Understanding Your Individual Budget and Spending Plan in the SDP

Monthly budget planning on a desk

Two terms come up constantly in the Self-Determination Program: your individual budget and your spending plan. They sound similar, but they play different roles—and understanding the difference is key to directing your services with confidence.

Your individual budget: how much you have to direct

Your individual budget is the total amount of funding you control in the SDP. For most participants, it's based on the actual cost of the Regional Center services you used over the previous 12 months—reflecting what your services genuinely cost, not just what was authorized on paper. Your Regional Center reviews your person-centered plan and works with you to establish this individualized amount.

Your spending plan: how you'll use it

Your spending plan is where your budget meets real life. It lists the specific services and supports you intend to buy, how often you'll use them, and what each will cost. In other words, your budget is the amount, and your spending plan is the blueprint for spending it.

A valid spending plan follows a few important rules:

  • It can't exceed your individual budget.
  • It must connect to your goals.
  • It must be eligible for federal financial participation.
  • It can't duplicate generic services already available through another public source, like a school, Medi-Cal, or another program.

Your Regional Center certifies your spending plan against these rules before your services begin.

How the money actually moves

Here's where many participants feel relief: you don't have to manage the payments yourself. Once your spending plan is certified, your Financial Management Service (FMS) carries it out. As services are delivered, your FMS:

  • Processes timesheets and issues paychecks to your workers
  • Pays vendors and providers for approved goods and services
  • Withholds and files the required employment taxes
  • Tracks every expense against your approved spending plan
You make the decisions; your FMS handles the dollars, the deadlines, and the documentation.

Staying on top of your budget

Because your spending plan can't exceed your budget, keeping an eye on your balance throughout the year matters. A strong FMS provides clear, regular statements so you can see how much you've spent, how much remains, and whether you're on track. If your needs change during the year, talk with your service coordinator about whether your plan can be adjusted.

How TrueCare keeps you informed and in control

At TrueCare FMS, transparency is one of our core values. We monitor every expense against your approved spending plan and keep you updated with regular statements, so you always know where your budget stands. Your budget is yours to direct—our job is to make sure every dollar is handled accurately, on time, and in line with the plan you built.