Allentown Senior AdvisorBy Allentown Senior Advisor Care Team · October 1, 2026
Pennsylvania's Community HealthChoices program does not pay personal care home or assisted living room and board. What helps: private savings, long-term care insurance, VA Aid and Attendance, and, for very low incomes, SSI plus the state's $439.30 personal care home supplement.
The surprise
In some states, Medicaid waivers pay part of an assisted living bill. In Pennsylvania the long-term care Medicaid program, Community HealthChoices, pays for nursing home care and for services at home, but its waiver services do not pay personal care home or assisted living room and board.
That single rule shapes how Lehigh Valley families plan. A parent who runs through savings in a personal care home does not simply switch to Medicaid in the same room.
What SSI and the state supplement cover
Pennsylvania supplements federal SSI for residents of licensed personal care homes. For 2026 the supplement is $439.30 a month for an individual living in a personal care home ($957.40 for a couple), under 55 Pa. Code 299.37. Combined with SSI, an individual with no other income receives $1,433.30 a month.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Federal SSI, individual (2026) | $994.00 |
| Pennsylvania personal care home supplement | $439.30 |
| Combined monthly income with no other income | $1,433.30 |
| Pennsylvania assisted living median (CareScout 2025), per month | about $6,352 |
| Gap at the median | about $4,919 |
That amount is well below what most homes charge. A minority of Lehigh Valley homes keep some beds for SSI residents, usually smaller or nonprofit homes; DHS does not publish which ones, so ask each home directly.
VA Aid and Attendance
For wartime veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities, VA pension with Aid and Attendance can pay up to $29,093 a year to a single veteran (rates effective December 2025). Personal care home fees can count as unreimbursed medical expenses, which lowers countable income and often makes residents eligible.
Claims take months, so start early, and use a free accredited representative rather than anyone who charges to restructure assets.
Long-term care insurance and home equity
Long-term care insurance policies commonly pay for personal care homes once a policyholder needs help with two or more daily activities or has cognitive impairment, after an elimination period. Read the policy's definition of an eligible facility; most include Pennsylvania personal care homes.
For many families the largest resource is a parent's former home. Renting or selling it can fund years of care, though sale proceeds count as assets for any later Medical Assistance application.
When a nursing home becomes the plan
For a parent who will eventually need nursing-level care and has limited savings, the realistic long-term path is often a nursing home that accepts Medical Assistance. Choosing one early, while the parent can still pay privately, avoids a second move later.
Ask each nursing home whether it accepts Community HealthChoices for long-term stays and whether a resident who converts from private pay keeps the same room.
Why Pennsylvania works this way
Pennsylvania built its long-term care Medicaid around nursing homes and services delivered at home, and its personal care home system grew up largely as private-pay housing with care. The state supplement to SSI was the main public support for low-income residents, and it remains so.
The assisted living residence license created in 2011 anticipated more public support, but the waiver services available today still do not pay room and board in either setting.
Questions to ask a home about money
Ask what happens if your parent's savings run out: whether the home accepts SSI residents, whether it offers a reduced rate to long-time residents, how much notice it would give, and whether it has a relationship with nearby nursing homes that accept Medical Assistance.
Get the answers in writing if you can. A home that has a clear, humane policy on spend-down will usually be happy to explain it.
Where to get advice
The county Area Agency on Aging can explain the programs for your parent's county, PA MEDI counselors can review Medicare and prescription coverage that may free up money, and an elder law attorney can advise on Medical Assistance planning and documents.
Lehigh 610-782-3200, Northampton 610-829-4540, Carbon 610-824-7830. Free help is available before you pay anyone for advice about benefits.
Staying home instead
For a parent who meets the nursing facility level of care, Community HealthChoices and, in Lehigh and Northampton counties, the LIFE program can pay for substantial help at home or in a relative's home. That can be the most affordable path for families willing to provide some care themselves.
The county Area Agency on Aging can assess eligibility and explain the options for your county.
Frequently asked questions
Does Pennsylvania Medicaid pay for assisted living?
No, Community HealthChoices waiver services do not pay personal care home or assisted living room and board.
How much is the personal care home supplement?
$439.30 a month in 2026 for an individual, on top of SSI.
Do all homes accept SSI residents?
No; ask each home, as DHS does not publish which ones do.
What happens when savings run out?
Plan early: SSI in a home that accepts it, VA benefits, home-based CHC or LIFE services, or a nursing home that accepts Medical Assistance.
Does long-term care insurance cover personal care homes?
Most policies do once the policyholder meets the benefit triggers; check the facility definition and elimination period.
