New Jersey Medicaid long-term care
The eligibility rules and the actual application path in New Jersey. We link to the state agency at every step and we do not submit anything for you.
Quick answer
Does New Jersey Medicaid pay for home care?
New Jersey FamilyCare can pay for long-term care at home, in assisted living, or in a nursing facility through Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS), but eligibility is a two-part test. Financially, the 2026 DMAHS MLTSS application guidance says you must own $2,000 or less in countable resources (home and one vehicle generally excluded), and if monthly income is higher than $2,982 you need a Qualified Income Trust (QIT) to be considered income-eligible. Clinically, you must meet a nursing-home level of care — an official screening looking for hands-on help with three or more activities of daily living. Applications are processed by your County Social Service Agency; community applicants who are not already on Medicaid typically schedule screening through the Area Agency on Aging. Apply there — not through a home care agency.
What this page assumes you are paying for: what care costs in New Jersey — hourly, monthly and yearly, each figure with its source.
Who to apply with
Income and asset rules
Monthly income threshold for QIT (2026)
$2,982 USD/month — income above this requires a Qualified Income Trust
DMAHS 2026 MLTSS Application Guidance: if income is higher than $2,982 per month in 2026, establish a QIT to be considered income-eligible for MLTSS. QIT funds are restricted to cost-of-care uses under post-eligibility rules.
Countable resource limit (applicant)
$2,000 USD (counted as of the first day of the month)
DMAHS guidance: you must own $2,000 or less in total resources. The house you live in and the vehicle you use do not count toward this total. Resources are counted as of the first day of the month.
Community spouse resource protections
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 monthly maintenance needs 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.
DMAHS reviews a look-back of resources and transfers (commonly discussed as five years from the first MLTSS application). Undocumented gifts can create a transfer penalty. That analysis belongs with the CSSA or an elder-law attorney.
Home and community based services
- MLTSS (home, assisted living, nursing facility)
MLTSS delivers LTSS through NJ FamilyCare managed care organizations so people who need nursing-home level of care can receive supports in the setting they choose when clinically and financially eligible.
- PACE (where available)
DMAHS notes PACE as another option in limited service areas — confirm current counties on the DMAHS PACE materials.
Clinical eligibility requires the official screening exam. Financial eligibility alone does not enroll you in MLTSS.
How the application works
- 1. Schedule clinical screening when needed
Community applicants not already on Medicaid: contact AAA at 1-877-222-3737. Current Medicaid members: call MCO member services. Facility residents: ask the facility social worker. · 2026 MLTSS guidance (PDF)
- 2. Apply with the County Social Service Agency
Apply online or by paper. Answer “yes” to needing nursing-home-like services and help with daily activities so the application is processed for MLTSS. · ABD programs / apply
- 3. Financial review (income, resources, look-back)
CSSA reviews resources against the $2,000 limit and income against the QIT threshold, plus look-back documentation.
- 4. Clinical determination
Nursing-home level of care screening looks for hands-on assistance with three or more ADLs. Division of Aging Services issues clinical decisions.
- 5. MCO care planning
Once enrolled, the NJ FamilyCare MCO coordinates MLTSS services — not this website.
Before you file
- Rules change annually — always confirm with DMAHS / your County Social Service Agency.
- 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. MLTSS also requires clinical eligibility — a nursing-home level of care screening showing need for hands-on help with three or more activities of daily living — plus financial eligibility through the County Social Service Agency.
Where do I apply?
Apply through your County Social Service Agency (online or paper). Adults in the community who are not already on Medicaid typically schedule an MLTSS screening through the Area Agency on Aging (1-877-222-3737). We link official DMAHS 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.