THE SHORT ANSWER

EISEP (the Expanded In-home Services for the Elderly Program) is a New York State program, run by each county's Office for the Aging, that pays for non-medical help at home for people 60 and older who aren't eligible for Medicaid. Case management is free. Hands-on help such as personal care, housekeeping and respite for family caregivers comes with a sliding fee. In 2026, a single person whose monthly income, after a housing allowance, is at or below $1,995 pays nothing for services ($2,705 for a couple). Above that, the fee rises in 5% steps and reaches the full cost when adjusted income is more than $1,330 over the threshold. [1][2]

Who qualifies[2][3]

To get EISEP, a person must:

  • Be at least 60 years old

  • Need help with at least one activity of daily living (like bathing or dressing) or two instrumental activities of daily living (like shopping or cooking)

  • Be able to stay safely at home

  • Not be eligible for the same services through Medicaid

EISEP is meant to add to the help family and friends already give, not replace it. [2]

What EISEP can pay for[2][3]

  • Case management for everyone enrolled: a case manager assesses needs, builds a care plan and links you to other help. Free.

  • In-home services: non-medical help with personal care and household chores.

  • Non-institutional respite: short-term relief for the main family caregiver.

  • Ancillary services: a flexible category of non-medical services, items and supports that help someone stay safely at home.

Some county offices also offer a consumer-directed option, where the older adult hires, trains and supervises their own worker (who can be a friend or relative) as long as they can manage that or name someone who can. [3][5]

How the 2026 cost share works[1]

The county figures it out with a state form. In plain steps:

  1. Add up monthly income. Social Security is counted after Medicare Part A and B premiums are taken out (Part D premiums are added back). Pensions, interest, dividends, net wages and other regular income count. A spouse's income counts too.

  2. Take off a housing allowance. Add rent or mortgage plus electricity, heating fuel, basic phone, water and sewer, property and school taxes, and costs like snow or garbage removal. Whatever is over $798 a month ($1,082 for a couple) comes off your income, up to a maximum of $798 ($1,082 for a couple).

  3. Subtract the income threshold: $1,995 a month for one person, $2,705 for a couple.

  4. What's left is your "adjusted income." It sets your fee rate from the table below, and it's also the most you can be charged in a month.

If your income is at or under the threshold before any of this, your fee rate is 0%.

2026 EISEP fee table (effective April 1, 2026)

Adjusted income, individual Adjusted income, couple You pay this share of service cost
$0 $0 0%
$1 to $70 $1 to $95 5%
$71 to $140 $96 to $190 10%
$141 to $210 $191 to $285 15%
$211 to $280 $286 to $380 20%
$281 to $350 $381 to $475 25%
$351 to $420 $476 to $569 30%
$421 to $490 $570 to $664 35%
$491 to $560 $665 to $759 40%
$561 to $630 $760 to $854 45%
$631 to $700 $855 to $949 50%
$701 to $770 $950 to $1,044 55%
$771 to $840 $1,045 to $1,139 60%
$841 to $910 $1,140 to $1,234 65%
$911 to $980 $1,235 to $1,329 70%
$981 to $1,050 $1,330 to $1,424 75%
$1,051 to $1,120 $1,425 to $1,519 80%
$1,121 to $1,190 $1,520 to $1,614 85%
$1,191 to $1,260 $1,615 to $1,708 90%
$1,261 to $1,330 $1,709 to $1,803 95%
More than $1,330 More than $1,803 100%

The table changes every April 1. Your county's case manager makes the official calculation.

Example (made-up numbers, for illustration only)

Mom lives alone. Her Social Security after Medicare premiums plus a small pension come to $2,500 a month. Her rent, electric, heat and phone total $1,000 a month.

  • Housing allowance: $1,000 minus $798 = $202 (under the $798 cap, so she gets all $202)

  • Income after housing: $2,500 minus $202 = $2,298

  • Adjusted income: $2,298 minus $1,995 = $303, which falls in the 25% row

  • If her care plan's services cost the agency $800 a month, her fee would be 25% of $800 = $200. That's under her $303 monthly maximum, so she'd pay $200.

Protections written into the client agreement[1]

  • Case management is free and isn't part of the fee.

  • You won't be charged for services you don't actually receive, or for services before your cost share was set.

  • If the county finds you overpaid, you're reimbursed in full.

  • You have the right to dispute the cost-share amount and may be able to request a hearing.

Two things to know: someone who chooses not to share financial information pays 100% of the cost, and willfully not paying the cost share ends services until the past-due amount is paid. [1]

If Medicaid might be an option[1]

Part of the EISEP intake is a quick Medicaid prescreen. For 2026 it uses $1,836 a month in income and $33,038 in resources for one person ($2,489 and $44,796 for a couple). If someone looks Medicaid-eligible, the county will point them to Medicaid, which covers far more home care. People who get SSI are already Medicaid-eligible and are sent to the local Department of Social Services. While a Medicaid application is pending, EISEP services can continue with a set monthly payment, which ends once Medicaid home care starts. See our income and asset limits page.

How to apply in Western New York

  • Erie County: call the Erie County Department for the Aging at 716-858-8526 (weekdays 8:30am to 4:30pm), email SeniorInfo@erie.gov, or visit 95 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202. Case management and information are free; home care and adult day care may have a cost share and are offered "as funding permits." [4][5]

  • Anywhere in New York: call NY Connects at 1-800-342-9871 and ask for your county's Office for the Aging. [2][3]

Funding is limited and there can be a wait, so call early.

Questions families ask

Is EISEP free?

Case management is always free. In-home help, respite and other services are free if your adjusted monthly income is at or below the threshold ($1,995 single / $2,705 couple in 2026), and you pay a share of the cost above that. [1]

What are the EISEP income limits for 2026?

There's no hard income cap. The 2026 threshold is $1,995 a month for one person and $2,705 for a couple; above it you pay a sliding share, up to the full cost once adjusted income is more than $1,330 (single) or $1,803 (couple). [1]

Can I get EISEP if I'm on Medicaid?

No. EISEP is for people who aren't eligible for the same services through Medicaid. [2][3]

Can a family member be paid through EISEP?

Some counties offer consumer-directed in-home services where the older adult hires their own worker, which can be a friend. Ask your county office whether it offers this. [3][5]

Who decides my fee?

Your county's case manager, using the state's financial form. You can dispute the amount. [1]

Keep exploring

More support. More life at home.

Explore Homeward by Cardinal for help coordinating everyday support and the next steps for aging at home.

Explore Homeward

Homeward is a separate paid service. Scope, availability, and pricing are confirmed before enrollment. It does not replace medical care. How Cardinal is paid.

Sources & dates

  1. NYS Office for the Aging, Program Instruction 26-PI-06, "2026 Financial Levels for EISEP and CSE Client Cost-Share and Potential Medicaid Eligibility Determination," effective April 1, 2026.: aging.ny.gov
  2. NYS Office for the Aging, "Expanded In-home Services for the Elderly (EISEP).": aging.ny.gov
  3. NYS Office for the Aging, "Expanded In-Home Services.": aging.ny.gov
  4. 211 WNY, "Expanded In-Home Services for the Elderly (EISEP) - Erie County.": www.211wny.org
  5. Erie County, "Consumer Directed In-Home Care.": www2.erie.gov
  6. Erie County Department for the Aging (name, phone and address checked Oct 31, 2026): www3.erie.gov

Last reviewed: October 2026. This page explains a public program; it isn't legal or financial advice.

Sources checked 2026-10; page published 2026-10-31. General education only, not legal or financial advice.