Illinois Medicaid HCBS waivers pay for in-home care so older adults who would otherwise need a nursing home can stay home. For adults 60 and older, the program to ask about is the Community Care Program (CCP).Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL
Home and community-based services (HCBS) are the personal care, homemaker help, adult day service, and care coordination that let someone live in the community instead of a nursing facility, and Illinois delivers them to residents who meet a nursing-facility level of care through a set of Medicaid waivers.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL For aging adults, the two that matter most are CCP, provided through the Illinois Department on Aging, and the Home Services Program (HSP), run by the Department of Human Services Division of Rehabilitation Services.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL
In This Guide
- What Illinois Medicaid HCBS Waivers Are
- The Two Illinois Medicaid HCBS Waivers: CCP and HSP
- Who Qualifies: Functional and Financial Rules
- What These Waivers Cover
- Waitlists and How Enrollment Works
- How to Apply
What Illinois Medicaid HCBS Waivers Are
Home and community-based services trace back to a part of federal Medicaid law that lets states pay for long-term care outside of an institution, in a person's own home or community rather than a nursing facility. Nationally, one vehicle for that is the Section 1915(c) HCBS waiver, which offers waiver services to people who, without them, would need the level of care of a hospital, a nursing facility, or an intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual disabilities.U.S. Government Publishing Office. (n.d.). 42 CFR 441.302 — State assurances (eCFR, current). ecfr.gov. Retrieved Oct 3, 2026, from https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/section-441.302
In the federal waiver record, the Community Care Program's Medicaid waiver component appears as the "IL Persons who are Elderly Waiver (0143.R08.00)" and operates under concurrent 1915(b)(1), 1932(a), and 1115 authority, while the Home Services Program appears as the "IL Persons with Disabilities Waiver (0142.R08.00)."Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL What that means for you as a reader is simpler than the statute numbers suggest: both are Medicaid programs that pay for care at home for someone who could otherwise be placed in a nursing facility. The waiver names and authority citations come from that federal record, and you don't have to work them out to apply.
The thread running through all of it is the nursing-facility level of care. These waivers exist for people whose needs are serious enough that, without help, a nursing home would be the next step.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL If your care needs are lighter than that, these waivers are not the right door, and it is worth asking about other benefits.
The Two Illinois Medicaid HCBS Waivers: CCP and HSP
For an aging adult or a family member helping one, the choice between Illinois' two main HCBS waivers comes down mostly to age and the reason for the need. Here is how they compare.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL
| Feature | Community Care Program (CCP) | Home Services Program (HSP) |
|---|---|---|
| Agency | Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) | DHS Division of Rehabilitation Services |
| Who it serves | Illinois residents age 60 and older | People with severe disabilities under age 60 |
| Federal waiver record | IL Persons who are Elderly Waiver (0143.R08.00) | IL Persons with Disabilities Waiver (0142.R08.00) |
| Level of care | Nursing-facility level of care | Nursing-facility level of care |
| Core services | Care coordination, in-home service, adult day service, emergency home response, automated medication dispenser | Personal assistant, homemaker, adult day care, maintenance home health, electronic home response, home-delivered meals, assistive equipment, environmental modification, respite |
The Community Care Program (CCP)
The Community Care Program was established in 1979 by Public Act 81-202 and is provided through the Illinois Department on Aging.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL Its purpose is straightforward: help older adults who might otherwise need nursing home care stay in their own homes. CCP delivers that care through care coordination, in-home service, adult day service, emergency home response service, and an automated medication dispenser service.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL
As a state program, CCP is open to Illinois residents age 60 or older.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL There is a wrinkle worth understanding. The federal waiver behind CCP, the Elderly waiver, describes its population as people age 65 and older plus people with physical disabilities ages 60 to 64.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL In practice, the state program's front door opens at age 60, while the federal record describes the waiver's own population. If you are 60 or older and looking at home care, CCP is the program to ask about.
The Home Services Program (HSP)
If the person needing care is under 60 and has a severe disability, the parallel waiver is the Home Services Program, administered by the DHS Division of Rehabilitation Services.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL In the federal record it is the Persons with Disabilities waiver, serving people with physical disabilities ages 0 to 59 who meet a nursing-facility level of care.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL
HSP's service list is broader on the personal-care side. HSP covers a personal assistant, homemaker service, maintenance home health, electronic home response, home-delivered meals, adult day care, assistive equipment, environmental modification, and respite.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL The personal assistant is the piece that sets HSP apart, because HSP customers select, employ, and supervise their own personal assistants under a service plan they develop jointly with a DRS rehabilitation counselor.Illinois Department of Human Services. (n.d.). IDHS: Home Services Program. dhs.state.il.us. Retrieved Jun 3, 2026, from https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=29738
Who Qualifies: Functional and Financial Rules
Qualifying for CCP means clearing two gates: a functional test (are your care needs serious enough) and a financial test (are your assets within the rules). You have to clear both.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL
The functional test: a nursing-facility level of care
Both CCP and HSP are for people who meet a nursing-facility level of care, meaning their needs are at the level that would otherwise point toward a nursing home.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL For CCP, Illinois measures that need through the Determination of Need (DON) assessment, which gauges whether an applicant is at risk of nursing facility placement.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL The DON result is what establishes whether you clear the functional gate.
The financial test for CCP
To qualify for the Community Care Program, an applicant must be age 60 or older, an Illinois resident, and a U.S. citizen or eligible non-citizen, and must have an assessed need for long-term care through the DON assessment.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL On the money side, as of 2026 CCP limits non-exempt assets to $17,500 or less, with your home, car, and personal furnishings classified as exempt and not counted.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL That $17,500 figure matches Illinois' 2026 countable-asset limit for Aid to the Aged, Blind, and Disabled (AABD) Medical, which stays at $17,500 for a couple rather than doubling.Illinois Department on Aging. (2026). 2026 Illinois Medicaid Income Standards & Resource Limits (Illinois Department on Aging / SHIP) — self-described as ESTIMATES; DHS WAG 25-03-02 is its own named authority for exact figures. ilaging.illinois.gov. Retrieved Aug 4, 2026, from https://ilaging.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/aging/ship/documents/medicaidincomeassetlimits.pdf Finally, an applicant must apply for and, if eligible, enroll in Medicaid.
Going over a Medicaid limit works differently than many families expect, and it's worth slowing down on. Illinois is a spenddown state, and that applies to assets as well as income: having more income than the income standard, or more nonexempt resources than the resource limit, does not by itself bar Medicaid coverage, though the conditions differ by care setting.Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. (2023). Illinois HFS - Provider Notice: Resource Limit Increase (issued 05/19/2023). hfs.illinois.gov. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://hfs.illinois.gov/medicalproviders/notices/notice.prn230519a.html Under state policy, an AABD community case whose countable monthly income runs at least $1 over the applicable income standard, or whose non-exempt resources run at least $1 over the resource limit for the household size, is enrolled in spenddown rather than found ineligible, provided it also meets the state's other spenddown requirements.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL For a community applicant, one of those requirements is that spenddown be met, or the case be regular, for at least one month of the 12-month enrollment period, unless the person is on a transplant waiting list or would be put on one if enrolled in spenddown.Illinois Department on Aging. (2026). 2026 Illinois Medicaid Income Standards & Resource Limits (Illinois Department on Aging / SHIP) — self-described as ESTIMATES; DHS WAG 25-03-02 is its own named authority for exact figures. ilaging.illinois.gov. Retrieved Aug 4, 2026, from https://ilaging.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/aging/ship/documents/medicaidincomeassetlimits.pdf Keep two limits in mind. Spenddown is a Medicaid rule, not a CCP rule, so an applicant over CCP's $17,500 asset limit shouldn't assume spenddown gets them past it.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL And spenddown isn't free coverage: you meet it by turning in medical bills or receipts equal to your monthly spenddown amount, or by paying that amount directly to HFS under the Pay-In Spenddown option, and Medicaid pays for covered medical services only from the day spenddown is met through the last day of that month.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL For a fuller walk-through of the numbers, see our guide to Illinois Medicaid income and asset limits.
What These Waivers Cover
Both programs pay for the ordinary, day-to-day help that keeps someone safely at home rather than in a facility, but they emphasize different things. CCP leads with comprehensive care coordination, which suits an older adult who needs help organizing care as much as receiving it.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL HSP leans further toward hands-on personal care through its personal assistant service: customers select, employ, and supervise their own personal assistants, who help with household tasks and personal care in the home.Illinois Department of Human Services. (n.d.). IDHS: Home Services Program. dhs.state.il.us. Retrieved Jun 3, 2026, from https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=29738
These waivers are the community-based alternative to institutional care. If you're weighing home care against a nursing home, our guide to Illinois Medicaid and nursing home care covers the institutional side of the same decision.
Waitlists and How Enrollment Works
Older adults reach the Community Care Program through a local Care Coordination Unit (CCU) in the Illinois Department on Aging's Aging Network.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL People under age 60 go through DHS Rehabilitation Services instead, which serves them from 47 local offices across the state.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL
On whether there is a waiting list, the Department on Aging's own statement is the clearest guide: the Community Care Program is available to any person who requests services and meets all current eligibility requirements.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL The practical takeaway is to start by contacting your local Care Coordination Unit, complete the DON assessment, and ask them to confirm current enrollment conditions and how intake is running in your area.
How to Apply
Applying involves two connected tracks: getting into the waiver program and getting onto Medicaid, since CCP requires you to apply for and enroll in Medicaid as part of eligibility.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL Here is the order to follow.
- Start with the right agency for your age. If you're 60 or older, contact the Illinois Department on Aging or your local Care Coordination Unit about CCP. If you're under 60 with a severe disability, contact a local DHS Division of Rehabilitation Services office about HSP.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL
- Complete the assessment. For CCP, the Determination of Need (DON) assessment measures your need for long-term care, meaning whether you are at risk of nursing facility placement.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL
- Apply for Medicaid. Illinois Medicaid is run by the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), and the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) decides financial eligibility.Illinois Department on Aging. (2026). 2026 Illinois Medicaid Income Standards & Resource Limits (Illinois Department on Aging / SHIP) — self-described as ESTIMATES; DHS WAG 25-03-02 is its own named authority for exact figures. ilaging.illinois.gov. Retrieved Aug 4, 2026, from https://ilaging.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/aging/ship/documents/medicaidincomeassetlimits.pdf Federal rules require the state to accept your application online, by phone, by mail, or in person.U.S. Government Publishing Office. (n.d.). 42 CFR 435.907 — Application (eCFR, current). ecfr.gov. Retrieved Jul 13, 2026, from https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/section-435.907 Our step-by-step guide, how to apply for Illinois Medicaid, walks through the paperwork.
Once you apply, federal timeliness rules set the outer limit on how long the state can take to decide. A determination may not exceed 45 days for most applicants, or 90 days for applicants who apply on the basis of a disability, except in unusual circumstances, such as an applicant or examining physician delaying a required step or an emergency beyond the agency's control.U.S. Government Publishing Office. (2026). 42 CFR 435.912(c)(3) — Timely determination of eligibility (eCFR current text, as revised eff. July 31, 2026). ecfr.gov. Retrieved Aug 7, 2026, from https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/section-435.912 Those are ceilings on the agency measured from the date you apply, not typical processing times. The agency may not use them as a waiting period or as a reason to deny eligibility, and it must document the reasons for any delay in your case record.U.S. Government Publishing Office. (2026). 42 CFR 435.912(c)(3) — Timely determination of eligibility (eCFR current text, as revised eff. July 31, 2026). ecfr.gov. Retrieved Aug 7, 2026, from https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/section-435.912 Filing sooner starts the clock sooner.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a waiting list for the Community Care Program?
The Illinois Department on Aging states that the Community Care Program (CCP) is available to any person who requests services and meets all current eligibility requirements.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL Because enrollment conditions can change over time, the most reliable step is to contact your local Care Coordination Unit (CCU), complete the Determination of Need (DON) assessment, and ask them directly how enrollment is running in your area before you count on a timeline.
Can I hire my own worker or direct my own care?
Under the Home Services Program (HSP), one of the covered services is a personal assistant, and customers select, employ, and supervise their own personal assistants under a service plan they develop jointly with their DRS rehabilitation counselor.Illinois Department of Human Services. (n.d.). IDHS: Home Services Program. dhs.state.il.us. Retrieved Jun 3, 2026, from https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=29738 HSP serves people with severe disabilities under age 60, so it is the program to ask about if self-directed personal care matters to you. Confirm the current provider and enrollment rules with the Division of Rehabilitation Services office handling your case.
What's the difference between these waivers and moving to a nursing home?
Both the Community Care Program and the Home Services Program are for people who meet a nursing-facility level of care but want to stay in their own homes rather than enter an institution.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL The waivers pay for in-home supports, such as homemaker help, adult day service, and care coordination, so a person with serious care needs can remain in the community. Nursing home coverage under Illinois Medicaid is a separate track, applied for through DHS with a needs screening.Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services. (2023). Illinois HFS - Provider Notice: Resource Limit Increase (issued 05/19/2023). hfs.illinois.gov. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://hfs.illinois.gov/medicalproviders/notices/notice.prn230519a.html
How do I apply, and how long does it take?
Start with the agency that fits your age (the Illinois Department on Aging for those 60 and older, or a local Division of Rehabilitation Services office for those under 60), complete the assessment, and apply for Medicaid.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Oct 13, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL After you apply for Medicaid, federal rules cap how long the agency may take at 45 days for most applicants and 90 days for applicants who apply on the basis of a disability, measured from your application date, except in unusual circumstances such as a delay on the applicant's side.U.S. Government Publishing Office. (2026). 42 CFR 435.912(c)(3) — Timely determination of eligibility (eCFR current text, as revised eff. July 31, 2026). ecfr.gov. Retrieved Aug 7, 2026, from https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-42/section-435.912 Those are outer limits, not expected turnaround times.
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