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Who Qualifies for Assisted Living Financial Assistance in South Carolina?
Date Updated: July 26, 2024
Written by:
Rachel Lustbader is a writer and editor with a background in healthcare and technology. Her work has been published on websites including HealthCare.com, BiteSizeBio.com, BetterHelp.com, Caring.com, and PayingforSeniorCare.com. She studied health science and public health at Boston University.
Both of Rachel’s grandmothers had very positive experiences in senior living communities, and Rachel saw firsthand the impact that kind, committed caregivers and community managers can have on seniors’ and their family members’ lives. With her work at Caring, Rachel hopes to help other families find communities, caregivers, and at-home products that benefit elderly loved ones and make life less stressful for family caregivers
Some South Carolina Medicaid recipients may qualify for assisted living financial assistance through participation in the Optional State Supplementation (OSS) program. This program provides a monthly payment for qualified individuals to pay for approved community residential care facilities. A community residential care facility offers room and board and a degree of personal care for two or more non-related adults. They are sometimes referred to as assisted living facilities.
Additionally, the Healthy Connections Community Long Term Care (CLTC) program covers some of the costs for assistive care but does not typically include room and board fees. With this program, it is possible to receive most or all of the support an assisted living community would provide at the senior’s home, often at a cheaper cost and often covered by Healthy Connections.
What Are the Eligibility Requirements for the OSS Program?
To qualify for the OSS program, seniors must meet Supplemental Security Income (SSI) requirements, other than income. Additionally, seniors also must reside in an approved licensed Community Residential Care Facility.
Seniors must be at least 65 years old or must have a qualifying disability, and they must be a resident of South Carolina and a U.S. citizen or a Lawful Permanent Resident Alien. The net income limit for OSS is $1,699 per month, and an individual’s resources cannot exceed $2,000.
What Is the Healthy Connections Community Long-Term Care Program?
The Healthy Connections Community Long-Term Care program provides assistance with long-term care for individuals in need of nursing home level of care, but it often does not include room and board in an assisted living community. This assistance covers most of the same care typically available in assisted living while allowing seniors to live at home.
Seniors who qualify for this program may receive assistance with activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. Many recipients receive personal care, attendant care, companionship aides, limited skilled nursing, access to adult day health care (ADHD) environmental modifications and respite care.