Benefits · Supportive Services
How to apply for North Carolina State/County Special Assistance (Adult Care Home & In-Home Support)
North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Aging and Adult Services (administered by county DSS)
Who it's for
State/County Special Assistance is a monthly cash supplement for low-income North Carolinians who are age 65 or older, or disabled. One track helps pay for room and board in an approved adult care home; the In-Home track provides a cash supplement to people at risk of entering a facility so they can stay in their own home with care. People who get Special Assistance in an adult care home are automatically eligible for Medicaid. Apply through your county Department of Social Services.
Special Assistance is income-tested against the maximum monthly Special Assistance rate (set by statute and adjusted each January by the Social Security COLA); recipients keep a personal-needs allowance. The adult-care-home track requires living in a facility that accepts the state rate and brings automatic Medicaid eligibility. The In-Home track is capacity- and assessment-gated. Apply at your county DSS. Not legal or financial advice.
What you'll need
- Proof of age 65+ or disability
- Proof of income and resources
- For the adult care home track: admission to an approved facility
- For the In-Home track: a county case-manager assessment
Where to apply
Apply online: official application
By phone: 1-800-662-7030
Renewals
annual
Not sure if you qualify? Run a free check first.
Find my benefitsNot legal or financial advice. The agency makes the final eligibility decision.