Illinois Medicaid HCBS waivers pay for in-home care so older adults who would otherwise need a nursing home can stay home, most often through the Community Care Program (CCP).Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 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 1915(c)-style Medicaid waivers.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 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, run by 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 Jul 17, 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, the best-known vehicle for that is the Section 1915(c) HCBS waiver, which lets a state cover in-home supports for people who would otherwise qualify for institutional care.
Illinois runs its aging-focused HCBS programs under a blend of federal Medicaid authorities rather than a single clean 1915(c) waiver. In the federal waiver record, the Community Care Program appears as the "IL HCBS Waiver for Persons Who are Elderly (0143.R07.00)" 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 Jul 17, 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 authority citations are how the federal government tracks the programs, not something you have to work 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. If your care needs are lighter than that, a different Medicaid benefit, not one of these waivers, is usually the right door.
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 Jul 17, 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) |
|---|---|---|
| Lead agency | Illinois Department on Aging (IDoA) | DHS Division of Rehabilitation Services |
| Who it serves | Illinois residents age 60 and older | People with physical disabilities under age 60 (ages 0 to 59) |
| Federal waiver record | IL HCBS Waiver for Persons Who are Elderly (0143.R07.00) | IL Persons with Disabilities Waiver (0142.R08.00) |
| Federal authority | Concurrent 1915(b)(1), 1932(a), and 1115 | Concurrent 1915(b)(1) and 1932(a) |
| Level of care | Nursing-facility level of care | Nursing-facility level of care |
| Core services | Care coordination, homemaker, adult day service, emergency home response, automated medication dispenser | Adult day service, homemaker, personal assistant, respite, home health aide, therapies, home modifications |
The Community Care Program (CCP)
The Community Care Program was established in 1979 by Public Act 81-202 and is run by the Illinois Department on Aging.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 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 (homemaker) 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 Jul 17, 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 Jul 17, 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 Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL In practice, the state opens the program's front door at age 60, and the federal record is how the waiver population is defined for Medicaid tracking. 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 physical 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 Jul 17, 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 Jul 17, 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 adult day service, homemaker service, an individual-provider personal assistant, respite, home health aide, occupational, physical, and speech therapies, environmental accessibility adaptations, and related in-home services.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL The individual-provider personal assistant is the piece many families ask about, because it lets a hired worker deliver the day-to-day personal care in the person's home.
Who Qualifies: Functional and Financial Rules
Every HCBS waiver has two gates: a functional test (are your care needs serious enough) and a financial test (are your income and assets within the rules). You have to clear both.
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 Jul 17, 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 Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL An assessor reviews how much help you need with everyday activities, and the result 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 Jul 17, 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 Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL That $17,500 figure is the same countable-asset limit Illinois applies across its broader aged, blind, and disabled medical assistance rules.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL Finally, an applicant must apply for and, if eligible, enroll in Medicaid.
Income works differently in Illinois than in many other states, and it's worth slowing down on. Illinois is a medically-needy, or spend-down, state rather than a state that sets a single fixed income cap at 300% of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefit.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL There is no one HCBS income ceiling you either clear or don't. If your income is over the limit, you can still qualify by spending the excess down on your medical and care costs.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 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 is built around care coordination: a coordinator assesses needs, arranges the services, and adjusts the plan as circumstances change, 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 Jul 17, 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, and its individual-provider personal assistant is what many families ask about, because it lets a hired worker deliver the day-to-day personal care directly in the person's home.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL
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
Access to CCP does not run through a single statewide application desk. Older adults reach the program through a local Care Coordination Unit (CCU) in the Illinois Department on Aging's Aging Network, which handles the intake, the DON assessment, and the service plan.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL People under age 60 apply through a local DHS Division of Rehabilitation Services office instead.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL
On the question families ask most, 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 Jul 17, 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 confirm current enrollment conditions with them, since a local unit will know how intake is running in your area right now.
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 Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL Here is the order that usually works best.
- 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 physical 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 Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL
- Complete the assessment. For CCP, an assessor conducts the Determination of Need (DON) assessment to confirm you meet the nursing-facility level of care.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL
- Apply for Medicaid. You can file a Medicaid application through the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS). 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. The agency must make an eligibility determination within 45 calendar days for most applicants, and within 90 calendar days when eligibility is based on a disability.U.S. Government Publishing Office. (2024). 42 CFR 435.912 Timely determination and redetermination of eligibility (2024 ed.) — govinfo.gov. govinfo.gov. Retrieved Jun 25, 2026, from https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2024-title42-vol4/pdf/CFR-2024-title42-vol4-sec435-912.pdf Those are ceilings measured from the date you apply, not typical processing times, so 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 Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL Because intake and enrollment conditions can change over time and vary locally, 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 an individual-provider personal assistant, which lets a hired worker deliver the day-to-day personal care in the participant's home.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 2026, from https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/section-1115-demo/demonstration-and-waiver-list/Waiver-Descript-Factsheet/IL HSP serves people with physical 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 Jul 17, 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 for people whose needs are best met in a facility.
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 through Healthcare and Family Services.Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. (n.d.). Illinois Waiver Factsheet. medicaid.gov. Retrieved Jul 17, 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 the decision at 45 calendar days for most applicants and 90 calendar days when eligibility is based on a disability, measured from your application date.U.S. Government Publishing Office. (2024). 42 CFR 435.912 Timely determination and redetermination of eligibility (2024 ed.) — govinfo.gov. govinfo.gov. Retrieved Jun 25, 2026, from https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CFR-2024-title42-vol4/pdf/CFR-2024-title42-vol4-sec435-912.pdf
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