This page is Delaware-specific. Medicaid long-term care rules vary significantly by state. See our national Medicaid Waivers Explained guide if you're elsewhere.
Delaware's most commonly misunderstood rule
Most states cap long-term care Medicaid income at 300% of the Federal Benefit Rate ($2,982/month). Delaware sets its cap lower — at 250% FBR, or $2,485/month — a genuine state policy choice, not a federal requirement.
A concrete example of why this matters: a senior receiving $2,600/month in Social Security would qualify without a trust in most states — but in Delaware, that same income requires a Qualified Income Trust, since it exceeds the state's lower $2,485 cap. If you're using a general Medicaid guide that assumes the common $2,982 figure, it's giving you the wrong number for Delaware.
The waitlist that no longer exists
Delaware eliminated HCBS waiver waitlists entirely in 2014. When the state absorbed all its prior HCBS waivers into DSHP-Plus, it removed enrollment caps in the process. If a guide, advisor, or even a well-meaning friend tells you there's a waitlist for Delaware home care Medicaid, they're working from outdated information — qualified applicants enroll immediately.
DSHP-Plus: two components, one integrated program
Nursing Facility Program
LTCCS Program
Setting
Nursing home
Home, adult day care, adult foster care, assisted living
Waitlist?
No — entitlement
No — enrollment caps eliminated in 2014
Source: Delaware Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA); figures effective 2026.
Two separate assessments, needed together
DSHP-Plus requires both a financial eligibility review (through DMMA) and a separate functional assessment (through DSAAPD). Starting one without initiating the other simultaneously can add weeks or months to your processing time — worth confirming both are moving forward together when you apply.
The 2026 financial numbers
1
Income limit: $2,485/month (250% FBR) — lower than the more common $2,982 figure.
2
Asset limit: $2,000 single, $3,000 for a married couple both applying.
3
Community Spouse Resource Allowance: up to $162,660, the federal maximum.
A real cost worth knowing
Delaware's nursing home costs average around $14,494/month — roughly 51% above the national average, among the higher costs found across the states we've covered. This makes understanding Medicaid eligibility, and planning early, especially consequential for Delaware families.
How to actually start
1
Apply through the DMMA Central Intake Unit at 1-866-940-8963 — confirm that both your financial (DMMA) and functional (DSAAPD) assessments are initiated at the same time.
2
If your income is between $2,485 and $2,982/month, don't assume you qualify without a trust just because that would be true in most other states — see Questions to Ask an Elder Law Attorney.
Common Questions
Why is Delaware's Medicaid income limit lower than most states?
Delaware uses 250% FBR ($2,485/month) rather than the more common 300% FBR ($2,982/month) — a state policy choice.
Does Delaware have a waitlist for home-based Medicaid long-term care?
No — eliminated entirely in 2014 when HCBS waivers were absorbed into DSHP-Plus.
What are the two parts of DSHP-Plus?
The Nursing Facility Program and the LTCCS Program — both with no waitlist.