Benefits Roster

2024 FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY GUIDELINES

Review the programs and services listed below, offered by the federal, state and local government. These are designed for low-income/limited households. Each has financial eligibility guidelines, which are subject to frequent updates. For more information, refer directly to the program you are interested in.

Note: Asset tests are only listed for those programs for which they are required.

Type	Benefit Description	One Person	Two People
Emergency	Seniors in Need (Expo Fund) One-time-only emergency assistance.	Income: $2,510 Assets: $11,000	Income: $3, 406 Assets: $14,000
Food	Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Helps buy food needed for good health. The benefit amount varies based on household circumstances. Income limits may be lower. Asset tests may exist for some categories of individuals. Visit myDHR to apply.	Income: $2,430 per month	Income: $3,286 per month
Home/Community	Home and Community Based Options Waiver Assists with payment of services in the home or in assisted living. Must be assessed at nursing home level of care and meet Medical Assistance institutional eligibility rules. Age 18 and older. Income eligibility figure includes $20 disregard.	Income: $2,829 Assets: $2,000	Income: $5,658 (Different income and asset limitations may apply when only one spouse is applying for benefits.) Assets: $3,000
Home/Community	Senior Care Program Case-managed, in-home services for age 65 and up. Must be at risk of admission to a nursing home.	Income: $4,112 Assets: $11,000	Income: $4,700 Assets: $14,000
Home/Community	Senior Assisted Living Group Home Subsidy Provides financial assistance for a limited number of eligible assisted living group home residents age 62 and up. Will pay up to $1,000 toward cost of facility.	Income: $4,350 Assets: $20,064	Income: Only applicant's income is considered Assets: $26,400
Home/Community	Congregate Housing Services Program (CHSP) Financial assistance for support services in selected senior housing sites for ages 62 and up.	Income: $4,112 Assets: $27,375	Income: $4,700 Assets: $35,587
Home/Community	Accessible Homes for Seniors A loan program with zero percent interest deferred for 30 years to finance accessibility improvements. Age 55 and up.	Income: $5,708	Income: $6,520
Home/Community	Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit/Aid and Attendance for Surviving Spouse Payments for personal care assistance or assisted living through the Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit for Veterans who are homebound. Veteran must have over 90 days active duty, one day during time of war.	Net worth: $155,356	Net worth: $150,356
Income	Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Medical Assistance eligibility automatic.	Income: $943 Assets: $2,000	Income: $1,415 Assets: $3,000
Income	Senior Community Service Employment Programs.(SCSEP) Employment for low-income, age 55 and up.	Income: $1,568	Income: $2,129
Medical	Medical Assistance for Ages 65 and Up State-funded health insurance. Requires documentation of disability; individuals can "spend down" to this income level to be eligible. Excludable assets include house, car, and burial plan. Visit myDHR to apply.	Income: $350 Assets: $2,500	Income: $392 Assets: $3,000
Medical	Medical Assistance for Ages 65 and Younger State-funded health insurance. Typically requires that applicant not receive any other types of health insurance, including Medicare. Excludable assets include house, car and burial plan. Visit myDHR to apply.	Income: $1,732 Assets: $2,500	Income: $2,352 Assets: $3,000
Medical	Reduced Health Insurance Premiums for Qualified Plans through Maryland Health Connection To qualify, you must be Under age 65 A U.S. citizen A qualified alien for five or more years A resident of the state of Maryland Without access to any other form of insurance	Income: $3,041 (for age 60)	Income: $4,108 per month (for age 60)
Medical	Employed Individuals with Disabilities Program (EID) Extends Medical Assistance benefits to Marylanders age 18 to 64 with disabilities.	Income: No limit Assets: Under $10,000	Income: No limit Assets: Under $15,000
Utility	Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) Helps with installation of energy conservation materials	Income: $3,547	Income: $4,639
Utility	Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) Changed July 1 Provides assistance with home heating bills. Only one application is required for both the Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) and Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP).	Income: $2,510 per month No asset test	Income: $3,406 per month No asset test
Utility	Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP) Changed July 1 Provides assistance with electric bills. Only one application is required for both the Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) and Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP).	Income: $2,510 per month No asset test	Income: $3,406 per month No asset test
Utility	EmPOWER Maryland Helps with the installation of energy conservation materials and major appliances.	Income: $5,708	Income: $6,520

Type

Benefit Description

One Person

Two People

Emergency

Seniors in Need (Expo Fund)

One-time-only emergency assistance.

Income: $2,510

Assets: $11,000

Income: $3, 406

Assets: $14,000

Food

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Helps buy food needed for good health. The benefit amount varies based on household circumstances. Income limits may be lower. Asset tests may exist for some categories of individuals.

Visit myDHR to apply.

Income: $2,430 per month

Income: $3,286 per month

Home/Community

Home and Community Based Options Waiver

Assists with payment of services in the home or in assisted living. Must be assessed at nursing home level of care and meet Medical Assistance institutional eligibility rules. Age 18 and older. Income eligibility figure includes $20 disregard.

Income: $2,829

Assets: $2,000

Income: $5,658 (Different income and asset limitations may apply when only one spouse is applying for benefits.)

Assets: $3,000

Home/Community

Senior Care Program

Case-managed, in-home services for age 65 and up. Must be at risk of admission to a nursing home.

Income: $4,112

Assets: $11,000

Income: $4,700

Assets: $14,000

Home/Community

Senior Assisted Living Group Home Subsidy

Provides financial assistance for a limited number of eligible assisted living group home residents age 62 and up. Will pay up to $1,000 toward cost of facility.

Income: $4,350

Assets: $20,064

Income: Only applicant's income is considered

Assets: $26,400

Home/Community

Congregate Housing Services Program (CHSP)

Financial assistance for support services in selected senior housing sites for ages 62 and up.

Income: $4,112

Assets: $27,375

Income: $4,700

Assets: $35,587

Home/Community

Accessible Homes for Seniors

A loan program with zero percent interest deferred for 30 years to finance accessibility improvements. Age 55 and up.

Income: $5,708

Income: $6,520

Home/Community

Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit/Aid and Attendance for Surviving Spouse

Payments for personal care assistance or assisted living through the Veterans Aid and Attendance Benefit for Veterans who are homebound. Veteran must have over 90 days active duty, one day during time of war.

Net worth: $155,356

Net worth: $150,356

Income

Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

Medical Assistance eligibility automatic.

Income: $943

Assets: $2,000

Income: $1,415

Assets: $3,000

Income

Senior Community Service Employment Programs.(SCSEP)

Employment for low-income, age 55 and up.

Income: $1,568

Income: $2,129

Medical

Medical Assistance for Ages 65 and Up

State-funded health insurance. Requires documentation of disability; individuals can "spend down" to this income level to be eligible. Excludable assets include house, car, and burial plan.

Visit myDHR to apply.

Income: $350

Assets: $2,500

Income: $392

Assets: $3,000

Medical

Medical Assistance for Ages 65 and Younger

State-funded health insurance. Typically requires that applicant not receive any other types of health insurance, including Medicare. Excludable assets include house, car and burial plan.

Visit myDHR to apply.

Income: $1,732

Assets: $2,500

Income: $2,352

Assets: $3,000

Medical

Reduced Health Insurance Premiums for Qualified Plans through Maryland Health Connection

To qualify, you must be

Under age 65
A U.S. citizen
A qualified alien for five or more years
A resident of the state of Maryland
Without access to any other form of insurance

Income: $3,041 (for age 60)

Income: $4,108 per month (for age 60)

Medical

Employed Individuals with Disabilities Program (EID)

Extends Medical Assistance benefits to Marylanders age 18 to 64 with disabilities.

Income: No limit

Assets: Under $10,000

Income: No limit

Assets: Under $15,000

Utility

Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP)

Helps with installation of energy conservation materials

Income: $3,547

Income: $4,639

Utility

Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP)

Changed July 1

Provides assistance with home heating bills. Only one application is required for both the Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) and Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP).

Income:

$2,510 per month
No asset test

Income:

$3,406 per month
No asset test

Utility

Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP)

Changed July 1

Provides assistance with electric bills. Only one application is required for both the Maryland Energy Assistance Program (MEAP) and Electric Universal Service Program (EUSP).

Income:

$2,510 per month
No asset test

Income:

$3,406 per month
No asset test

Utility

EmPOWER Maryland

Helps with the installation of energy conservation materials and major appliances.

Income: $5,708

Income: $6,520

FEDERAL POVERTY LIMIT GUIDELINES

The federal government sets the Federal poverty limit each January.

One person: $1,215 per month ($15,060 per year)
Two people: $1,643 ($20,440 per year)
Three people: $2,071 per month ($25,820 per year)
Four people: $2,500 per month ($31,200 per year)

MEDICARE

Learn more about Medicare benefits, enrollment criteria and eligibility for savings:

Medicare 2024 Fact Sheet
New to Medicare Enrollment Criteria
Eligibility for Savings on Medicare
Local Help with Medicare

MEDICAID LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES SPOUSAL IMPOVERISHMENT STANDARDS

All non-exempt assets (such as savings and checking accounts, stocks, bonds) owned by either spouse, jointly or separately, are pooled as of the date the nursing home spouse enters the nursing home. The community spouse may keep $26,076 or half the assets, whichever is greater, but not more than $130,380. The couple's remaining assets are used to pay for nursing home care or other expenses until the nursing home spouse's assets reach the Medicaid eligibility level. The community spouse's income will be evaluated to determine how much, if any, of the nursing home spouse's monthly income can be allowed for the community spouse's monthly maintenance allowance.

ASSETS FOR COMMUNITY SPOUSE

Maximum Spousal Share: $154,140
Minimum Spousal Share: $30,828

INCOME FOR COMMUNITY SPOUSE

Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance: $2,555
Community Spouse Monthly Housing Allowance: $766.50
Maximum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance: $3,853.50