Assisted Living
Memory Care
Independent Living
Senior Living
Sign in

Does Social Security Pay for In-Home Care?

4 minute readLast updated March 28, 2025
Written by Leah Hallstrom
fact checkedby
Tori Newhouse
Reviewed by Denise Lettau, J.D., wealth management specialistAttorney Denise Lettau has over 15 years of experience in the wealth management industry.
More info

Yes, Social Security benefits can be used to pay for home care and home health services. Social Security retirement, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments are all made directly to the recipient and can be used as they see fit. The current average monthly Social Security retirement benefit is $1,979 per month. Many people combine their Social Security benefits with other resources to pay for home care. This may include long-term care insurance, personal savings, pension income, or veterans benefits.

Can you afford home care?

Let our free assessment guide you to the best senior living options, tailored to your budget.

Take our free care quiz

Key Takeaways

  1. Social Security benefits can be used to pay for home care services, including personal care, light housekeeping, meal preparation, and home health care.
  2. Social Security benefits likely won’t cover the full cost of in-home care but can be combined with other resources to cover the cost of these services.
  3. There are different types of Social Security programs, including retirement benefits, Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
  4. The average monthly Social Security benefits range from $590 to $1,979 per month depending on the type of benefit, an individual’s eligibility, and work history.

Using Social Security retirement benefits for home care

Social Security retirement benefits are provided to people and their spouses who are at least 62 years of age and who have worked and paid into the Social Security system long enough to qualify. The total monthly Social Security retirement benefit depends on how much the person paid into Social Security during their career.

Because the Social Security Administration makes benefit payments directly to the recipient, they won’t pay a caregiver directly, but seniors can use their benefits to pay for home care and home health services.

Monthly Social Security retirement benefits aren’t usually enough to cover the full cost of in-home care services. The median cost of a home care professional is $30 per hour, and full-time home care (40 hours per week) costs about $5,200 per month.[01] In 2025, the average monthly Social Security retirement payment is about $1,979.[02]

Can you afford home care?

Let our free assessment guide you to the best senior living options, tailored to your budget.

Using Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) for home care

As with Social Security retirement benefits, SSDI benefit payments can be used for anything the recipient needs. SSDI is for people who are no longer able to work because of a disability that’s expected to last longer than one year or result in death.

Adults who have a qualifying work disability but aren’t yet qualified for retirement benefits may also be eligible to receive SSDI benefits. To qualify, an individual must have a permanent or long-term disability that prohibits them from returning to work or adjusting to a new job. Once someone who is receiving SSDI benefits reaches full retirement age, their monthly payment is converted to the Social Security retirement benefit.[03]

Monthly SSDI payment amounts depend on how much a person earned when they were working. In 2025, the average monthly benefit is about $1,581.[02]

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and home care

The SSI program was created for people with low incomes who are disabled or who are 65 or older. There is no work history requirement to receive SSI benefits. In 2025, the average monthly SSI payment is $590 for someone 65 or older.[02]

Expert advice for affordable home care

Tell us your care needs to receive options tailored to your budget.

Other ways to pay for home care

In addition to Social Security benefits, families commonly use different types of insurance and personal assets to help pay for the cost of in-home care. For example:

Finding care options for a senior loved one

If you’re ready to explore hiring an in-home caregiver for an aging parent, A Place for Mom can help. At no cost to you, our Senior Living Advisors will work to understand your loved one’s needs and connect you with local home care providers. Reviewing the benefits of home care may be helpful if you’re still unsure if home care is the right fit for your loved one. Our advisors can also help you explore other senior care options, like assisted livingmemory care, and independent living.

Families also ask

Yes, because Social Security benefits are paid directly to the recipient, they can use them as they see fit. It’s a good idea to document this arrangement using a formal care contract.

Yes,  many people qualify for Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security. Because these benefits are paid directly to the recipient, they can choose to spend the money on home care or anything else they need.

SHARE THE ARTICLE

  1. A Place for Mom. (2025). Cost of long-term care and senior living.

  2. Social Security Administration. (2025, February). Monthly statistical snapshot, January 2025.

  3. Social Security Administration. (2024).Frequently asked questions.

Written by
Leah Hallstrom
Leah Hallstrom is a former copywriter and editor at A Place for Mom, where she crafted articles on senior living topics like home health, memory care, and hospice services. Previously, she worked as a communications professional in academia. Leah holds bachelor’s degrees in communication studies and psychology from the University of Kansas.
Read more
Edited by
Tori Newhouse
Tori Newhouse is a Manager of Content Strategy at A Place for Mom. She has more than 15 years' experience in publishing and creating content. With a background in financial services and elder law, her passion is to help readers to plan ahead and plan for their ideal retirement. She holds a bachelor's degree in English from Gordon College.
Read more
Attorney Denise Lettau has over 15 years of experience in the wealth management industry.
Read more
Learn more about our Editorial Guidelines

The information contained on this page is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute medical, legal or financial advice or create a professional relationship between A Place for Mom and the reader. Always seek the advice of your health care provider, attorney or financial advisor with respect to any particular matter, and do not act or refrain from acting on the basis of anything you have read on this site. Links to third-party websites are only for the convenience of the reader; A Place for Mom does not endorse the contents of the third-party sites.

Find home care that fits your needs and budget