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Florida Medicaid long-term care

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

Quick answer

Does Florida Medicaid pay for home care?

Florida Medicaid can pay for long-term care at home through its Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) pathway, alongside the Institutional Care Program for nursing facilities, but eligibility is a two-part test. For ICP and HCBS the financial test uses a Special Income Level of 300 percent of the SSI federal benefit rate — $2,982 per month for an individual and $5,964 for a couple, with countable assets tested at $2,000 individual and $3,000 couple on the same official standards table (January 2026). People over the income limit may still qualify by establishing a qualified income trust that meets Florida rule criteria. The functional test is the part families underestimate: medical eligibility (nursing-facility level of care) is decided by the Department of Elder Affairs CARES program, while DCF decides financial eligibility. Applications go through MyACCESS / DCF, not through a home care agency. Check income and assets first, then the level-of-care step, before starting an application.

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

Who to apply with

SSI-Related Medicaid — Institutional Care Program (ICP) and Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS)
Official agency: Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF)

Income and asset rules

Monthly income limit (ICP / HCBS Special Income Level)

$2,982 USD/month (individual, 300% of SSI FBR) · couple $5,964

Gross income limit for Institutional Care Program (ICP), HCBS, and hospice under SSI-related Medicaid, effective with the January 2026 SSI COLA. Individuals over the limit may qualify with a qualified income trust that meets Florida Administrative Code criteria.

Source: official source · reviewed 2026-10-10

SSI federal benefit rate (reference)

$994 USD/month (individual SSI FBR) · couple $1,491

The ICP/HCBS Special Income Level is set at 300% of this SSI federal benefit rate. Shown so families can see how the $2,982 figure is derived.

Source: official source · reviewed 2026-10-10

Countable asset limit (applicant)

$2,000 USD (individual) · couple $3,000

Standard SSI-related resource limit published on Florida DCF SSI-Related Medicaid coverage-group financial standards for ICP/HCBS/Hospice.

Source: official source · reviewed 2026-10-10

Community spouse income allowance (MMMNA)

Data pending verification. Not yet verified against the state agency for a single publishable figure on this page. We publish figures only after they are checked against the official source, with the source and review date shown. Check the state agency directly in the meantime.

Community spouse resource allowance (CSRA)

Florida allows a qualified income trust (Miller trust) when gross income exceeds the ICP/HCBS Special Income Level; the trust must meet Florida Administrative Code 65A-1.702(15) criteria. Transfer-of-asset look-back rules also apply — that is a question for an elder-law attorney, not a website.

Home and community based services

Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Long-Term Care (SMMC LTC) / HCBS
Community long-term care services that help prevent institutionalization. Enrollment commonly involves an Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) wait-list step, then DCF financial eligibility and a CARES level-of-care assessment.
Working People with Disabilities (WPwD) on HCBS
Higher income and asset thresholds for eligible working people already on HCBS. 2026 flyer lists individual income up to $5,467/month and elevated asset limits — confirm on the current DCF flyer before relying on those figures.

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. Apply for financial eligibility with DCF (MyACCESS)
Create a MyACCESS account and apply for Medicaid. If nursing-home or community long-term care is needed, select HCBS/Waivers or Nursing Home on the Benefit Information screen. · MyACCESS · DCF phone 1-866-762-2237
2. Medical eligibility (CARES / DOEA)
The Department of Elder Affairs CARES program determines nursing-facility level of care. For SMMC LTC, an ADRC may coordinate Form 3008 and an in-person CARES visit after wait-list release. · AHCA eligibility steps
3. Financial review (income, assets, trusts)
DCF reviews income and resources against ICP/HCBS standards. Over-income applicants may need a qualified income trust that meets state rule criteria.
4. Wait lists and plan selection
SMMC LTC can involve wait lists through the ADRC. After both financial and medical eligibility are met, AHCA sends a welcome packet for plan selection.
5. Choose services and providers
Services run through the enrolled managed-care plan and covered HCBS benefits — not through this website.

Before you file

Rules change annually — always confirm with Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF) and the Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA).
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.

Common questions

Is the income limit the only test?

No. Florida also requires a medical (level-of-care) determination — typically through CARES at the Department of Elder Affairs — and DCF financial eligibility. Families most often underestimate the functional test and any wait-list step.

Where do I apply?

Through DCF MyACCESS for financial eligibility, not through a home care agency. Long-term care medical eligibility runs through CARES / ADRC pathways described by AHCA. We link the official pages and do not submit anything 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.