Jersey Assistance for Community Caregiving (JACC): Eligibility and Benefits
Jersey Assistance for Community Caregiving (JACC): Eligibility and Benefits
Your parent needs nursing-home-level care but earns too much for Medicaid. In most states, that leaves you with a choice between draining savings on private care or giving up. New Jersey's JACC program fills that gap — it provides state-funded home care services to seniors who are clinically eligible but financially over Medicaid's strict limits.
JACC is not a Medicaid program. It is funded entirely by New Jersey's General Fund and administered by county Area Agencies on Aging. That distinction matters because JACC has significantly higher income and asset limits, no 60-month look-back audit, and allows family members to be paid as caregivers.
JACC Eligibility Requirements
Clinical: Your parent must meet Nursing Facility Level of Care (NFLOC) — the same clinical standard as Medicaid MLTSS. This typically means needing hands-on assistance with at least three Activities of Daily Living. Your parent must live in a community dwelling, not a facility.
Financial (2026 limits):
- Income: up to $4,855 per month for individuals, $6,582 for couples (365% of the Federal Poverty Level)
- Assets: up to $40,000 for individuals, $60,000 for couples
- Primary home is automatically exempt — not factored into countable assets
Age: 60 and older (compared to 65+ for Medicaid MLTSS)
JACC vs. MLTSS: Key Differences
| Feature | JACC | Medicaid MLTSS |
|---|---|---|
| Income limit | $4,855/month | $2,982/month |
| Asset limit | $40,000 | $2,000 |
| Look-back audit | None | 60 months |
| Monthly service cap | $1,090 | No fixed cap |
| Paid family caregivers | Yes (PEP option) | Yes (PPP track only) |
| Funding source | NJ General Fund | Federal + state Medicaid |
The trade-off is clear: JACC is easier to qualify for but carries a hard monthly service cap of $1,090. MLTSS has no service cap but demands severe asset depletion and a five-year financial audit.
What JACC Covers
Within the $1,090 monthly cap, JACC funds:
- Personal care assistant services
- Home-delivered meals
- Home accessibility modifications
- Adult day care
- Care management (excluded from the cap)
Your county AAA care manager allocates the monthly budget based on your parent's assessed needs.
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Hiring Family Members as Caregivers
JACC allows your parent to hire a spouse, adult child, or other relative as a Participant-Employed Provider (PEP). The setup process:
- Your parent chooses the self-directed option through their county AAA
- The chosen caregiver completes the PEP enrollment forms, including IRS forms SS-4 and 2678
- Public Partnerships (PPL) handles payroll processing, tax withholding, and workers' compensation
- The caregiver submits timesheets and receives regular paychecks
The person being paid cannot also serve as the care manager or decision-maker for the program — a separate family member or the AAA care manager fills that role.
How to Apply
Contact the ADRC at 1-877-222-3737 or your county AAA directly. The AAA conducts the clinical screening and financial assessment. Processing is typically faster than Medicaid because there is no 60-month look-back audit or QIT requirement.
If your parent's income or assets later drop below Medicaid limits, they can transition from JACC to MLTSS for broader, uncapped services. The New Jersey Home Care Guide includes a side-by-side JACC vs. MLTSS comparison and a financial eligibility worksheet that helps you determine which program fits your parent's situation.
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