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What Is the Income Limit for Medicaid Home Care in Illinois? · Home Care Powered By AUAF

• 0:13
  SPEAKER_00: Today, we're talking about the Illinois Medicaid income limit and what it means for getting home care for a parent.
• 0:19
  SPEAKER_00: I'm Elena.
• 0:20
  SPEAKER_01: And I'm Brooks.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_01: Elena, let's start with the number families actually want.
• 0:26
  SPEAKER_01: What's the limit for a senior in 2026?
• 0:29
  SPEAKER_00: For seniors 65 and older, people who are blind, and people with disabilities, Illinois uses a program called AABD Medical.
• 0:38
  SPEAKER_00: According to the Illinois Department of Human Services income standards for 2026, the limit is$1,330 a month for one person.
• 0:48
  SPEAKER_01: And for a married couple applying together?
• 0:50
  SPEAKER_00: $1,803 a month combined.
• 0:54
  SPEAKER_00: That's 100% of the federal poverty level.
• 0:57
  SPEAKER_01: So the limit is tied to the federal poverty level.
• 1:01
  SPEAKER_01: Does that mean it changes every year?
• 1:03
  SPEAKER_00: It does.
• 1:04
  SPEAKER_00: The Illinois Department on Aging's Benefit Chart says DHS posts the exact figures in early April.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_00: So a parent who was just over the line last year might fit under it now.
• 1:15
  SPEAKER_01: The article also mentions a small extra allowance.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 1:20
  SPEAKER_00: The Department on Aging Chart notes its figures leave out a$25 income disregard.
• 1:26
  SPEAKER_00: So before you rule anyone out, ask the caseworker how that applies.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_01: What about younger adults?
• 1:32
  SPEAKER_01: Say, someone between 19 and 64 without Medicare.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_00: They follow a different rule at 138% of the poverty level.
• 1:42
  SPEAKER_00: That's$1,835 a month for one person.
• 1:46
  SPEAKER_00: So a younger adult can earn a bit more than a senior and still qualify.
• 1:51
  SPEAKER_01: And then there are the Medicare savings programs on the same state chart.
• 1:55
  SPEAKER_00: Yes, QMB uses the same line as AABD, but the SLIB and QI1 bands run above it, up to$1,794 a month for one person.
• 2:08
  SPEAKER_00: So a senior just over$1330 may still fit one of them.
• 2:12
  SPEAKER_01: Okay, income is half the test.
• 2:15
  SPEAKER_01: What's the other half?
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: Assets.
• 2:17
  SPEAKER_00: AABD Medical limits countable assets to$17,500.
• 2:23
  SPEAKER_00: And the Department on Aging says that same limit applies to one person, two people, or a larger household.
• 2:30
  SPEAKER_01: What doesn't count?
• 2:31
  SPEAKER_00: Illinois Legal Aid Online lists the usual exempt items: the home you live in, a single car, personal belongings, life insurance policies, and burial spaces.
• 2:43
  SPEAKER_01: Here's a trap I noticed in the article.
• 2:45
  SPEAKER_01: The Medicare savings programs have lower asset limits.
• 2:49
  SPEAKER_00: Exactly.
• 2:50
  SPEAKER_00: $9,950 for one person and$14,910 for two or more.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_00: So someone can pass the AABD asset test and still fail that one.
• 3:02
  SPEAKER_01: Now, what if a parent's income is over the limit?
• 3:05
  SPEAKER_01: Is that the end of the road?
• 3:07
  SPEAKER_00: Not at all.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_00: That's where spend down comes in.
• 3:10
  SPEAKER_00: The Department of Health Care and Family Services says it works a little like an insurance deductible.
• 3:16
  SPEAKER_00: Once medical costs in a month reach the spend down amount, the person gets a medical card for the rest of that month.
• 3:23
  SPEAKER_01: What kinds of costs count toward it?
• 3:25
  SPEAKER_00: Doctor, hospital and clinic bills, dental care, prescriptions, medical equipment, health insurance premiums, and rides to medical care.
• 3:34
  SPEAKER_00: Unpaid bills count if they're dated within the last six months.
• 3:38
  SPEAKER_00: A paid receipt counts in the month you paid it and for six months after.
• 3:42
  SPEAKER_01: And there's a pay-in option too?
• 3:44
  SPEAKER_00: Yes.
• 3:45
  SPEAKER_00: Seniors and people with disabilities living at home can choose pay-in spend down and pay the monthly amount to HFS by money order, cashier's check, visa, or MasterCard.
• 3:56
  SPEAKER_00: Personal checks aren't accepted.
• 3:58
  SPEAKER_00: With pay-in, coverage starts on the first day of that month.
• 4:02
  SPEAKER_01: Let's connect this to home care.
• 4:04
  SPEAKER_01: How does the community care program fit in?
• 4:07
  SPEAKER_00: The community care program, or CCP, is the main way Illinois pays for in-home help for older adults.
• 4:14
  SPEAKER_00: The Department on Aging says a person qualifies at 60 or older with an assessed need for long-term care.
• 4:21
  SPEAKER_00: The program doesn't list an income cutoff.
• 4:24
  SPEAKER_01: But income still matters.
• 4:26
  SPEAKER_00: It does, because CCP requires the senior to apply for Medicaid and to enroll if eligible.
• 4:33
  SPEAKER_00: Approved services can include in-home help with household tasks and personal care, emergency home response, adult day service, and automated medication dispensers.
• 4:43
  SPEAKER_01: And this is where AUAF comes in.
• 4:46
  SPEAKER_00: Right.
• 4:47
  SPEAKER_00: Home care powered by AUAF provides in-home care as a state contracted provider with the Illinois Department on Aging.
• 4:55
  SPEAKER_00: Families can also become paid family caregivers for a loved one, and AUAF currently pays eligible family caregivers$21 an hour.
• 5:04
  SPEAKER_01: What are the common reasons a senior doesn't qualify?
• 5:07
  SPEAKER_00: Income above the limit with no spend down setup, non-exempt assets above$17,500, no assessed need for long-term care, living outside Illinois, or not meeting the citizen or eligible non-citizen rules.
• 5:22
  SPEAKER_00: Illinois LegalAid Online notes the non-citizen rules change in October 2026, so confirm the current rules with IDHS.
• 5:31
  SPEAKER_01: And if you think a denial is wrong?
• 5:33
  SPEAKER_00: LegalAid says an appeal must be filed within 60 days of the denial letter.
• 5:39
  SPEAKER_00: You can also reapply later if income or assets change.
• 5:43
  SPEAKER_01: Last one.
• 6:08
  SPEAKER_01: And HFS says there's no penalty for applying, even if you're not found eligible.
• 6:14
  SPEAKER_01: The full article on HomeCareAid.com has the income table and the steps.
• 6:19
  SPEAKER_00: Keep in mind, this is general information, not personal legal or benefits advice.
• 6:25
  SPEAKER_00: For your own situation, talk with an IDHS caseworker or a benefits counselor.
• 6:30
  SPEAKER_01: This episode uses AI generated host voices.