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Illinois Medicaid long-term care

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

Quick answer

Does Illinois Medicaid pay for home care?

Illinois Medicaid can pay for long-term care in nursing facilities and through home- and community-based supports, but eligibility is a two-part test. On the financial side, Illinois Department on Aging SHIP materials for 2026 list an AABD Medical resource limit of $17,500 (one person or a couple) — higher than the classic $2,000 SSI resource figure used in many states — plus spousal impoverishment protections with a maximum community spouse resource allowance of $162,660, a community spouse maintenance needs allowance of $4,066.50, and a home equity limit of $752,000. AABD Medical monthly income standards on that same sheet are shown at $1,330 (one person) / $1,803 (two) for the AABD column; nursing-facility and HCBS pathways can use additional spend-down or waiver-specific rules, so we mark those pathway income caps as pending until we cite a single HFS LTC standards table. The functional test includes a needs screening; LTC applications commonly require Form HFS 3654. Apply through ABE / DHS — not a home care agency.

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

Who to apply with

Illinois Medical Assistance — long-term care and community supports (HFS / DHS)
Official agencies: Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) and ABE (Application for Benefits Eligibility)

Income and asset rules

AABD Medical resource limit (2026)


$17,500 USD (one person or two people, SHIP 2026 sheet)
Illinois Department on Aging SHIP “2026 Illinois Medicaid Income Standards & Resource Limits” lists AABD Medical resources at $17,500 for one person, two people, or more than two. Confirm with DHS/HFS for your exact coverage group.
Source: official source · reviewed 2026-10-10

AABD Medical income standard (community AABD column, 2026)


$1,330 USD/month (one person) · two people $1,803
Shown on the same SHIP 2026 standards sheet under AABD. Institutional / HCBS cases may follow spend-down or other pathway rules — those specific LTC income caps are still pending a single HFS table citation on this page.
Source: official source · reviewed 2026-10-10

Community spouse resource allowance (maximum, 2026)


$162,660 USD
Spousal impoverishment resource allowance maximum on the SHIP 2026 sheet. Case-specific protected amounts can be lower — confirm with the DHS office handling the case.
Source: official source · reviewed 2026-10-10

Community spouse maintenance needs allowance (CSMNA, 2026)


$4,066.50 USD/month
Listed as Spousal Income Community Spouse Maintenance Needs Allowance on the SHIP 2026 sheet.
Source: official source · reviewed 2026-10-10

Home equity limit (2026)


$752,000 USD
Home equity limit on the SHIP 2026 spousal impoverishment table. Exceptions can apply when a spouse or dependent lives in the home.
Source: official source · reviewed 2026-10-10

Nursing-facility / HCBS Special Income Level (pathway-specific)


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.

Illinois reviews property transfers and look-back rules for long-term care. That calculation belongs with DHS/HFS or an elder-law attorney — not a website.

Home and community based services

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

How the application works

Before you file

Common questions

Is the income limit the only test?

No. Illinois long-term care Medicaid also requires a needs screening / level-of-care determination and financial eligibility through HFS/DHS processes. Families most often underestimate the functional screening and document requests (including Form HFS 3654 for LTC).

Where do I apply?

Through Illinois ABE (Application for Benefits Eligibility) at abe.illinois.gov, or with help from a local DHS Family Community Resource Center. We link official pages and do not submit anything for you.

Related

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.