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Medicaid Home Care Eligibility Checker
See whether your income and countable assets are likely within 2026 Medicaid HCBS waiver limits — the program that can pay for in-home care or assisted living. This is a financial pre-screen, not an official determination.
Updated July 2026 · Based on CMS/Medicaid.gov 2026 SSI and spousal-impoverishment standards
Include Social Security, pensions, and any other regular income. If married with one spouse applying, only the applicant's income generally counts — the non-applicant spouse's income is usually disregarded.
Cash, checking/savings, stocks, and extra property. Your primary home (up to an equity limit), one vehicle, personal belongings, and prepaid burial arrangements are generally excluded — don't include those.
How this checker works
Most states cap monthly income for Medicaid HCBS waivers at 300% of the SSI Federal Benefit Rate, which is $2,982/month for a single individual in 2026, and set the countable asset limit at $2,000. A handful of states use a different formula tied to the Federal Poverty Level instead of the SSI rate — this tool automatically adjusts for the exceptions we've verified: California, New York, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, and Utah. For every other state, we use the 300% federal standard.
If your income is over your state's limit, that's often not the end of the road — many states let you qualify anyway through a Qualified Income Trust (sometimes called a Miller Trust), which directs excess income into a trust dedicated to your care costs. A Medicaid caseworker or elder law attorney can tell you whether your state offers this option.
Next: see what care actually costs in your state
Whether or not you qualify for Medicaid, it helps to know the real numbers. Use the free calculator to estimate costs by care type and hours.
Open the cost calculator → Get the Planning Kit — $24 →Frequently asked questions
What income limit does Medicaid use for home care (HCBS waivers) in 2026?
Most states cap monthly income at 300% of the SSI Federal Benefit Rate, which is $2,982 per month for a single individual in 2026. A handful of states use a different formula tied to the Federal Poverty Level instead — this tool adjusts for the states we know follow a different rule.
What are Medicaid's asset limits for home care?
Most states set the countable asset limit at $2,000 for a single applicant, though a few states set it higher. Your home (up to an equity limit), one vehicle, personal belongings, and prepaid burial arrangements are generally excluded and don't count toward this limit.
Does income over the limit mean I can't get Medicaid home care?
Not necessarily. Many states offer a Qualified Income Trust (also called a Miller Trust) that lets applicants with income over the limit still qualify by directing the excess into a trust. Rules and availability vary by state, so this is worth raising with a Medicaid caseworker or elder law attorney.
Is a financial eligibility check the same as full Medicaid approval?
No. Medicaid HCBS waivers require both a financial eligibility test (income and assets) and a functional eligibility test, usually a nursing-facility level-of-care assessment based on help needed with daily activities. This tool only checks the financial side as a starting-point estimate.
This tool provides a general, planning-stage estimate only and is not a Medicaid determination, legal advice, or financial advice. Figures are based on 2026 federal SSI and spousal-impoverishment standards published by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and Medicaid.gov, plus state program rules current as of mid-2026. Real eligibility depends on a full application review by your state Medicaid agency, including rules this tool doesn't model, such as spend-down provisions, Community Spouse Resource Allowances, and income trusts. Contact your state Medicaid office or local Area Agency on Aging (Eldercare Locator: 1-800-677-1116) for an official determination. © 2026 CarePath.
Sources: Medicaid.gov spousal impoverishment standards, CMS 2026 SSI Federal Benefit Rate bulletins, and published state Medicaid agency eligibility pages.