Georgia's Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP) is one of the most important — and most under-utilised — benefits available to seniors and disabled adults in the state. It pays for professional home care services that allow individuals to remain safely in their own home rather than entering a nursing facility, and it does so subject to authorization and any assessed client cost share.
Yet thousands of eligible Georgia families never apply. Some have never heard of it. Others assume their income is too high, or that the process is too complicated. This guide explains exactly what the EDWP is, the precise eligibility criteria, what services it covers, and the step-by-step application process for families in Gwinnett County and across Georgia.
H.E.L.P. Home Care is an enrolled Georgia Medicaid EDWP provider
We guide Lawrenceville, Norcross, Duluth, and Gwinnett County families through the entire EDWP application at no charge. Medicaid may cover authorized services; an assessed client cost share may apply. Call 404-631-6222 to find out if your loved one qualifies.
What Is the Georgia EDWP?
The Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program is a federally approved Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver. "Waiver" means Georgia has received permission from the federal government to waive certain standard Medicaid rules — specifically, the requirement that services be delivered in an institutional setting like a nursing home — in order to fund the same level of care at home.
The EDWP is funded jointly by the federal government and the State of Georgia, administered by the Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) in partnership with the Division of Aging Services (DAS). Day-to-day coordination for Gwinnett County residents flows through the Atlanta Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging (ARC AAA).
The programme has a defined number of slots — it is not an open entitlement. When all slots are filled, a waitlist operates. This is why applying early is critical, even if care is not yet urgently needed.
Official Resource
Georgia Department of Community Health — Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP)
Georgia Gateway (Medicaid Applications): https://gateway.ga.gov
EDWP Waiver Georgia Eligibility — Full Criteria
To qualify for the EDWP, an individual must meet all three of the following eligibility categories: categorical eligibility, functional eligibility, and financial eligibility. Failing any one category results in denial — but H.E.L.P. Home Care can advise on planning strategies to address financial eligibility in many cases.
| Eligibility Category | Requirement |
|---|---|
Age / Disability | Age 65 or older — OR — age 18 to 64 with a qualifying physical disability meeting the state definition of "elderly or disabled" |
Georgia Residency | Must be a Georgia resident; U.S. citizen or qualified non-citizen immigrant meeting federal Medicaid standards |
Medicaid Enrollment | Must be enrolled in or found eligible for Georgia Medicaid (Georgia Medicaid) |
Functional Level of Care | Must be assessed as requiring nursing-facility level of care — significant deficits in ADLs such as bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, or eating |
Income Limit | Monthly income must not exceed 300% of federal SSI rate — approximately $2,982/month for an individual in 2026 |
Asset Limit | Countable assets must not exceed $2,000 for an individual ($3,000 for a couple). Primary home, one vehicle, and personal belongings generally excluded |
Safe Home Setting | State assessor must determine that health and safety needs can be met in a home or community setting |
What if income or assets are slightly above the limit?
Georgia offers a Qualified Income Trust (QIT, also called a "Miller Trust") that allows individuals with income above the standard limit to still qualify for Medicaid LTSS in many cases. Asset spend-down strategies may also apply. Call H.E.L.P. Home Care at 404-631-6222 and we can refer you to a Medicaid planning specialist.
What Services Does the EDWP Cover?
The services authorised under an EDWP care plan are determined by the individual's needs assessment. Not every service is available to every client — your care plan specifies which services and how many hours are authorised each month.
Personal Care Assistance
Bathing, dressing, grooming, toileting, oral hygiene, and mobility support
Skilled Nursing Visits
Periodic RN visits for medication management and clinical monitoring
Homemaker Services
Meal preparation, light housekeeping, laundry, errands, and grocery shopping
Home Modifications
Grab bars, ramp installation, and safety modifications to the home
Adult Day Health
Structured daytime programming in a licensed adult day facility
Assistive Technology
Personal emergency response systems and adaptive equipment
Respite Care
Temporary relief for family caregivers — in-home or short-term facility-based
Companion Services
Supervision, socialization, and non-medical support for at-risk individuals
Coverage and client contributions. Medicaid may fund authorized EDWP services. A participant cost share can apply based on the state’s assessment. Confirm the contribution and authorized hours with the case manager before services begin.
For services covered under the EDWP care plan, the client may have an assessed cost share. H.E.L.P. Home Care bills Georgia Medicaid directly. Confirm any assessed client contribution with the case manager.
How to Apply for EDWP — Step by Step
The application process involves three agencies and several steps. H.E.L.P. Home Care coordinates the majority of this process on behalf of Gwinnett County families at no charge.
1
Confirm Georgia Medicaid eligibility
If already receiving SSI, the individual is automatically enrolled in Georgia Medicaid — skip to Step 2. Otherwise, apply through the Georgia Gateway portal (gateway.ga.gov) or call Georgia DFCS at 1-877-423-4746. Income and asset documentation required.
2
Request an EDWP referral through the Area Agency on Aging
For Gwinnett County residents, contact the Atlanta Regional Commission Area Agency on Aging (ARC AAA) at 404-463-3333. H.E.L.P. Home Care can initiate this referral on your behalf — we do this routinely for Gwinnett County families.
3
Complete the in-home needs assessment
A state-contracted assessor visits the home to evaluate Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), cognitive status, medical needs, and home environment. This determines functional eligibility and the care plan. Be detailed and accurate — describe the individual's worst days, not their best.
4
Receive EDWP approval and care plan authorisation
If approved and a waiver slot is available, the state issues a care plan authorising specific services and hours per month. If the waitlist applies, placement is based on level of need. H.E.L.P. Home Care monitors waitlist status and follows up with the state on your behalf.
5
Select H.E.L.P. Home Care as your enrolled provider
You have the right to choose your Medicaid home care provider. Selecting H.E.L.P. Home Care means working with a Gwinnett County-based EDWP specialist who handles all scheduling, caregiver placement, billing, and ongoing care coordination.
Apply before the crisis hits — EDWP has a waitlist
The EDWP waitlist is real and can extend for months. The state prioritises by level of need, but individuals already on the waitlist are served before new applicants at the same need level. Starting the application process now protects your place in line when care becomes urgent.
EDWP vs. Standard Medicaid Home Health — Key Difference
Standard Georgia Medicaid covers limited home health services — primarily skilled nursing and therapy — for short-term, medically necessary needs. The EDWP, by contrast, covers the ongoing personal care and homemaker services that seniors need for day-to-day functioning, with no time limit on duration as long as the individual continues to qualify. For most families seeking long-term home care assistance, EDWP is the correct programme — not standard Medicaid home health.
404-631-6222
Free EDWP eligibility consultation — no obligation
H.E.L.P. Home Care guides Gwinnett County families through the entire EDWP application at no charge. Medicaid may cover authorized services; an assessed client cost share may apply.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Georgia EDWP waiver?
Georgia's Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP) is a Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services waiver that pays for home care services — including personal care, homemaker services, and adult day programs — for seniors and disabled adults who meet nursing-facility level of care but choose to remain at home.
Who qualifies for the Georgia EDWP waiver?
To qualify, an individual must be age 65+ (or 18–64 with a qualifying disability), enrolled in Georgia Medicaid, assessed as needing nursing-facility level of care, within the income limit (~$2,982/month for an individual in 2026), and within the asset limit ($2,000 individual). All three criteria — categorical, functional, and financial — must be met.
Is there a waitlist for the Georgia EDWP?
Yes. EDWP operates with a limited number of waiver slots and maintains a waitlist when slots are full. Priority is given to individuals with the highest level of care needs. Applying as early as possible is strongly recommended.
What services does the Georgia EDWP cover?
EDWP covers personal care assistance, homemaker services, adult day health, respite care, skilled nursing visits, assistive technology, home modifications, and companion services. Specific services are determined by the individual's authorised care plan.
How do I apply for the Georgia EDWP waiver?
Confirm Medicaid eligibility, then contact the ARC AAA at 404-463-3333 to request an EDWP referral. Complete the in-home needs assessment, receive care plan authorisation, and select H.E.L.P. Home Care as your provider. We guide every step at no charge — call 404-631-6222.
How long does EDWP approval take in Georgia?
The process from initial referral to service start typically takes several weeks, depending on Medicaid status, waitlist position, and assessor availability. H.E.L.P. Home Care coordinates actively with the state to move the process as efficiently as possible.
Official Georgia resources
Confirm current eligibility, authorized services, and any client contribution with the state or your case manager.
