The main Georgia Medicaid waiver program for older adults and adults with disabilities who need care at home is the Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP). It has two parts, CCSP and SOURCE, and pays for community services for people who would otherwise qualify for nursing facility care. The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) administers the program. The place to start is the Area Agency on Aging (AAA); for families in Macon-Bibb and nearby communities, the Middle Georgia Area Agency on Aging serves Bibb and ten other counties.
This guide explains eligibility, services and financial screening using DCH’s EDWP fact sheet updated in 2025. It covers only the elderly and disabled waiver. This page is general information, not medical, legal or financial advice; Georgia Medicaid decides Medicaid eligibility, while an elder law attorney can advise on individual legal questions.
Who may be eligible?
EDWP considers care needs and Medicaid eligibility together. Needing help at home does not by itself establish eligibility. According to DCH’s fact sheet updated in 2025, the requirements include:
- Being age 21 and over, with functional impairment caused by physical limitations; Alzheimer’s disease and dementia count as physical conditions.
- Having an unmet need for care and approval of an intermediate level of care certification for nursing home placement.
- Having the care plan approved by the person’s physician.
- Being Medicaid eligible or potentially eligible after admission.
- Choosing community-based services and participating in one waiver at a time.
- Having needs that Medicare home health or hospice does not meet.
DCH’s 2025 fact sheet says participants do not have to be homebound. Being able to leave home does not, by itself, rule someone out. The assessment examines functional limitations and the help needed to remain in the community. Verify current requirements with DCH and the AAA. Families supporting someone with memory loss can also read about dementia care at home in Georgia.
How SOURCE fits
The Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Aging Services describes SOURCE (Service Options Using Resources in a Community Environment) as a Medicaid waiver program offering in-home and community-based services as an alternative to nursing home care. Its official SOURCE information lists county coverage, SSI Medicaid eligibility criteria and nursing home level of care among the requirements. It also specifies age 65 or older, or meeting disability requirements if younger. Because this description and DCH’s broader EDWP fact sheet frame eligibility differently, the AAA can clarify which pathway fits the person’s circumstances.
The state page lists adult day care, alternative living services, personal care, home-delivered meals and respite care for family caregivers among SOURCE services. It also notes that SOURCE is available only in certain parts of Georgia, so county coverage is the first thing to confirm.
Medicaid waiver or non-Medicaid aging services?
Not every in-home service for seniors is a Medicaid waiver. According to the Division of Aging Services, its separate Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) program is non-Medicaid and assists people age 60 and older and their caregivers through 12 Area Agencies on Aging. Listed services include meals, in-home help such as homemaker and personal care, and caregiver programs such as adult day services and respite. A person who does not meet the waiver’s level-of-care and Medicaid requirements may still be directed to these services by the AAA. Services, availability and any cost sharing differ by program, so ask which program a service belongs to.
Services available through EDWP
The following services appear in DCH’s EDWP fact sheet updated in 2025. They are a menu of possible supports; the assessment and approved care plan determine which services address a participant’s needs.
| Service | Support described by DCH |
|---|---|
| Personal support | Help at home, including in-home respite provided by an aide. |
| Consumer-directed personal support | A consumer-directed option for personal support services. |
| Home-delivered services | Skilled nursing, therapies, medical social services, home health aide services and personal care. |
| Adult day health | Daytime services outside the home. |
| Alternative living services | Support in an alternative living setting. |
| Structured Family Caregiver | Support, education and oversight when a family caregiver lives with the waiver member. |
| Out-of-home overnight respite | Temporary care in an approved facility. |
| Meals and emergency response | Home-delivered meals and emergency response services. |
| Case management | Coordination of services addressing the participant’s assessed needs. |
Families considering care by a relative can read about Structured Family Caregiving in Georgia, which covers that waiver service in detail. Living together does not establish eligibility by itself. For caregivers needing a break, the guide to respite and caregiver support in Macon explains other support options. The difference between personal care, skilled home health and hospice is laid out in home care vs. home health vs. hospice in Georgia.
Financial limits: a dated reference
The figures below come from DCH’s EDWP fact sheet updated in 2025. They are historical screening information, not a current eligibility determination. Verify these limits with Georgia Medicaid each January; DCH says they change when the Social Security Administration raises benefits.
| Financial measure | Limit in DCH’s 2025 fact sheet |
|---|---|
| Waiver Medicaid income | $2,901 a month per individual. |
| Individual resources | $2,000 or less. |
| Couple’s resources, SSI category | $3,000. |
| Married applicant with a spouse neither in EDWP nor an institution | Combined countable assets of $159,920 or less. |
| Income diverted to a community spouse | Up to $3,948 a month. |
These categories describe different circumstances. A married applicant should not treat the combined asset figure as an individual spending allowance. Likewise, the community spouse income allowance is not an automatic payment. The Medicaid office can explain how income, ownership and countable resources affect the household’s assessment.
DCH’s 2025 fact sheet also says people in the Medical Assistance Only category may have to contribute toward service costs. Financial planning should account for any assessed contribution and care needs outside the approved plan. Families who expect to pay privately for some hours can compare typical rates in how much home care costs in Georgia, and those with a policy can check long-term care insurance in Georgia. An elder law attorney can explain legal options before a family changes ownership of money or property.
How to apply: the assessment process
The Middle Georgia AAA, listed by the Division of Aging Services at 3661 Eisenhower Parkway, Suite MB102, Macon, serves Baldwin, Bibb, Crawford, Houston, Jones, Monroe, Peach, Pulaski, Putnam, Twiggs and Wilkinson counties. This includes families in Macon, Warner Robins, Perry and Milledgeville. The Division of Aging Services toll-free line, (866) 552-4464, is the statewide number for requesting local services and information through the Aging and Disability Resource Connection.
- AAA assessment. DCH’s 2025 fact sheet identifies contact with the AAA for an assessment as the starting point. A useful description covers daily assistance, physical limitations, memory concerns and gaps in existing help.
- Medicaid financial review. For someone not already receiving Medicaid, the process includes an application through the county Division of Family and Children Services. Georgia Gateway is the state’s online access point.
- Screening and care planning. The state’s SOURCE page describes gathering proof of income, assets and citizenship. For SOURCE, the applicant finds the provider for the county on the state’s list and calls it for a screening; if approved, staff assess needs and a plan of care is developed.
- Availability review. Waiver capacity is limited and waiting lists can apply. Ask the AAA about availability and how changes in care needs are handled while waiting.
An assessment is an opportunity to describe what actually happens at home. Examples might include difficulty bathing, missed meals or a spouse struggling to provide physical assistance. Clear descriptions help explain unmet needs without minimizing the older adult’s preferences. Once services are approved, the plan of care sets what is delivered; care plans and service agreements explains what such documents usually contain.
How Medicare affects the discussion
DCH’s 2025 fact sheet includes needs unmet by Medicare home health or hospice among EDWP eligibility considerations. Medicare enrollment alone does not answer whether someone needs waiver services. Readers can compare the programs in Does Medicare pay for home care? The AAA can review existing services alongside remaining needs. Veterans should also look at VA Aid and Attendance and home care benefits in Georgia, since the AAA can review those alongside Medicaid options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Georgia Medicaid waiver for seniors called?
The Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP), which DCH’s fact sheet updated in 2025 describes as having two parts, CCSP and SOURCE. The AAA can explain which pathway fits the person’s circumstances.
Are CCSP and SOURCE separate from EDWP?
DCH’s fact sheet updated in 2025 identifies CCSP and SOURCE as parts of EDWP. The AAA can explain the appropriate pathway.
Does someone have to be homebound?
No. DCH’s EDWP fact sheet updated in 2025 says homebound status is not required, although other care and Medicaid eligibility requirements apply.
Does meeting the financial limits guarantee services?
No. Care needs, Medicaid eligibility and program availability also matter. Capacity is limited, and waiting lists can apply.
Can a participant use multiple waivers?
DCH’s fact sheet updated in 2025 permits participation in one waiver at a time. The AAA can explain how existing services affect planning.
Can a family caregiver receive support?
DCH’s 2025 fact sheet includes Structured Family Caregiver services for waiver members whose family caregiver lives in the home. Eligibility requires review; living together alone does not establish approval. The details are in the guide to Structured Family Caregiving in Georgia.
What is the difference between a Medicaid waiver and the AAA’s non-Medicaid services?
According to the Division of Aging Services, its HCBS program is non-Medicaid and serves people age 60 and older and their caregivers with services such as meals, homemaker help and respite. The waiver is a Medicaid program with level-of-care and financial requirements. The AAA can screen for both.
Who do I call to start?
The Division of Aging Services toll-free line, (866) 552-4464, connects callers with local services, and its website lists the Area Agency on Aging for each county. For SOURCE, the state page directs applicants to the SOURCE provider for their county.
The state SOURCE and aging-services pages cited here were last checked in November 2026; the DCH fact sheet figures are from its 2025 update.