Written & Reviewed by
Maryland assisted living payment guide
Last updated: 18 September 2026
Maryland does not have one program that pays the whole assisted living bill. The right plan often combines care benefits, state help, retirement income, veterans benefits, and family resources. Start with the program that matches the person’s care level and current living setting.
Bottom Line
For most families, the best first call is Maryland Access Point at 1-844-627-5465. Ask for a full long-term-care screen, not just a list of facilities. The main 2026 routes are the Medicaid Community Options Waiver, the new SOAR program, Public Assistance to Adults, VA Pension with Aid and Attendance, and PACE or home-based care when assisted living is not the best fit.
Need Help Right Now?
- Immediate danger: Call 911.
- Abuse, neglect, self-neglect, or exploitation: Maryland Adult Protective Services says to report concerns to the local Department of Social Services or call 1-800-917-7383.
- Discharge, rights, or care complaint: The Long-Term Care Ombudsman helps residents of assisted living and nursing homes with rights and complaints.
- Money is nearly gone: Call MAP before giving notice, moving the resident, or transferring assets. A rushed move can make both benefits and resident-rights problems harder to fix.
If the problem is broader than assisted living, GFS also has a guide to Maryland emergency help.
Start Here
- Call MAP. Give the person’s age, county, current setting, monthly income, rough assets, care needs, and veteran status.
- Ask for exact program names. Request screening for Community Options Waiver, SOAR, Public Assistance to Adults, PACE, and any county support that applies.
- Call facilities second. Ask each home which public-pay programs it currently participates in and what charges stay private.
| Situation | Start with | Main limit |
|---|---|---|
| Needs nursing-facility level care and may meet Medicaid rules | Community Options Waiver | Registry wait for many people living in the community |
| Already in a nursing facility and Medicaid has paid at least 30 days | Waiver no-wait route | Must meet all waiver rules |
| Age 62+ and needs help but Medicaid does not fit | SOAR through MAP/AAA | State funding and local capacity |
| Very low income in a licensed assisted living setting | Public Assistance to Adults | Technical and financial eligibility |
| Veteran or surviving spouse | VA-accredited benefits help | Service, care, income and net-worth rules |
| Could remain in the community with intensive care | PACE or home care | Service area and care eligibility |
What Has Changed
SOAR is now the current state-funded route. Beginning July 1, 2026, Maryland consolidated Senior Care, the former Senior Assisted Living Subsidy, and Congregate Housing Services into Supporting Older Adults with Resources (SOAR). The current SOAR program can provide partial support for assisted living monthly fees.
SOAR has new unified 2026 limits. Maryland’s 2026 eligibility memo lists, effective July 1, 2026, net monthly income limits of $4,358 for one person and $4,983 for a couple, with asset limits of $20,064 and $26,400, respectively.
The old $82 PAA personal allowance is stale. Maryland DHS raised the Public Assistance to Adults personal-needs allowance to $106 effective July 1, 2025, according to its PAA allowance memo.
Compare Maryland Payment Paths
Assisted living combines housing with personal support. One benefit may pay for care services but not room and board, so a monthly balance can remain after public help starts.
For broader background, see our assisted living guide and low-income payment guide.
| Route | What it may help pay | Who should ask | Reality check |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Options Waiver | Assisted living and other Medicaid long-term services | Adults needing nursing-facility level care who meet Medicaid rules | Waitlist for many community applicants; room and board is separate |
| SOAR | Partial assisted living monthly fees and other supports | Marylanders 62+ meeting income, asset and functional rules | State grant funding is subject to annual availability |
| Public Assistance to Adults | Need-based cost of care plus personal allowance | Very low-income adults in qualifying licensed settings | Rules depend on countable income, assets and setting |
| VA Pension | Cash income that can help with the bill | Eligible wartime veterans and surviving spouses | Actual payment is income-adjusted; asset-transfer rules matter |
| PACE | Comprehensive medical and long-term care | People 55+ who need nursing-facility level care and live in a PACE area | It is usually an alternative to paying for assisted living, not a rent benefit |
Community Options Waiver
Maryland’s main Medicaid route for assisted living services is the Community Options Waiver, also called the Home and Community-Based Options Waiver. A person must need a nursing-facility level of care, be at least 18, be able to live safely in the community with waiver services, and meet Medicaid’s financial and technical rules.
2026 financial screen: Maryland says monthly income may not exceed 300% of Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The federal 2026 SSI amount is $994 for one person, so 300% is $2,982 per month. Countable assets may not exceed $2,000 or $2,500, depending on the eligibility category. Spousal rules can change how a case is counted.
What it may cover: The waiver includes assisted living and other long-term services, but it does not mean the whole facility bill is paid. Room and board and an income contribution may remain.
How to start: Community applicants generally call MAP to join the waiver registry. If the person is already in a nursing facility and Medicaid has paid for at least 30 days, Maryland says the person may apply without the registry wait. Ask the social worker for an options-counselor referral.
Reality check: A Medicaid card does not automatically mean an assisted living home will accept the Community Options Waiver. Ask the facility and MAP to confirm participation before a move.
If income is above the waiver limit
Ask whether Increased Community Services (ICS) applies. It is for certain people who have lived in a nursing facility at least six months, received Medicaid there at least 30 days, need nursing-facility level care, and have income above 300% of SSI. Countable assets may not exceed $2,500.
You cannot apply directly to ICS; Medicaid’s Eligibility Determination Division must make the referral.
SOAR: Maryland’s State-Funded Help
Supporting Older Adults with Resources (SOAR) is now the main Maryland Department of Aging state-funded route that includes partial financial support for assisted living monthly fees. It also offers case management and home- and community-based supports such as personal care, homemaker help, meals, transportation, respite, and some safety-related home work.
SOAR is for Marylanders age 62 or older who meet its financial and functional rules. It can help people who do not qualify for Medicaid or face a long Medicaid wait.
Important 2026 change: Families may still hear the old name “Senior Assisted Living Subsidy.” That separate program was consolidated into SOAR beginning July 1, 2026. If an older facility handout uses the old name, ask the local Area Agency on Aging how the current SOAR assisted-living support works.
How to start: Contact MAP or the local Area Agency on Aging. Our Maryland aging agencies directory can help you find the county office.
Reality check: SOAR is supported by state grant funding and is subject to annual funding availability. Ask whether funds are available, whether there is a local waiting list, and which facilities can accept the support.
Public Assistance to Adults
Public Assistance to Adults (PAA) is a Maryland Department of Human Services cash-assistance program for financially eligible people in licensed assisted living facilities and certain other qualifying settings. DHS says PAA pays toward the cost of care and a personal-needs allowance, and recipients are eligible for Medical Assistance.
Applicants must meet technical and financial rules, apply for Social Security Administration benefits, and have countable income and assets within PAA rules.
Current personal allowance: The state increased the PAA personal-needs allowance to $106 effective July 1, 2025. It covers personal needs, not the assisted living care payment.
How to start: The PAA page directs applicants to MarylandBenefits, and a local Department of Social Services can help. Our Maryland benefits portals guide explains the main entry points.
Reality check: PAA is a needs-tested program, not a general discount for every assisted living resident. Ask the facility whether it works with PAA and ask DHS how the person’s income and setting affect the payment.
Veterans and Surviving Spouses
VA Pension with Aid and Attendance can help some wartime veterans and surviving spouses. It is not a flat assisted-living allowance: VA compares income for VA purposes with the applicable Maximum Annual Pension Rate (MAPR), and some unreimbursed medical costs can affect the calculation.
For the rate period beginning December 1, 2025, the VA pension table lists an Aid and Attendance MAPR of $29,093 for a veteran with no dependents and $34,488 for a veteran with one dependent. The survivor pension table lists $18,697 for a qualifying surviving spouse with no dependent child who also qualifies for Aid and Attendance.
VA’s current net-worth limit is $163,699 from December 1, 2025 through November 30, 2026. VA also reviews certain asset transfers made in the three years before a pension claim. Do not give away money, retitle assets, or make a large transfer just to try to qualify without getting competent benefits advice.
Maryland’s veterans benefits offices provide free help from VA-accredited specialists. The Baltimore regional benefits office lists 1-800-446-4926, ext. 6450. GFS also has a broader Maryland veteran benefits guide.
PACE and Home Care as Backups
The Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) can be a better fit when the person can live safely in the community with intensive medical and long-term support. Maryland’s PACE program requires a person to be at least 55, need nursing-facility level of care, agree to receive covered health and long-term-care services through the PACE provider, and live in a service area.
Maryland currently lists four PACE sites. For Medicaid-funded participation, the state lists income no more than 300% of SSI and assets no more than $2,000.
PACE usually does not pay rent at any assisted living home; it may instead make a home or family setting workable. See our PACE guide.
If assisted living may not be needed, compare home care vs. assisted living. For disability-related supports, see our Maryland disability help guide.
Choose a Facility Without Creating a Payment Problem
First confirm that the home is licensed. Maryland’s Office of Health Care Quality publishes an assisted living directory. The state also provides consumer assisted living resources with rates, services, survey information, and disclosure guidance.
Ask the business office for a written fee sheet and resident agreement. Separate the base charge from care-level fees, medication management, transportation, supplies, move-in fees, and other add-ons.
Ask: “Do you currently participate in the Community Options Waiver, SOAR, or PAA, and do you have a place for someone using that program?” Participation and bed availability are separate.
Warning: Do not rely on a verbal promise that public benefits will start later. Ask what happens if approval takes months, if a program has a waitlist, or if the resident runs out of private funds before approval.
How to Start Without Wasting Time
- Write down the care need. Note help needed with bathing, dressing, toileting, walking, eating, medications, supervision, memory, and nighttime safety.
- List monthly income. Include Social Security, pensions, retirement withdrawals, wages, VA benefits, and other recurring income.
- List major assets. Include checking, savings, investments, property, and recent transfers. Do not move assets before asking how Medicaid or VA rules apply.
- Call MAP. Ask which program to screen first.
- Call matching homes. Confirm the exact program and bed availability.
- Get costs in writing. Compare public help with the remaining monthly balance.
Documents to Gather
- Photo identification and proof of Maryland residence
- Social Security and Medicare or Medicaid cards, if applicable
- Recent bank and investment statements
- Social Security, pension, and other income letters
- Life insurance and burial-policy information
- Recent medical records and medication list
- Care assessment or nursing-facility records, if any
- Power of attorney or guardianship papers, if someone else is helping
- DD214, marriage, and death records for a VA pension claim when relevant
- Every denial, approval, or benefit notice already received
For a broader list of state programs that may free up income for care, see Maryland senior assistance. If housing rather than personal care is the main problem, compare income-based senior apartments before paying assisted living prices.
Maryland Official Contacts
| Office | Best use | What to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Maryland Access Point 1-844-627-5465 |
Long-term care screening and local navigation | Which payment route fits this person’s setting and care level? |
| Area Agency on Aging | SOAR and local aging supports | Is SOAR funding available and which homes participate? |
| Medicaid LTSS 410-767-1739 |
Waiver and ICS program questions | What is the application status and what is still missing? |
| DHS 1-800-332-6347 |
PAA and public-benefit applications | How do income, assets, and the facility affect PAA eligibility? |
| Maryland veterans benefits 1-800-446-4926 ext. 6450 |
VA Pension and Aid and Attendance | Can an accredited specialist screen this veteran or survivor? |
Reality Checks and Common Mistakes
Reality Checks
- Medicaid services are not the whole bill. Room and board and other charges can remain.
- The waiver has a registry. A community applicant may wait for an invitation to apply.
- SOAR funding can vary. State grant funding is subject to annual availability.
- Facility participation matters. A benefit is not useful if the chosen home does not participate or has no suitable opening.
- Private costs can change. Care level, room type, and add-ons can raise the monthly total.
- Asset transfers can hurt. Check Medicaid and VA rules before moving money or property.
Common Mistakes
- Assuming Medicare pays for long-term assisted living
- Waiting until the last private-pay month to start benefit screening
- Asking only, “Do you take Medicaid?” instead of naming the exact program
- Treating the former Senior Assisted Living Subsidy as a separate current program after the 2026 SOAR consolidation
- Giving away assets before checking Medicaid and VA rules
- Signing a contract without a written breakdown of all fees
- Missing an appeal deadline because a denial was handled only by phone
Denied, Delayed, or Overwhelmed
Ask for the decision in writing. Keep the notice, envelope, upload receipt, and phone log. Note the reason, missing documents, deadline, and deciding office.
For most Maryland Medicaid decisions outside a managed care plan, the state says a fair-hearing request must be filed within 90 days of the notice. If a person already has Medicaid and wants coverage or services to continue while the appeal is pending, Maryland says the appeal generally must be filed within 10 calendar days of the applicable notice, postmark, or effective-action date. Managed care plan appeals generally must be filed with the plan within 60 days. Read the current Medicaid appeal rules because the route depends on the type of decision.
For resident-rights, discharge, or care complaints, contact the ombudsman. For legal help with Medical Assistance or long-term-care issues, Maryland Legal Aid may help financially eligible people.
If one route fails, ask MAP to re-screen for SOAR, PAA, PACE, VA benefits, home-based supports, or another licensed setting.
Phone Scripts
Maryland Access Point
“I am helping an older adult in Maryland who may need assisted living. We need help paying for care. Can you screen us for the Community Options Waiver, SOAR, Public Assistance to Adults, PACE, and any county programs that fit?”
Assisted living facility
“Before we schedule a tour, which Maryland public-pay programs do you currently participate in? Do you have an opening for someone using that program, and what charges would still be private pay?”
Nursing facility social worker
“Medicaid has paid for this nursing-facility stay. Can you tell us whether the Community Options Waiver no-wait route or Increased Community Services may apply, and can you request an options-counselor referral?”
Veterans benefits office
“I am calling about a veteran or surviving spouse who may need assisted living. Can a VA-accredited specialist screen us for Pension with Aid and Attendance and tell us what records to bring?”
Resumen Breve en Español
En Maryland no existe un solo programa que pague toda la vida asistida. La primera llamada recomendada es Maryland Access Point al 1-844-627-5465. Pida una evaluación para Medicaid Community Options Waiver, SOAR, Public Assistance to Adults, PACE y otros programas locales.
Desde el 1 de julio de 2026, el antiguo Senior Assisted Living Subsidy fue consolidado dentro de SOAR. SOAR puede ayudar con una parte de las cuotas mensuales de vida asistida, pero depende de ingresos, bienes, necesidad funcional y fondos disponibles. Si la persona es veterana o cónyuge sobreviviente, también pida ayuda gratuita de un representante acreditado del VA.
Antes de firmar un contrato, pregunte qué programa acepta la residencia, qué parte del costo sigue siendo privada y qué pasa si la aprobación tarda. Si recibe una negación, pida la decisión por escrito y revise la fecha límite para apelar.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Maryland Medicaid pay for assisted living?
Sometimes. Maryland Medicaid can pay for assisted living services through the Community Options Waiver when a person meets the medical, technical, and financial rules. The waiver does not mean Maryland pays every charge on the assisted living bill, and room and board are not the same as waiver-covered care services.
What is the 2026 income limit for Maryland's Community Options Waiver?
For 2026, Maryland says monthly income may not exceed 300% of the federal Supplemental Security Income benefit. The 2026 federal SSI amount is $994 for one person, so 300% is $2,982 per month. Maryland also applies asset rules, and the state says the countable asset limit may be $2,000 or $2,500 depending on the eligibility category.
Did Maryland end the Senior Assisted Living Subsidy?
Maryland changed the state-funded structure in 2026. Beginning July 1, 2026, the former Senior Assisted Living Subsidy, Senior Care, and Congregate Housing Services programs were consolidated into Supporting Older Adults with Resources, or SOAR. SOAR can provide partial financial support for assisted living monthly fees, subject to eligibility and annual funding.
What is the fastest first call for help paying for assisted living in Maryland?
Call Maryland Access Point at 1-844-627-5465. Explain the person's age, current living setting, care needs, income, assets, veteran status, and whether a move is urgent. Ask which current programs fit and which assisted living providers participate.
Can VA Aid and Attendance help pay for assisted living?
It can help some eligible wartime veterans and surviving spouses. VA Pension with Aid and Attendance is income-adjusted and has service, care-need, income, net-worth, and asset-transfer rules. Use a VA-accredited representative before moving or giving away assets to try to qualify.
What if assisted living is still not affordable?
Ask Maryland Access Point about PACE, Medicaid home and community-based services, caregiver supports, a less costly licensed setting, or nursing-facility Medicaid if the person needs that level of care. If housing rather than personal care is the main need, compare affordable senior housing before committing to an assisted living contract.
About This Guide
Sources: This guide uses official federal, state, local, and other high-trust nonprofit and community sources linked in the article.
Editorial note
This guide is produced under the GFS Editorial Standards using official and other high-trust sources. GFS is not affiliated with a government agency and is not a substitute for official agency guidance. Individual eligibility outcomes cannot be guaranteed.
Corrections
Despite careful verification, errors may occur. Readers may email info@grantsforseniors.org with corrections.
Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and is not legal, financial, medical, tax, disability-rights, immigration, or government-agency advice. Program rules, policies, funding, and availability can change. Readers should confirm current details directly with the responsible official program before acting.
Last updated: 18 September 2026 · Next review: 18 January 2027
About the Authors