Illinois Supportive Living Program (SLP)
The Supportive Living Program (SLP) is Illinois’s assisted living-style Medicaid option. Medicaid can pay for services in certified Supportive Living Facilities (SLFs) for people who would otherwise need a nursing home. It sits alongside our Illinois 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
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Type of program | Medicaid waiver for care in assisted living |
| Who runs it | Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS) |
| Age | 65 and older, or 22 and older with a physical disability |
| Care need | Meets nursing facility level of need (Determination of Need) |
| Illinois 2026 income rule (long-term care) | $1,330 a month (AABD standard), with a spenddown above it |
| Illinois 2026 asset limit (single applicant) | $17,500 |
| Waiting list | Depends on facility openings |
The Supportive Living Program in brief
In short, the Supportive Living Program is run by Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS). Its target group is 65 and older, or 22 and older with a physical disability; on care need, the rule is: Meets nursing facility level of need (Determination of Need). As for waiting: Depends on facility openings. More detail on each point follows, and the Illinois state guide covers the shared financial rules. If the Supportive Living Program is not the right fit, the related pages at the end point to other Illinois programs and general guides.
What the program is
SLFs offer private apartments with services such as personal care, medication oversight, meals, housekeeping, laundry and activities. HFS sets the services and pays the facility for them. The resident pays toward room and board from their income, keeping a personal allowance set by the state. SLFs include dementia care settings in some locations.
No state’s Medicaid program pays for room and board in assisted living. The program covers care services, including personal care, medication oversight and supervision. Residents pay rent and meals themselves, usually from Social Security and pensions. See Assisted living and Medicaid and Room and board.
Who qualifies in 2026
Eligibility for the Supportive Living Program comes down to these points. The person:
- Is 65 or older, or 22 or older with a physical disability
- Meets the Determination of Need score showing risk of nursing facility placement
- Is screened as able to live in an SLF
- Qualifies for Medicaid (or pays privately)
The money test. The person must qualify for full Medicaid under Illinois’s rules for long-term care. The income and asset figures in the table above are Illinois’s 2026 Long-Term Care Medicaid figures 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 Illinois HFS. If only one spouse needs the Supportive Living Program, spousal impoverishment rules protect assets and income for the other. See Spousal impoverishment rules.
How the care assessment works. Illinois HFS’s assessment covers daily activities, from bathing and dressing to toileting and medications, plus memory and safety. The visit is normally face to face, at home or in a hospital or facility. 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
Services depend on the person’s assessed needs and written care plan. Depending on the plan, they can include:
- Personal care
- Medication oversight
- Meals
- Housekeeping and laundry
- Health promotion and exercise
- Social and recreational activities
- 24-hour staff and emergency response
No program pays for everything. The Supportive Living Program 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
There are two tracks, a financial one and a care one, and both must say yes. The usual path for the Supportive Living Program is:
- Find a Supportive Living Facility in your area with a Medicaid opening.
- Complete the Determination of Need screening.
- Apply for Medicaid with the Illinois Department of Human Services.
- Move in once approved; the facility delivers the services.
For the paperwork, use our documents checklist before applying for the Supportive Living Program; Applying for a waiver explains the general process.
Waiting lists
SLP does not have a statewide waitlist, but individual facilities may have waiting lists for Medicaid apartments.
More on how lists work: Waiver waiting lists.
How it relates to nursing home Medicaid
SLP is for people who would otherwise need a nursing home. Illinois long-term care rules apply. In an SLF, the resident pays room and board from income; in a nursing home, almost all income goes to the facility.
Rules shared with nursing home Medicaid. Most money rules carry over from nursing home Medicaid. The five-year look-back still matters: a transfer for less than fair value can delay payment 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, Illinois’s 2026 personal needs allowance is $60 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
- 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 a paper trail: copies of forms and notices, plus the names and dates of every call to Illinois HFS.
- Use your appeal rights. Notices that deny or reduce services explain how to request a fair hearing; acting quickly can protect current services.
- Report changes in income, assets, address or living situation to Illinois HFS when they happen.
- Plan for renewals. Medicaid and the care assessment are both renewed, usually once a year. See Renewals.
- Get help with complex the Supportive Living Program cases, such as a spouse at home or past gifts. A certified Medicaid planner or a legal aid office can review how Illinois’s rules fit a family’s situation.
Common questions
Is SLP the same as assisted living? It is similar, but SLFs are certified by HFS and can accept Medicaid.
Do I keep any income? Yes. Residents keep a monthly allowance set by the state.
Are there SLFs for dementia? Some SLFs have dementia care settings.
Related pages
- Illinois Long-Term Care Medicaid guide
- Assisted living and Medicaid
- Illinois Community Care Program
- 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.