By Pittsburgh Senior Advisor Care Team · October 17, 2026
In 2026 an SSI recipient living in a Pennsylvania licensed personal care home receives the $994 federal SSI benefit plus a $439.30 state supplement, $1,433.30 a month in total if they have no other income. Homes that accept SSI residents generally take that amount as the monthly rate, minus a personal needs allowance.
What is the personal care home supplement?
Pennsylvania pays an optional State Supplementary Payment on top of federal SSI for certain living arrangements. Under 55 Pa. Code 299.37, the supplement is $439.30 a month for an individual living in a personal care home and $957.40 for a couple. A separate, slightly lower rate of $434.30 applies to domiciliary care homes.
The federal SSI benefit rate for 2026 is $994 a month for an individual and $1,491 for a couple, per CMS's 2026 standards.
How much does a resident receive in total?
For an individual with no other income, the two payments add up to $1,433.30 a month. Other income, such as a small Social Security check, reduces the SSI portion under SSI's income rules.
| Living arrangement (2026) | Federal SSI | PA supplement | Total, individual |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed personal care home | $994 | $439.30 | $1,433.30 |
| Domiciliary care home | $994 | $434.30 | $1,428.30 |
Do all personal care homes accept SSI residents?
No. Each home decides whether to accept residents whose income is SSI plus the supplement, and many limit how many such residents they take. Pennsylvania's personal care homes set their own rates and are typically not covered by Medicaid, so the SSI amount is the whole payment the home receives for that resident.
Ask directly, before move-in, whether the home accepts SSI residents, whether a private-pay resident can later convert to an SSI bed, and what the waiting list looks like.
Who qualifies?
A resident must qualify for SSI under federal rules, which means limited income and resources, and must live in a licensed personal care home. Applications go through the Social Security Administration; the state supplement follows from the living arrangement.
Because SSI's resource limit is low, many residents reach SSI after spending savings on private-pay care. Planning the conversion before savings run out avoids a forced move.
How does this compare with what care usually costs?
CareScout's 2025 survey puts Pennsylvania's assisted living median at $6,352 a month. The $1,433.30 SSI total is well below that, which is why SSI beds are limited and often in smaller homes. In our seven counties, 43 licensed homes have 20 or fewer beds.
Families should treat an SSI bed as something to line up in advance, not something to count on finding in a week.
How does the supplement get paid?
The state supplement follows the living arrangement: when an SSI recipient lives in a licensed personal care home, the supplement for that arrangement applies. Families should report the move promptly to the Social Security Administration so the correct living arrangement is on file, since payment depends on it.
Delays or errors in reporting can mean overpayments or underpayments that take months to correct.
What if your parent has Social Security plus a small pension?
Other income reduces SSI under federal rules, so a parent with Social Security and a small pension may receive a reduced SSI payment or none at all. In that case the home and the family need to compare the parent's total income with the home's rate, and look at other help such as VA pension for eligible veterans and surviving spouses.
An Area Agency on Aging care manager can help sort out which benefits a parent is eligible for before a move.
What about domiciliary care?
Pennsylvania also pays a slightly lower supplement, $434.30 a month for an individual, to SSI recipients in domiciliary care homes, a separate, small-scale living arrangement certified through the Area Agencies on Aging rather than licensed as a personal care home. Ask your county AAA whether domiciliary care is available locally if a family-style setting appeals and income is limited.
The supplement amounts for both arrangements are set in 55 Pa. Code 299.37.
What does the resident keep?
Pennsylvania's personal care rules require that each resident keep at least the current personal needs allowance for personal spending; a contract that says otherwise is not valid. The home's contract must show the actual charges and who pays them.
If a home asks for more than the SSI and supplement total from an SSI resident, ask for the policy in writing and contact the long-term care ombudsman at 717-783-8975.
The SSI personal care home supplement: what it is and is not
| It is | It is not | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | $439.30 a month for an individual (55 Pa. Code 299.37) | the full cost of care |
| Combined with SSI | $1,433.30 a month in 2026 with no other income | available in an unlicensed home |
| Acceptance | each home's decision | guaranteed at every home |
| Medicaid | a separate state payment | Medicaid room and board |
Frequently asked questions
How much is the Pennsylvania personal care home supplement in 2026?
$439.30 a month for an individual and $957.40 for a couple, under 55 Pa. Code 299.37.
What is the total SSI payment in a personal care home?
$1,433.30 a month for an individual with no other income in 2026: $994 federal SSI plus $439.30 state supplement.
Does Medicaid pay the rest?
No. Pennsylvania Medicaid does not pay personal care home room and board.
How do I find a home that accepts SSI?
Ask each home directly; our advisors also track which homes near you accept SSI residents.
