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Last reviewed 2026-10-065 cited sources on this pageHome Care Math editorial deskHow we source figures

California Medicaid long-term care

The eligibility rules and the actual application path in California. We link to the state agency at every step and we do not submit anything for you.

What this page assumes you are paying for: what care costs in California — hourly, monthly and yearly, each figure with its source.

Who to apply with

Medi-Cal (California's Medicaid program), including In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) and the HCBS waiver pathway to care at home
Official agency: California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS)

Income and asset rules

Monthly income limit (applicant, SSI-based)

Data pending verification. Not yet verified against the state agency. We publish figures only after they are checked against the official source, with the source and review date shown. This field has not been verified yet — check the state agency directly in the meantime.

Countable asset limit (applicant)

$130,000 USD (one person, Jan 1 2026 through Jun 30 2027)

DHCS states that from January 1, 2026 the Medi-Cal asset limit for older adults and people with disabilities — a group DHCS describes as including people who live in a nursing home — is $130,000 for one person, plus $65,000 for every extra person in the household (up to 10). From July 1, 2027 the limit becomes $21,000 for one person and $31,000 for two people, plus $1,550 for every extra person (up to 10). DHCS lists bank accounts, cash and more than one house or vehicle as countable; the home you live in, one vehicle, household items and some retirement savings are excluded. Spousal and long-term-care-specific resource tests are separate and are pending below.

Source: official source · reviewed 2026-10-06

Community spouse income allowance

Community spouse resource allowance

Home and community based services

In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS)
Aged, blind or disabled California residents who have a Medi-Cal eligibility determination, live in their own home (CDSS says a hospital, a long-term care facility or a licensed community care facility does not count as your own home) and submit a completed Health Care Certification form. A county social worker interviews the applicant at home to decide eligibility and need.
Home and Community-Based Alternatives (HCBA) Waiver and Assisted Living Waiver (ALW)
Eligibility detail pending verification.

A waiver usually requires meeting both the financial rules and a functional (level-of-care) test. Waiting lists vary by waiver and by year.

How the application works

1. Get a Medi-Cal eligibility determination first
CDSS lists a Medi-Cal eligibility determination as a requirement for every IHSS applicant and recipient. Medi-Cal applications are filed with the county and can also be filed online. · official page
2. Apply to your county IHSS office
CDSS says to complete an application (form SOC 295, published in 12 languages) and submit it to your county IHSS office. The county office list is published by CDSS. · official page
3. Home visit and functional assessment
CDSS: a county social worker interviews you at your home to determine your eligibility and your need for IHSS. · official page
4. Submit the Health Care Certification form
CDSS lists a completed Health Care Certification form as a requirement for all IHSS applicants and recipients.
5. Financial review: Medi-Cal rules first, long-term care rules where they apply
The asset limit DHCS published for 2026 is shown above. Where a person needs long-term care coverage rather than community Medi-Cal, the county applies the long-term care budget rules — the figures we could not verify are marked pending rather than guessed.
6. Provider selection and hours
Detail pending verification.

Before you file

Rules change annually — always confirm with California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS).
Transfers of assets in the look-back period can create a penalty period. That is a question for an elder law attorney, not a website.
You can apply directly. You never have to pay a service to file for you.

We are an independent informational and tools site. We are not a government agency, not a healthcare provider, and not a licensed referral agency under California CCR Title 22 or Florida Stat. 429.195. We do not place people into facilities and we do not charge families. Nothing here is legal, medical or financial advice — always confirm current rules with the state agency or a licensed professional.