How to apply for North Carolina State/County Special Assistance (Adult Care Home & In-Home Support)

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.

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

What to say when you call

"Hello, I'm calling to ask about North Carolina State/County Special Assistance (Adult Care Home & In-Home Support). I'd like to know whether I may qualify, what documents I need, and whether I can apply online, by mail, by phone, or in person. I understand I may need proof of age 65+ or disability, proof of income and resources, for the adult care home track: admission to an approved facility — is anything else required? What is the best next step?"

Tip: have a pen ready, ask for the person's name, and write down any case or reference number they give you.

Step by step

1. Gather your proof of age (65 or older) or proof of disability, along with documents showing your income and resources.
2. Determine which track fits your situation: the Adult Care Home track if you are moving into or already live in an approved adult care home, or the In-Home track if you want to remain in your own home with care support.
3. If applying for the Adult Care Home track, confirm that the facility accepts the state Special Assistance rate and obtain documentation of your admission to that approved facility.
4. If applying for the In-Home track, contact your county Department of Social Services (DSS) to request a case-manager assessment, which is required before benefits can be approved — note that this track is capacity-limited.
5. Apply through your county DSS — you can apply online or by phone at 1-800-662-7030.
6. Submit all required documents to your county DSS along with your application.
7. Keep a record of your application date and ask your county DSS caseworker for an estimate of processing time, as times vary.

What to expect: After submitting, your county DSS will review your application and documents. If approved for the Adult Care Home track, you will also receive automatic Medicaid eligibility. If approved for either track, you will receive a monthly cash supplement; recipients keep a personal-needs allowance, and the benefit is income-tested against the maximum monthly Special Assistance rate, which is set by statute and adjusted each January based on the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment. Benefits must be renewed annually, so watch for renewal notices from your county DSS and respond promptly to avoid a gap in coverage. This information is not legal or financial advice.

Renewals

annual