Home Care Assistance Program

What is the Home Care Assistance Program?

Am I eligible?

What are the income limits?

What benefits will I get?

What are the costs?

How do I apply?

Useful links

What is the Home Care Assistance Program?

The Home Care Assistance Program (HCAP) is a program that provides homemaking services for adults with disabilities who need help with tasks such as meal preparation, laundry, and house cleaning. The program allows people with disabilities to live on their own and avoid going to a nursing home or other institution.

HCAP is a state-funded program run by the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission (MRC). MRC case managers develop personal care plans, arrange for services, and monitor the program.

You can find detailed information about the program in the Home Care Assistance Program Handbook on the MRC web site.

Am I eligible?

The Home Care Assistance Program is for disabled adults under age 60 with limited income who need help with homemaking tasks.

You qualify for Home Care Assistance if:

• you have a medically documented disability
• your disability prevents you from doing one or more of the following tasks:
  
  • meal preparation
  • grocery shopping
  • medication pick-up
  • laundry
  • light housekeeping
• you need homemaker help to avoid being hospitalized or institutionalized
• you meet the income limits
• any other adults who live with you also cannot do homemaking tasks
• you are between 18 and 59 years of age (inclusive)
• you are a resident of Massachusetts
• Note: There are no citizenship or immigration status requirements for this program. Noncitizens are welcome to apply. No one will ask about your immigration status.

Some people with disabilities are not eligible for HCAP:

• If your disability is legal blindness, you are not eligible for the Home Care Assistance Program. You should contact the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind at 1-800-392-6450 for services.

• If you are 60 or older, you cannot get HCAP, but you can get help from the Home Care Program of Elder Services.

• Children cannot get HCAP. Caregivers of disabled children should contact the Department of Public Health's Community Support Line for services. The number is 1-800-882-1435.

What are the income limits?

Your income must be no greater than 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines:

If you get Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Transitional Aid to Families with Dependent Children (TAFDC), or Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled, and Children (EAEDC), you are financially eligible for HCAP.

What benefits will I get?

A case manager from the MRC will decide which homemaking services you need and will arrange for someone to come to your home to provide these services. You will get a maximum of 12 hours per week of homemaker assistance. Most people get 4 to 5 hours of services per week. You must be at home when services are provided.

You can choose how you want to get your services:

• You can use an agency homemaker. Agency homemakers are employed and trained by agencies under contract with the MRC. If you use an agency homemaker, you may get different people on different days or during different weeks.

• You can hire your own home care assistant. The person you choose cannot be your spouse or other close relative. The person must be approved by the MRC, have a criminal background check, and sign a contract. Many people are more comfortable choosing their own assistant rather than using an agency homemaker.

The homemaking services you can get are:

• meal preparation
• grocery shopping
• medication pick-up
• laundry (only your items)
• light housekeeping such as dusting, vacuuming, mopping, kitchen cleaning, bathroom cleaning, and changing the bed

The Home Care Assistance Program does not provide any other homemaking services. If you need other types of help, such as heavy chore tasks, personal care, medication monitoring, or companionship, your case manager will help you find other ways to get this help.

When you turn 60, your Home Care Assistance Program benefits will stop. You will then be referred to the Home Care Program run by the Executive Office of Elder Affairs. The Home Care Program offers homemaking services as well as many other services for seniors.

What are the costs?

All Home Care Assistance Program services are free.

How do I apply?

To apply, call the Home Care Assistance program. You can apply for yourself by phone, or you can make a referral for someone else in need of homemaking services.

• The Home Care Assistance Program
  27 Wormwood Street
  Boston, MA 02210-1606
  Toll-free: Telephone/TTY: 1-800-223-2559, then dial 3
  Local telephone: 617-204-3853
  Fax 617-727-2809

A case manager will collect financial information and medical information about your disability. If you meet income and disability requirements, HCAP will do an in-home visit to evaluate your need for homemaking services.

HCAP will send you a written notice of their eligibility decision. If you are not approved for services, you can appeal the decision.

If you are eligible, you will usually start getting services 3 to 4 months after you filed your application. Your case manager will review your eligibility every 18 months, or sooner if needed. You must report any changes that would affect your eligibility to your case manager within 30 days.

Useful links:

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1. Code of Massachusetts Regulations - Home Care Assistance Program (107 CMR 11.00)
   Massachusetts regulations about the Home Care Assistance Program, including definitions, eligibility criteria, services, and determination of need.

2. Home Care Assistance Program
   Overview, eligibility requirements, services, how to apply, and answers to frequently asked questions about the Massachusetts Home Care Assistance Program, including the Home Care Assistance Program Handbook. From the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission.

Home Care Assistance Program section last updated on 4/21/10