ALW guide
Medi-Cal income and asset limits for the Assisted Living Waiver, 2026 and 2027
ALW uses Medi-Cal's rules. The 2026 income figure for no share of cost, the $130,000 asset limit that returned on January 1, 2026, what counts, and the lower limit DHCS has set for July 1, 2027.
The Assisted Living Waiver (ALW) has no income or asset test of its own. It needs full-scope Medi-Cal with no monthly share of cost, and Medi-Cal's rules decide that. In 2026 the no-share-of-cost income figure for one older or disabled adult is $1,836 a month. Since January 1, 2026, Medi-Cal also counts assets again for these groups: $130,000 for one person, plus $65,000 for each extra person in the household. DHCS has set a lower asset limit for July 1, 2027. The county decides your case.
Important: No number on this page can tell you whether your family member qualifies for Medi-Cal. The county Medi-Cal office decides, using your Medi-Cal group, household, income, assets and spouse rules. The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) sets the rules and decides ALW eligibility after a nurse assessment. Beta's ALW team is a Care Coordination Agency (CCA), the state-listed organization that does the ALW paperwork with you. It can't change a county decision or promise eligibility, an opening or a date.
Why Medi-Cal rules decide ALW
ALW is a Medi-Cal program. One of its six requirements is full-scope Medi-Cal with no monthly share of cost. Full-scope means the full range of Medi-Cal services, not only emergencies. A share of cost is a monthly amount some people pay before Medi-Cal pays. For ALW there must be none. Read the six requirements.
Income
The county counts most money that comes in each month: Social Security, SSI, pensions, wages and the like. Some income is not counted, and the county applies those rules.
One Medi-Cal group with no share of cost is the Aged, Blind and Disabled program, for people whose countable income is at or under 138 percent of the federal poverty level. From April 1, 2026, DHCS lists that as $1,836 a month for one person and $2,490 for two. Above it, a share of cost may apply. Other groups have other rules, so the figure is a guide, not a decision. How to check the kind of Medi-Cal ALW needs explains what to ask the county.
Assets: 2026
Assets are things you own, such as money in the bank. Since January 1, 2026, Medi-Cal counts assets again for people who are 65 or older, have a disability or need long-term care. The state calls these the non-MAGI Medi-Cal groups.
Through June 30, 2027, the limit is $130,000 for one person, plus $65,000 for each extra person in the household, up to 10 people. New applicants report assets when they apply. People who already have Medi-Cal report assets at their renewal. Other Medi-Cal groups use different rules, so ask the county which group your family member is in.
Assets: what is planned for 2027
A lower limit is coming. DHCS says that from July 1, 2027, the limit is $21,000 for one person and $31,000 for two, plus $1,550 for each extra person, up to 10 people. The state legislature passed this in SB 164 in June 2026. Check the DHCS asset limit FAQ before you rely on a date or an amount, since the state can change either one. If your family member's assets fall between the two figures, talk to a benefits specialist well before July 2027.
What counts and what does not
DHCS's FAQ lists these. The county applies them.
| Does not count | Counts |
|---|---|
| The home you live in | A second home |
| One vehicle, your main one | A second vehicle |
| Household items, such as furniture and clothes | Cash and bank accounts |
| Retirement funds, when you receive regular payments from them | Other financial resources, wherever they are held |
Not every Medi-Cal group uses the same method, and a spouse at home may have protections. Giving assets away can have consequences in some cases. Ask before you act.
Before you apply
- Call the county Medi-Cal office. Ask which Medi-Cal group your family member is in, whether there is a share of cost, and when the next renewal is due.
- If there is a spouse, a trust, property other than the home, or assets near the limit, get a benefits specialist first. Each county page lists where to find benefits counseling.
- Keep Medi-Cal active. An unanswered renewal notice can stop coverage, and the ALW application with it.
What people ask
Do I have to sell my house?
No. The home you live in does not count toward the asset limit. DHCS says it still does not count when a spouse, partner or dependent relative lives in it. If your family member moves into an assisted-living home and no one is left in the house, ask the county and a benefits specialist how the house is treated before anyone decides to sell.
Does my spouse's income count?
Often some of it does. Medi-Cal has rules that protect a spouse who stays at home, and the county applies them to your household. The answer depends on your Medi-Cal group and how the income is split. Ask the county, check the DHCS pages linked below, and get a benefits specialist if the numbers are close.
What if I am a little over?
Ask the county for the figure it used and how it got there. On income, a share of cost may apply, and a benefits specialist can say whether another group with no share of cost fits. On assets, the county can tell you what it counted. Don't give money away or move accounts first, because that can have consequences.
About this informationReviewed October 12, 2026. Program details may change. View official sources and page limitations.
Written by Beta's ALW team and checked against the official sources this page lists; facts checked through October 12, 2026. Where this page and an official source differ, the source controls.
This page gives general California ALW information. DHCS decides eligibility after the nurse assessment and releases openings. Each home decides its own admissions. Nothing here is an eligibility decision or a promise of enrollment, and it does not guarantee a place in a home. You may choose any Care Coordination Agency listed by DHCS and any participating home.
Something out of date? Tell Beta's ALW team.