibility for distributing units/dollars, but not as much flexibility as they will have in CFSS. In PCA, a person not on the MRRP can only use up to 75% of their units in each half of the service plan year.
What will not change for people using CSG?
Many things will stay the same for people using CSG, including, but not limited to:
Note: If the person is using CSG as an alternative to home care nursing, the lead agency must offer the person a MnCHOICES assessment and work with the person on how to meet their needs based on the assessment results.
Note: There are more restrictions in CFSS for covered goods and services.
For more information, refer to CBSM – CSG transition to CFSS.
What will change for people using CSG?
The following sections provide brief descriptions of what will change for people using CSG. For additional information, refer to CBSM – CSG transition to CFSS, CFSS transition from CSG training and CFSS overview training.
Service models
In CFSS, there will be two service models: the budget model and the agency model. A person using CSG may wish to select the budget model to continue being the employer of their workers.
Both CFSS models will include more options than were available in PCA, including paying spouses and parents of minors to provide services and purchasing goods and services.
Consultation services providers
CFSS consultation services providers will help a person succeed by ensuring they:
CSG does not include consultation services providers. In CSG, the lead agency performs the functions of the consultation services provider, if needed.
Budget
If a person using CSG selects the budget model, their budget will be approximately twice as large as it was before, unless:
If a person using CSG selects the agency model, they will get service units and work with a provider agency instead of having a budget.
Purchase of goods and services
A person using CSG is already able to purchase goods and services.
The federal government is helping fund CFSS services, so DHS must align its laws and policies with both state and federal guidelines. Because of federal guidelines, a person may see some changes to the goods and services that are covered. Their consultation services provider will help them identify any differences that might affect them.
Purchase of PERS
In CFSS, a person will be able to purchase PERS to help them remain safe while alone in their own home.
Worker training and development
In CFSS, agencies and people who employ CFSS workers will have a separate, dedicated budget for training about the specific needs of the person the worker supports. This will give agencies and people who employ workers more flexibility in training workers, and it will allow workers to best serve people’s specific needs.
In the CFSS agency model, the provider agency will be responsible to train the workers. In the CFSS budget model, the person will be responsible to train the workers.
In CSG, the person is responsible to train the workers.
Transition plan: Phase I (ended Sept. 30, 2024)
What did DHS do?
During Phase I, DHS:
What did people receiving services (PCA or CSG) or their representative need to do?
People receiving services did not need to do anything during Phase I. As of Oct. 1, 2024, lead agencies started giving people information at their reassessment, and consultation services providers started educating people about CFSS.
People receiving services could review General training on CFSS during Phase I.
What did lead agencies need to do?
During Phase I, lead agency assessors, case managers and care coordinators:
What did current PCA provider agencies need to do?
During Phase I, current PCA provider agency owners:
What did current QPs and designated billing people need to do?
During Phase I, current QPs who will continue to provide training and supervision in CFSS completed the CFSS transition training for PCA agency owners/managers/QPs to continue providing services in CFSS.
What did current FMS providers need to do?
During Phase I, current FMS providers:
What did current PCA workers need to do?
Current PCA workers did not need to do anything in Phase I, but DHS encouraged them to complete the Personal Care Assistance (PCA) and Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) Training and Test.
Workers who took the test after April 15, 2020, and have a certificate titled “PCA and CFSS Support Worker Training” have already met this training requirement.
Workers who took the test before April 15, 2020, and have a certificate titled “Personal Care Assistant Training” will need to complete the new training before providing services to a person using CFSS.
What did current CSG workers need to do?
During Phase I, current CSG workers needed to complete the Personal Care Assistance (PCA) and Community First Services and Supports (CFSS) Training and Test and enroll as CFSS workers. The person’s provider agency or FMS provider assisted the worker with enrollment.
What did consultation services providers need to do?
DHS contracted with 22 consultation services providers, as announced in the March 31, 2022, eList announcement. During Phase I, those providers:
Transition plan: Phase II (current phase, 24 months)
DHS started phase II on Oct. 1, 2024. During the transition period, people will transition to CFSS at the time of their assessment. For more information, refer to CFSS transition process training.
What has DHS done?
DHS completed the following tasks:
What does DHS still need to do?
In phase II, DHS will:
What do people receiving services (PCA or CSG) or their representative need to do?
After their next assessment, people receiving services will:
What do lead agencies need to do?
For people using PCA, lead agencies must:
For people using CSG, counties/tribal nations must:
What do current PCA provider agencies need to do?
Current PCA provider agencies will continue providing PCA services as long as people are receiving PCA through the agency. As people transition to CFSS, the provider agency must:
What do FMS providers need to do?
FMS providers must:
What do consultation services providers need to do?
Consultation services providers must:
What do current workers need to do?
PCA workers must:
Note: Workers who completed the training and test after April 15, 2020, have already completed this requirement.
Transition plan: Phase III
In phase III, DHS will discontinue PCA and CSG services after all people have transitioned to CFSS. To do this, DHS will:
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