Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE)
The Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders (CHCPE) helps residents 65 and older who are at risk of nursing home placement stay at home. It has a Medicaid waiver part for people who would otherwise need Medicaid-funded nursing home care, and state-funded parts with different rules. This page is part of our Connecticut Long-Term Care Medicaid guide.
Figures change periodically. Double-check current amounts before relying on them.
At a glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Type of program | Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver |
| Who runs it | Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS), with regional access agencies |
| Age | 65 and older |
| Care need | At risk of nursing home placement (needs help with critical needs) |
| Connecticut 2026 income rule (long-term care) | Nursing home: no fixed cap (income must be less than the cost of care). Home care waiver: $2,982 a month |
| Connecticut 2026 asset limit (single applicant) | $1,600 |
| Waiting list | Medicaid waiver category generally open; one state-funded category is closed to new applicants |
CHCPE in brief
Put simply, responsibility for CHCPE sits with Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS), with regional access agencies. It serves 65 and older, and the care requirement is: At risk of nursing home placement (needs help with critical needs). Waiting list status in 2026: Medicaid waiver category generally open; one state-funded category is closed to new applicants. Each of these points is covered in more depth below, alongside the general Connecticut rules from our state guide. Other Connecticut programs, and general guides on care at home, are linked at the end of this page for comparison with CHCPE.
What the program is
DSS runs CHCPE, and regional access agencies provide care management. A care manager visits, assesses needs and arranges services. Participants in the state-funded categories may pay a share of the cost of services. The Medicaid waiver category uses Connecticut’s long-term care Medicaid rules.
CHCPE is a “waiver” because federal Medicaid lets Connecticut waive certain rules in order to pay for care at home and in the community. Expect a cap on enrollment, a written plan of care, and a coordinator who lines up providers. Participants keep their regular Connecticut DSS coverage for medical care; the waiver adds long-term care services to it. See our overview of HCBS waivers.
Who qualifies in 2026
A person generally must meet all of these conditions:
- Is 65 or older
- Is at risk of nursing home placement, meaning they need help with critical needs such as bathing, dressing, eating, taking medications or toileting
- For the Medicaid waiver category: meets Connecticut’s long-term care Medicaid financial rules
- Lives in Connecticut and is a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen
The money test. The person must qualify for full Medicaid under Connecticut’s rules for long-term care. The table’s figures are Connecticut’s 2026 long-term care numbers, taken from our state guide. The home (up to the equity limit, when the person or a spouse lives there or plans to return), one vehicle, belongings and a small burial fund are generally not counted by Connecticut DSS. When one spouse applies for CHCPE and the other stays at home, the spouse at home keeps a protected share of the couple’s assets and may receive part of the applicant’s income. See Spousal impoverishment rules.
What the care test means in practice. For CHCPE, an assessor checks how much help the person needs with bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, mobility and medications, and whether memory loss calls for supervision. The visit is normally face to face, at home or in a hospital or facility. Before a CHCPE assessment, it helps to line up a family member who can describe a typical bad day, and to have a list of diagnoses and medications ready. See Nursing home level of care and Activities of daily living.
What services it can pay for
What a participant receives under CHCPE follows the care plan. Possible services include:
- Care management
- Adult day health
- Companion services
- Home-delivered meals
- Homemaker services
- Personal care attendant services
- Assisted living services
- Chore assistance
- Adult family living
- Bill payer services
- Care transitions
- Assistive technology
No program pays for everything. CHCPE services are based on assessed need, and a family caregiver who is already helping is usually counted when the plan is written. When needs grow, request an updated assessment.
How to apply
Getting CHCPE means passing a money test and a care test. Step by step:
- Contact DSS or the regional access agency to request a CHCPE screening.
- A care manager completes an in-home assessment.
- For the Medicaid category, complete a Medicaid application with DSS.
- The care manager writes a plan and arranges services.
Our documents checklist and Applying for a waiver guide list the paperwork.
Waiting lists
The Medicaid waiver category of CHCPE is generally open. One state-funded category is closed to new applicants.
General advice is in Waiver waiting lists.
How it relates to nursing home Medicaid
CHCPE’s Medicaid category is for people who would otherwise need Medicaid-funded nursing home care. The waiver uses the 2026 home care income rule ($2,982 a month) and Connecticut’s asset limit, as shown in our state guide. Connecticut nursing home care has no fixed income cap, so the home care rule is stricter on income.
What is the same as nursing home Medicaid. Most money rules carry over from nursing home Medicaid. Gifts and below-value transfers in the five-year look-back can trigger a penalty period for home care as well as nursing home care. After death, estate recovery can reach services paid from age 55 on. Some participants pay a monthly share of income toward services.
Personal needs allowance. If the person does move to a nursing home, Connecticut’s 2026 personal needs allowance is $75 a month. Most of the rest of their income goes toward the cost of care. Our state guide covers the nursing home rules in detail.
Tips for families
- Do not wait for a crisis. Lists and assessments for CHCPE take time, and the start date is usually when you first request help.
- Keep a paper trail: copies of forms and notices, plus the names and dates of every call to Connecticut DSS.
- Read every notice. If services are denied, cut or ended, the notice explains how to request a fair hearing and the deadline. Requesting one before the deadline often keeps services in place during the appeal.
- Tell Connecticut DSS about changes in money, address or household as they happen.
- Expect yearly reviews of both Medicaid eligibility and the care assessment. See Renewals.
- Protect a spouse at home. Spousal protections must be claimed; a certified Medicaid planner or legal aid office can explain them for your family.
Common questions
Does CHCPE pay for assisted living? It lists assisted living services among its options, in approved settings. The resident pays room and board.
Do I pay anything? State-funded participants may pay a share of cost. Medicaid participants may owe applied income above an allowance.
Can family be paid? Self-direction rules vary by program.
Related pages
- Connecticut Long-Term Care Medicaid guide
- Connecticut Community First Choice
- HCBS waivers
- Three kinds of Long-Term Care Medicaid
- PACE programs
Last updated for 2026. General information only, not legal or financial advice. Medicaid Answers is a free educational resource published by Medicaid Answers Foundation.