How to apply for Florida Home Care for the Elderly (HCE)

Who it's for

Home Care for the Elderly is a state-funded program that helps frail Florida seniors aged 60 and older stay in a private home with a non-spouse adult caregiver instead of moving to a nursing facility. Each enrolled participant receives a basic monthly subsidy of $160 paid to the caregiver to help offset the cost of food, household supplies, and personal care. The program can also authorize 'special subsidies' for specific needs — incontinence supplies, medications, medical and assistive devices, ramps and home accessibility modifications, nutritional supplements, home health aide visits, home nursing, and respite. To qualify, you must be at risk of nursing-home placement, have monthly income at or below the Institutional Care Program (ICP) standard (300% of the SSI federal benefit rate — $2,982 a month for one person in 2026), have countable assets at or below $2,000 ($3,000 for a couple), and live with an adult caregiver other than a spouse who is willing and able to provide or arrange care. You must also receive SSI, or Medicare cost-sharing help as a Qualified Medicare Beneficiary (QMB) or Special Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB). HCE is administered statewide by the Florida Department of Elder Affairs through 11 regional Area Agencies on Aging, which contract with local Lead Agencies to manage cases and authorize subsidies. Apply through the statewide Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337) or your local Aging and Disability Resource Center.

What you'll need

• DOEA Form 701B (functional assessment) completed by a Lead Agency case manager
• Proof of age (driver's license, state ID, or birth certificate)
• Proof of monthly income (Social Security award letter, pension statements)
• Bank statements and documentation of countable resources
• Identity and basic information for the designated adult caregiver who lives with you
• Medical or functional documentation supporting risk of nursing-home placement

Where to apply

What to say when you call

"Hello, I'm calling to ask about Florida Home Care for the Elderly (HCE). 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 dOEA Form 701B (functional assessment) completed by a Lead Agency case manager, proof of age (driver's license, state ID, or birth certificate), proof of monthly income (Social Security award letter, pension statements) — 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. Call the statewide Elder Helpline at 1-800-96-ELDER (1-800-963-5337) or contact your local Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) to start your application and ask about the current waitlist in your region.
2. Gather proof of age — a driver's license, state ID, or birth certificate.
3. Gather proof of monthly income, such as a Social Security award letter or pension statements, along with bank statements and other documentation of your countable resources.
4. Collect identity and basic information for the adult caregiver who lives with you and is willing and able to provide or arrange your care. Note that a spouse does not qualify as the required caregiver.
5. Have documentation ready that supports your risk of nursing-home placement, such as medical or functional records. A Lead Agency case manager will also complete a formal functional assessment (DOEA Form 701B) as part of the process.
6. Submit your application by phone through the Elder Helpline or online through the Florida application channel, and follow any instructions from your local Lead Agency to complete the process.

What to expect: After you apply, a Lead Agency case manager will contact you to complete a functional assessment (DOEA Form 701B) and verify that you meet the level-of-care requirement for risk of nursing-home placement. Be aware that HCE has a waitlist in most regions, so being found eligible does not guarantee immediate enrollment — ask your local Aging and Disability Resource Center or the Elder Helpline about your current waitlist position. If enrolled, the program provides a basic monthly subsidy of $160 paid to your caregiver, and your case manager may also authorize special subsidies for specific needs. Your eligibility will be reviewed through an annual reassessment by your Lead Agency case manager. Processing times vary, so ask the agency for an estimate when you apply.

Renewals

annual reassessment by Lead Agency case manager