How families pay for a personal care home in Pennsylvania

Last verified: October 2026

Does Medicaid pay for a personal care home in Pennsylvania?

Not for room and board: Pennsylvania DHS says personal care homes and assisted living residences are typically not covered by Medicaid and set their own rates, although some residents receive home and community-based services through Community HealthChoices while living there.

Sources: PA DHS.

What is the Pennsylvania personal care home supplement?

Pennsylvania adds a State Supplementary Payment of $439.30 a month for an individual SSI recipient living in a licensed personal care home ($957.40 for a couple), so in 2026 an individual with no other income receives $1,433.30 a month in combined federal SSI ($994) and state supplement (55 Pa. Code 299.37).

Homes that accept residents on SSI take that payment as the monthly rate, leaving the resident a personal needs allowance. Ask each home directly whether it accepts SSI residents and how many beds it sets aside; many do not.

Sources: 55 Pa. Code 299.37.

Can VA benefits help pay for a personal care home?

Yes. A wartime veteran or surviving spouse with limited income and net worth may qualify for VA pension with Aid and Attendance; for December 1, 2025 to November 30, 2026 the maximum annual pension rate is $29,093 for a veteran with no dependents and $34,488 with one dependent, with a net worth limit of $163,699.

Unreimbursed care costs can reduce countable income. The VA Aid and Attendance guide explains the rules.

What other sources do Pittsburgh families use?

Most families combine savings, Social Security and pension income, proceeds or rent from the parent's house, and long-term care insurance if a policy exists; for people 60 and older still at home, OPTIONS can delay the move by paying for in-home help on a sliding scale.

Check a long-term care policy's definition of a covered facility: some older policies name “assisted living” specifically, and in Pennsylvania most homes are licensed personal care homes, so ask the insurer whether a Chapter 2600 home qualifies.

What does it cost to live in a personal care home on SSI?

For a resident on SSI in a home that accepts SSI residents, the combined federal SSI and Pennsylvania personal care home supplement of $1,433.30 a month in 2026 effectively sets the rate, minus a personal needs allowance the resident keeps; families should confirm the home's SSI policy before move-in.

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