·State program
Frail Elder Waiver
The Frail Elder Waiver is a MassHealth Home and Community-Based Services waiver that provides community services and supports to eligible elders.
What you get
Services, as recorded:
- Waiver services authorized in an approved Comprehensive Service Plan; no dollar amount stated
Questions that decide eligibility
GiveCare prepares the questions; the program makes the decision. Bring these to the call or the application:
- 01
Does the person receiving care live in Massachusetts?
Residency is usually the first thing a program checks.
- 02
What are the current income and asset limits, and whose income counts?
Our record lists gross monthly limit around $2,982 for a household of one — limits change, so confirm the current figures.
- 03
Is the person receiving care in the covered age range (60–null)?
- 04
What counts as a qualifying disability or level of care need, and what documentation shows it?
- 05
Does the VA disability rating meet the program’s minimum (our record lists null%)?
- 06
Do the work hours meet the minimum (our record lists null hours)?
- 07
Is there a caregiver-specific department, coordinator, or support line? Ask for it by name.
Many agencies have one that isn’t advertised on the website.
- 08
What documents do you need from us to start an application?
- 09
Is there a waitlist right now, and how long is it?
Who qualifies, in the source’s words
Where our record has a direct quote from the official source, here it is — otherwise, this is our best reading of the rule.
Income and asset limits
“Applicant’s income must be less than 300% of the SSI Federal Benefit Rate (the SSI FBR for 2026 is $994, so 300% is $2,982)”
mass.gov →Age of the person receiving care
“eligible frail elders aged 60 and older who meet the level of care for a nursing facility”
mass.gov →Disability of the person receiving care
“60-64 years of age and have a disability”
mass.gov →Minimum VA disability rating
Minimum VA disability rating: null%.
Work hours
Minimum work hours: null.
State residency
“Use this application if you live in Massachusetts and you are”
mass.gov →
How to apply
- 01
Contact your local Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) to request a clinical eligibility assessment, or complete and mail the FEW application to your local ASAP; MassHealth determines financial eligibility from the SACA-2 application with the HCBS Waiver box checked plus Supplement A (submit online, by mail to the MassHealth Enrollment Center, by fax to (617) 887-8799, or in person)