Georgia Community Care Services Program (CCSP), Elderly and Disabled Waiver

The Community Care Services Program (CCSP) is one of two ways Georgia delivers its Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP). It helps older adults and people with disabilities who need a nursing home level of care stay at home or in a small community setting. It sits alongside our Georgia Long-Term Care Medicaid guide, which covers the nursing home rules.

Figures change periodically. Double-check current amounts before relying on them.

At a glance

CCSP in brief

In short, CCSP is run by Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH), with the Division of Aging Services through Area Agencies on Aging. Who it is for: older adults and people with disabilities. Care need required: Needs a nursing facility level of care. On waiting lists, the current picture is: Yes, openings can be limited. Each of these points is covered in more depth below, alongside the general Georgia rules from our state guide. Families weighing CCSP against other Georgia options can use the related pages at the end to compare programs side by side.

What the program is

Georgia’s EDWP is one Medicaid waiver delivered in two ways: CCSP and SOURCE. In CCSP, an Area Agency on Aging handles intake and screening, and a care coordinator writes a care plan and arranges services from enrolled providers. CCSP is often the better fit for people whose main needs are help with daily activities rather than frequent medical care.

Under federal law, Georgia can run home and community-based waivers like CCSP, which bend some ordinary Medicaid rules so care can happen outside a facility. Slots are limited each year, every participant has an individual care plan, and a case manager or coordinator puts services in place. Waiver services sit on top of regular Medicaid, which still covers doctors, hospitals and prescriptions (after Medicare, for people who have it). See our overview of HCBS waivers.

Who qualifies in 2026

Eligibility for CCSP comes down to these points. The person:

• Is an older adult or person with a disability who needs a nursing facility level of care
• Qualifies for full Medicaid under Georgia’s long-term care financial rules (see the money test below)
• Lives in Georgia and is a U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen
• Can be served safely in the community at a cost the waiver allows

The money test. CCSP requires full Medicaid eligibility under Georgia’s long-term care financial rules. The income and asset figures in the table above are Georgia’s 2026 Long-Term Care Medicaid figures from our state guide. Georgia Medicaid’s countable assets do not usually include the home (within the equity limit, if the applicant or a spouse lives there or intends to return), one car, personal belongings and a small burial fund. Married couples get extra protection in Georgia: the spouse at home keeps a share of assets and may get some of the applicant’s income. See Spousal impoverishment rules.

What the care test means in practice. For CCSP, an assessor checks how much help the person needs with bathing, dressing, eating, toileting, mobility and medications, and whether memory loss calls for supervision. A nurse or social worker working with Georgia Medicaid usually does it in person, wherever the person is living. Families should describe the worst days honestly and bring a list of conditions and medicines. See Nursing home level of care and Activities of daily living.

What services it can pay for

What a participant receives under CCSP follows the care plan. Possible services include:

• Case management and care coordination
• Personal support services (help with daily activities)
• Adult day health
• Home-delivered meals
• Respite
• Emergency response systems
• Alternative living services (care in some licensed personal care homes)
• Home health services

No program pays for everything. CCSP services are based on assessed need, and a family caregiver who is already helping is usually counted when the plan is written. If needs change, ask for a new assessment.

How to apply

Applying usually involves two decisions: one about money (financial eligibility for Medicaid) and one about care needs. In plain terms, the steps are:

1. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging (Aging and Disability Resource Connection) to request an EDWP/CCSP screening.
2. If openings are limited, the person is placed on a waiting list.
3. When a slot opens, a nurse completes the level of care assessment.
4. Apply for Medicaid with DFCS (Georgia Gateway).
5. The care coordinator writes the plan and arranges services.

For the paperwork, use our documents checklist before applying for CCSP; Applying for a waiver explains the general process.

Waiting lists

Openings for EDWP can be limited, and people may wait. The AAA screens and prioritizes applicants by need. Keep the AAA informed of changes.

More on how lists work: Waiver waiting lists.

How it relates to nursing home Medicaid

CCSP uses the same nursing facility level of care and Georgia’s 2026 income rule ($2,982 a month, with a Qualified Income Trust above it) and asset limit as nursing home Medicaid. Its alternative living services allow care in some licensed personal care homes, though the resident pays room and board.

What is the same as nursing home Medicaid. As in nearly every state, Georgia’s financial rules for home and community programs follow its nursing home rules closely. The five-year look-back for gifts generally applies, so a gift or transfer for less than fair value can cause a period when Medicaid will not pay for long-term care services. Estate recovery also applies: the state can seek repayment from the estate of a person who received long-term care services after age 55. People who keep income above a set allowance may have to pay part of it toward their care each month.

Personal needs allowance. If the person does move to a nursing home, Georgia’s 2026 personal needs allowance is $70 a month ($90 for some VA pensioners). 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

• Start early. If there is a waiting list or a slow assessment, the clock usually starts when you ask, not when the crisis comes.
• Keep copies of every CCSP form, notice and letter, and write down the name of each person you speak with and the date.
• Watch the deadlines on notices. A denial or cut can be appealed through a fair hearing, and a timely request can keep services going meanwhile.
• Report changes promptly, including income, assets, a move or a new living arrangement.
• 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

What is the difference between CCSP and SOURCE? Both are part of the same waiver. SOURCE adds coordination with a primary care provider and suits people with chronic health conditions.

Can family be paid? EDWP offers a consumer-directed option for some services.

Does CCSP pay for assisted living? It can pay for care in some licensed personal care homes through alternative living services, not room and board.

Related pages

• Georgia Long-Term Care Medicaid guide
• Georgia SOURCE program
• 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.