Plain-language ALW guide
What ALW pays for, and what you'll still pay each month.
ALW pays the assisted-living home for care, not for room and meals. The 2026 SSI/SSP room-and-board figures, what you keep, and questions to ask a home.
The Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) pays the assisted-living home for care, help with bathing, meals, medications and supervision, and pays for your care coordination. It does not pay for the room itself or for food. That comes out of the resident's own income, and for people on SSI it is a set amount the state publishes each year. Here's how the money works in 2026 figures.
Who pays for what
There are three kinds of cost.
| Cost | Who pays | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Care and care coordination (the ALW services) | Medi-Cal, through ALW, to the home and your Care Coordination Agency | Based on the nurse assessment, your care tier and your care plan. |
| Room and meals ("room and board") | You, from your own income or benefits | ALW itself does not pay room and board. |
| Personal or optional extras | You, if you choose them | Depends on the home's admission agreement. |
Important: ALW does not pay room and board. Every dollar figure here is a 2026 amount from the state notice in the sources below, and figures change each year. Beta's ALW team can explain the components; Beta cannot guarantee SSI/SSP eligibility, waive a legitimate room-and-board obligation, or tell you every charge a particular home will make.
If the resident gets SSI/SSP: the 2026 numbers
Most ALW residents pay room and board from Supplemental Security Income and the State Supplementary Payment (SSI/SSP). California's 2026 notice from the Department of Social Services (CDSS) sets the Non-Medical Out-of-Home Care (NMOHC) payment standard, the SSI/SSP amount for someone living in a licensed care home, at these figures:
| Component | 2026 amount |
|---|---|
| Federal SSI | $994.00 |
| State SSP | $632.07 |
| Total NMOHC | $1,626.07 |
| Room-and-board component | $706.07 |
| Care-and-supervision component | up to $738.00 |
| Maximum amount payable for basic services | $1,444.07 |
| Minimum personal and incidental needs allowance | $182.00 |
In plain terms: of the $1,626.07, the home may be paid up to $1,444.07 for basic services, $706.07 for room and board and up to $738.00 for care and supervision, and you keep at least $182.00 a month for personal needs. The full $1,444.07 should not be called "room and board"; CDSS separates the two components.
The notice also allows a limited additional charge in certain circumstances; check the admission agreement and current rules before treating any extra amount as normal.
Don't have SSI?
No ALW rule requires SSI; what you need is a workable plan for paying room and board, because the waiver won't. If your income comes from Social Security or elsewhere, a benefits specialist or your county Medi-Cal office can look at your income, any share of cost, spousal protections, and what the home may charge.
Medi-Cal asset rules changed in 2026
California restored asset limits for certain Medi-Cal groups beginning in 2026. Through June 30, 2027, DHCS currently describes a $130,000 limit for one person, adding $65,000 for each additional qualifying household member, subject to program and population rules and exclusions. From July 1, 2027, DHCS describes a different statutory limit framework.
This is not a universal "ALW asset limit": your Medi-Cal category, household, spouse and exempt assets all matter. Read the guide to full-scope Medi-Cal with no share of cost.
Can the home charge extra?
Before signing, ask the home to explain every recurring and one-time charge in writing. A charge should never duplicate something ALW already pays for. Ask:
- What amount is due each month, and what does it include?
- Which services are covered through ALW, and which are extra?
- Is the room private or shared?
- Is there an entrance, deposit or community fee?
- How are supplies, transportation, laundry and special diets handled?
- What happens if benefits change, what notice comes before a charge changes, and which charges continue during a hospital stay?
What the home is paid for care (not what you pay)
Daily "tier" rates are not your bill. DHCS publishes these 2026 maximum payable rates for assisted-living services, paid by Medi-Cal to the home:
| Tier | Maximum payable rate | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | $95.69 | per day |
| Tier 2 | $114.33 | per day |
| Tier 3 | $132.97 | per day |
| Tier 4 | $179.58 | per day |
| Tier 5 | $270.80 | per day |
These are provider reimbursement rates, not what a resident pays for housing and not consumer package prices. Your tier is set through the assessment; a home or agency should not promise a tier beforehand. See how the assessment works.
Your next step
Talk the numbers through with Beta's ALW team, we'll explain which components apply to you. How to choose a home covers the rest of the visit.
Official sourcesChecked against the official sources
Use the official sources below to confirm time-sensitive program details.
This page provides general California ALW information. It is not an eligibility decision or a promise of enrollment, and it is not a guarantee of facility placement. You may choose any Care Coordination Agency listed by DHCS and any participating facility.