Long-Term Services and Supports
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The Basics
People who get long-term services and supports in the community instead of in a nursing home are usually happier. That’s why the state of New Jersey has programs that help people with disabilities who have low income live and work in the community.
If you live in a nursing home or other facility and are thinking about living in your own place in the community, the I Choose Home NJ program can help you find services to make your move a success.
Some of those services are through the Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) program, which is for people who need long-term care. MLTSS is part of Medicaid and coordinated by Managed Care Organizations (MCOs). The goal of MLTSS is to help you live as independently as possible.
The services MLTSS offers include:
- Personal care
- Respite care
- Care management
- Home and vehicle modifications
- Home delivered meals
- Personal emergency response systems
- Mental health and addiction services
- Assisted living
- Community residential services
- Nursing home care
Other programs help people with disabilities who want to work. Medicaid's New Jersey WorkAbility program lets you earn money while getting Medicaid benefits. the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) helps with things like job training, job searches, interview practice, and finding reasonable accommodations.
For help with living in the community, contact your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) office or call 1-877-222-3737.
For job counseling and career guidance, New Jersey Career Services offers help online and in person, and Job Source explains how to get started.
Learn more
What Benefits Do I Get?
How to see which Social Security benefits you get.
How Health Benefits Work
Learn about the different ways you may be able to get health coverage.
Benefits and Work Estimator
Got a work plan? See how it would help your situation.
Long-Term Services and Supports
- The Basics
- Community Living
- Support for Working
- Example
- FAQs
- Pitfalls
- Next Steps
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Community Living
If you live in a nursing home or other facility, but want to live in your own place in the community instead, the I Choose Home NJ program can help. It can help you move to your own place, while making sure that you still have the level of care you need.
How to Get Started
Ask a social worker in your facility to help you explore options for returning to the community. You can also call I Choose Home NJ at 1-855-466-3005 (1-855-HOME-005) to talk about living in the community.
Who Qualifies?
To qualify for I Choose Home NJ, you must:
- Live in a nursing home or developmental center and want to move into the community
- Have lived in the nursing home or developmental center for at least 90 days, and
- Qualify for Medicaid for at least one day before leaving the facility.
What Help Can You Get?
The specific services you get depend on your situation. They could include home health aides, adult day care, transportation, and meal delivery. You get help identifying what services you need.
Learn more about I Choose Home NJ.
Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS)
Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) is a New Jersey program that can help you get your long-term care needs met through a Managed Care Organization (MCO).
MLTSS can help with services in a nursing home, but it can also help with long-term care services in your own place in the community. These services can help you live independently. Your MCO sets you up with a care manager who helps you figure out what services you need and how you can get them.
If MLTSS is helping you with services in a nursing home now, the MLTSS services will “follow you” if you move into the community. You won’t lose your MLTSS benefits when you move.
MLTSS helps many people with disabilities who live in the community.
Applying for MLTSS
MLTSS benefits are for people who have Medicaid health coverage:
- If you already have Medicaid, you can start the MLTSS application process by calling the member services department of your MCO or by contacting your local county social services agency or Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) office.
- If you don’t have Medicaid coverage, you need to apply for Medicaid first, before you can apply for MLTSS. Learn more about applying for Medicaid.
Learn more about Medicaid in DB101’s How Health Benefits Work article.
Who Can Get MLTSS?
To get MLTSS, you must:
- Live in New Jersey
- Be a U.S. citizen or qualified alien
- Have a disability, be blind, or be 65 years old or older
- Have resources at or below $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples
- Have gross income of $2,901 per month or less in 2025. If your income is higher, you may still qualify for MLTSS if you have a Qualified Income Trust (QIT). Learn more about QITs.
-
Be qualified to enter a nursing home based on a physical and cognitive assessment given by the New Jersey Office of Community Choice Options (OCCO). OCCO looks at:
- Physical needs, like help with bathing, dressing, eating, walking, or transferring from a wheelchair to a bed or shower, or chronic conditions that require nursing services
- Cognitive abilities, like memory deficits, difficulty with decision-making, or difficulty with activities like knowing how to get dressed
Note: You must have an impairment that impacts your ability to be independent in the community and qualifies you to enter a nursing home. You do not have to live in a nursing home.
Veterans in New Jersey may get medical benefits through the VA New Jersey Health Care System (VANJHCS), which offers community-based home care and adult day health care. For more information, call 1-973-676-1000.
Learn more
What Benefits Do I Get?
How to see which Social Security benefits you get.
How Health Benefits Work
Learn about the different ways you may be able to get health coverage.
Benefits and Work Estimator
Got a work plan? See how it would help your situation.
Long-Term Services and Supports
- The Basics
- Community Living
- Support for Working
- Example
- FAQs
- Pitfalls
- Next Steps
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Support for Working
Working in the community is an option for people with disabilities and good supports and services can help make work a reality. Yet many people with disabilities think that they aren’t qualified to work and worry that if they work, they won’t get the support they need to succeed and will lose their health benefits, including long-term services and supports.
Work and Keep Your Benefits
Medicaid's New Jersey WorkAbility program lets you keep your Medicaid benefits while working. The income limit for NJ WorkAbility is much higher than for standard Medicaid, so you can work, earn more, have more resources, and still qualify for Medicaid health coverage.
To qualify for NJ WorkAbility, you must:
- Be 16 years old or older
- Live in New Jersey
- Be a U.S. citizen or a qualified immigrant
- Be working
-
Have a disability that meets Social Security’s medical standards.
- Note: For NJ WorkAbility, SSA’s disability rules related to income do not apply.
Note: NJ WorkAbility used to have an income limit and a resource limit. The rules have changed and since February 1, 2024, there are no more limits!
If your countable income is less than 250% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines ($3,260 per month), there is no monthly premium for NJ WorkAbility coverage. If your income is higher, there's a monthly premium based on how much income you have. Get more information about the premium.
Learn more about NJ WorkAbility in DB101’s How Health Benefits Work article.
Getting Back Into the Workforce
Services and supports can help people with disabilities work and earn money. The New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) helps people with:
- Vocational counseling and training
- Job search, application, and interviewing skills
- On-the-job coaching
- Keeping a job
- Job accommodations
- Medical or psychological testing
- Assistive technology evaluations
- Equipment or therapies to improve physical or cognitive functioning
- Individual, group, or other types of mental health counseling
- Home and vehicle modifications for employment-related purposes
- Financial needs assessments
Most of these services are free or the cost is based on how much you can afford. Any person who has a disability that is a substantial barrier to employment may qualify for DVRS services.
For career counseling and guidance, One Stop Career Centers offer career planning, career training, and job development, as well as workshops, help looking for work, and job referrals. Career Services lists tips and resources, and Job Source explains how to get started.
New Jersey Career Services offers services for veterans, including priority for all job and training opportunities. Veterans seeking work in local, state, or federal government may receive “veterans preference” when they apply. And veterans with a 30% or service-connected disability may qualify for the Federal Schedule A Hiring program.
Learn more
What Benefits Do I Get?
How to see which Social Security benefits you get.
How Health Benefits Work
Learn about the different ways you may be able to get health coverage.
Benefits and Work Estimator
Got a work plan? See how it would help your situation.
Long-Term Services and Supports
Try It
Example
Valerie’s Story
Valerie was diagnosed with severe rheumatoid arthritis at the age of 23. Within a year, she lost the ability to walk, and shortly after that, Valerie entered a nursing home. A nursing home can be a difficult place for a young person. While Valerie got excellent care and made friends with the nurses and social workers there, she felt limited by her environment and didn’t get to see her friends and family much. Valerie couldn’t eat what she wanted unless she ordered food from the outside and she had to wake up early every morning for her medications.
I Choose Home NJ
After three years in a nursing home, Valerie learned about the I Choose Home NJ program. It could help her move into her own place in the community! She was very excited about giving it a try.
Valerie met with Barbara, a social worker from the I Choose Home NJ program, to figure out what supports and services could help her live in the community. After they figured out what Valerie needed, Barbara made sure that those services would be up-and-running the minute Valerie was in her new place.
Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS)
Valerie now is happy in her new place. She has medical benefits through Medicaid and qualifies for the Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) program. Valerie has a care manager who helps make sure she has the services and supports she needs to remain independent and healthy.
Valerie has an all-day aide who helps her with daily activities, like dressing, bathing, cooking, and cleaning. Valerie also has a doctor and nurse, who visit her on a regular basis. Valerie gets help with transportation to and from her rheumatologist, who is the only doctor she must travel to see. Valerie uses a wheelchair, and her care manager arranged to have a ramp installed leading up to the front door of her apartment. More importantly, Valerie sees her friends and family more often, and that makes her happier.
New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS)
Now that she is settled in her own home, Valerie is thinking about getting a job. Work would give her more income, a renewed sense of purpose, and the ability to meet new people and make new friends. Valerie plans to get services from the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS), such as vocational counseling, training, and help finding and applying for jobs.
Valerie’s life has changed a lot since she decided to move out of the nursing home. Instead of limitations, Valerie sees her life as full of possibilities and potential.
Learn more
What Benefits Do I Get?
How to see which Social Security benefits you get.
How Health Benefits Work
Learn about the different ways you may be able to get health coverage.
Benefits and Work Estimator
Got a work plan? See how it would help your situation.
Long-Term Services and Supports
Try It
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS)?

Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) is a Medicaid program that offers comprehensive services for qualified individuals with disabilities. MLTSS is coordinated through Managed Care Organizations (MCOs). The goal of MLTSS is to help you live as independently as possible. The types of services MLTSS offers include:
- Personal care
- Respite care
- Care management
- Home and vehicle modifications
- Home delivered meals
- Personal emergency response systems
- Mental health and addiction services
- Assisted living
- Community residential services
- Nursing home care
How do I apply for Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS)?

Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) benefits are for people who have Medicaid health coverage:
- If you already have Medicaid, you can start the MLTSS application process by calling the member services department of your Managed Care Organization (MCO) or by contacting your local county social services agency or Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) office.
- If you don’t have Medicaid coverage, you need to apply for Medicaid first, before you can apply for MLTSS. Learn more about applying for Medicaid.
Learn more about Medicaid in DB101’s How Health Benefits Work article.
Who can get Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) benefits?

To get Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) benefits, you must:
- Live in New Jersey
- Be a U.S. citizen or qualified alien
- Have a disability, be blind, or be 65 years old or older
-
Be qualified to enter a nursing home based on a physical and cognitive assessment given by the New Jersey Office of Community Choice Options (OCCO)
- Note: You must have an impairment that impacts your ability to be independent in the community and qualifies you to enter a nursing home. This does not mean you have to live in a nursing home.
- Have resources at or below $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples
- Have gross income of $2,901 per month or less in 2025. If your income is higher, you may still qualify for MLTSS if you have a Qualified Income Trust (QIT). Learn more about QITs.
If you have any questions about MLTSS, call your local county social services agency office.
Who can help me move from a nursing home to my own place?

If you live in a nursing home, but want to live in the community instead, the I Choose Home NJ program can help you make that move without losing your Medicaid benefits or the care you need.
The services you might get depend on your situation and can include home health aides, adult day care, transportation, and meal delivery. You may get help identifying your exact needs and the services you can expect.
How do I apply for I Choose Home NJ?

Tell a social worker in your facility that you’d like to explore options for living in your own place in the community. You can also call I Choose Home NJ at 1-855-466-3005 (1-855-HOME-005).
To qualify for I Choose Home NJ, you must:
- Live in a nursing home or developmental center and want to move into the community
- Have lived in the nursing home or developmental center for at least 90 days
- Qualify for Medicaid for at least one day before leaving the facility
Will I lose my Medicaid benefits if I work and make more money?

Many people with disabilities worry that they will lose their Medicaid benefits if they work and earn more money. Medicaid's New Jersey WorkAbility program has a higher income limit, so you may be able to keep your Medicaid benefits while working.
To qualify for NJ WorkAbility, you must:
- Be 16 years old or older
- Live in New Jersey
- Be a U.S. citizen or a qualified immigrant
- Be working
-
Have a disability that meets Social Security’s medical standards.
- Note: For NJ WorkAbility, SSA’s disability rules related to income do not apply.
Note: NJ WorkAbility used to have an income limit and a resource limit. The rules have changed and since February 1, 2024, there are no more limits!
If your countable income is less than 250% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines ($3,260 per month), there is no monthly premium for NJ WorkAbility coverage. If your income is higher, there's a monthly premium based on how much income you have. Get more information about the premium.
Learn more about NJ WorkAbility in DB101’s How Health Benefits Work article.
Are there other long-term services and supports options for veterans?

Veterans in New Jersey may get long-term services and supports through the VA New Jersey Health Care System (VANJHCS), including community-based home care, both skilled and unskilled, and adult day health care. For more information, call the VANJHCS at 1-973-676-1000.
Where can I get help finding and getting a job?

The New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) offers services and supports to people with disabilities, including:
- Vocational counseling and training
- Job search, application, and interviewing skills
- On-the-job coaching
- How to keep a job
- Job accommodations
- Medical or psychological testing
- Assistive technology evaluations
- Equipment or therapies to improve physical or cognitive functioning
- Individual, group, or other types of mental health counseling
- Home and vehicle modifications for employment-related purposes
- Financial needs assessments
For career counseling and guidance, One Stop Career Centers offer career planning, career training, and job development, Career Services lists tips and resources, and Job Source explains how to get started.
I am a veteran. Where can I go to get help finding a job?

New Jersey Career Services offers special veteran services, including first priority for all job and training opportunities, for qualified veterans. Veterans seeking work in local, state, or federal government may receive “veterans preference” when applying, and veterans with a 30% or service-connected disability may qualify to participate in Schedule A hiring events.
Learn more
What Benefits Do I Get?
How to see which Social Security benefits you get.
How Health Benefits Work
Learn about the different ways you may be able to get health coverage.
Benefits and Work Estimator
Got a work plan? See how it would help your situation.
Long-Term Services and Supports
Try It
Common Pitfalls
Thinking your disability means you cannot live in the community
Many people with disabilities live in their own places in the community with proper supports and services. If you are worried about living in the community and qualify for Medicaid, you may get Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) and a care manager as part of your benefits. Your care manager can help you figure out what services and supports you need and make sure you get those services in your home.
If you are currently in a nursing home, the I Choose Home NJ program can help you move into the community without losing your Medicaid benefits and the care you need.
Not knowing who helps pay for long-term care
The Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) program pays for covered long-term care expenses for people enrolled in Medicaid and a Managed Care Organization (MCO), and who qualify for MLTSS services.
If you a veteran, you have access to long-term services and supports through programs offered by the VA New Jersey Health Care System (VANJHCS).
Thinking you’ll lose your benefits if you move out of a long-term care facility
If you are in a long-term care facility and get Medicaid benefits, your benefits will “follow you” if you move into the community. You will still get your benefits and you will also get help figuring out what services and supports you will need to successfully make that move.
If you are a veteran and you get medical benefits through the VA New Jersey Health Care System (VANJHCS), you qualify for programs that provide community-based home care and adult day health care.
If you have any questions about how you can get the services you need after moving out of a long-term care facility, talk to your care manager or to the social worker at your facility.
Thinking there are no resources that can help you find and keep a job
Finding a job can be hard, especially if you are trying to do it by yourself. Fortunately, there are excellent resources that can help you find a job that’s right for you and give you resources and coaching to help you keep your job.
The New Jersey Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) is an excellent place to start. DVRS can help you with your job search and with the application and interview process. DVRS also provides on-the-job coaching and help with reasonable accommodations, assistive technology, and much more.
New Jersey Career Services offers a job board, advice and information about how to plan and prepare for a job search, and other support. If you are a veteran looking to reenter the workforce, Career Services offers special services specifically for veterans, including first priority for job and training opportunities.
Learn more
What Benefits Do I Get?
How to see which Social Security benefits you get.
How Health Benefits Work
Learn about the different ways you may be able to get health coverage.
Benefits and Work Estimator
Got a work plan? See how it would help your situation.
Long-Term Services and Supports
Try It
Next Steps
Learn More about Managed Long-Term Services and Supports
- Visit the New Jersey Managed Long-Term Services and Supports (MLTSS) website.
- Visit or call your local county social services agency.
- Visit or call your local Aging and Disability Resource Connection (ADRC) office for help or to learn about your options.
Apply for Long-Term Services and Supports
You can apply for Managed Long-Term Services and Supports:
- Through your Managed Care Organization (MCO). Contact the member services department to get the process started. If you do not have an MCO and need help choosing one, call Medicaid at 1-866-472-5338 or 1-800-701-0720 (TTY).
- Visit or call your local county social services agency.
- If you are a veteran, contact the VA New Jersey Health Care System (VANJHCS) at 1-973-676-1000 for community-based home care and adult day health care.
Learn More About Programs That Can Help You Move into the Community
- Visit I Choose Home NJ for information about how the program helps residents in nursing homes and developmental centers move back into the community, the types of services available, and eligibility requirements.
- Call I Choose Home NJ at 1-855-466-3005 or 1-855-HOME-005 or send an online message.
Learn More About Programs That Can Help You Get Back to Work
- To find out how a job could affect your income and health benefits, DB101’s Benefits and Work Estimator.
- Learn more about Medicaid's NJ WorkAbility program, which lets you keep your Medicaid benefits while working.
- Visit the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Services (DVRS) to learn more about the services offered there to help you find job opportunities, get a job, and get back to work.
- Call or visit your local DVRS field office.
- Call the Division of Disability Services (DDS) at 1-888-285-3036 if you have questions about the NJCTEP.
Get Expert Help
For help with living in the community, contact your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA) office or call 1-877-222-3737.
For job counseling and career guidance, visit New Jersey Career Services.
Benefits Planning Services
If you're currently on SSI, SSDI, or CDB benefits, and you're looking for a job, a trained Benefits Planner can help you avoid problems with your job plan. If you need help or have questions about your situation, you can call the Ticket to Work Help Line at 1-866-968-7842 or 1-866-833-2967 (TTY) Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. EST.
View DB101's full list of experts who can help you understand different benefits.
Learn more
What Benefits Do I Get?
How to see which Social Security benefits you get.
How Health Benefits Work
Learn about the different ways you may be able to get health coverage.
Benefits and Work Estimator
Got a work plan? See how it would help your situation.