I’m trying to help a relative who’s about to move into a nursing home, and I’m kind of lost when it comes to how the payment process actually works. They’re retired and only have Social Security income—no savings, no long-term care insurance, and no other assets. Is it even possible to cover nursing home care with just Social Security? I’ve seen all kinds of conflicting advice online. Some say it’s doable, others say you need Medicaid. I’m trying to get a clearer picture—how does Social Security factor into all this? Can it cover the full cost or just part of it? Any insights would help a lot.

That lines up with what we’ve seen too. My dad’s Social Security went straight to the nursing home once Medicaid approved him. What surprised me was how quickly everything changed—once he ran out of savings, it all came down to eligibility rules and paperwork. One thing I wish we’d done earlier was talk to someone who handles Medicaid applications professionally. It’s not just about having low income; there are also rules about assets, timing, and even what counts as a “gift” if someone gave money to family recently.

You’re not alone in this—it’s actually a common situation, and the answer is a bit nuanced. Social Security can be part of how someone pays for a nursing home, but it’s almost never enough to cover the full cost. Nursing homes are expensive—some easily charge over $7,000 a month—while the average monthly Social Security benefit is usually below $2,000. What usually happens is that the Social Security check is applied toward the cost of care as part of something called the patient pay amount (PPA), and Medicaid covers the rest, assuming the person qualifies. This means that once Medicaid kicks in, the nursing home will take most of the Social Security payment, but the individual still gets to keep a small portion for personal expenses—this is known as a personal needs allowance. If your relative qualifies for Medicaid, Social Security helps, but it’s only one part of the puzzle. If you want a deeper breakdown of how this works and the steps involved, here’s the how to pay for nursing home care with social security full guide I used when we were in a similar situation with my aunt. It lays everything out in a way that’s actually readable and not full of legal jargon.