State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP)
Free, unbiased Medicare counseling in Maryland. Trained counselors go through your costs and choices with you, and they don't sell plans.
Income and Social Security
Maryland SSI supplement
Maryland's Public Assistance to Adults (PAA) helps pay for care for people who live in a licensed assisted living facility or a Certified Adult Residential Environment home, also called Project Home.
It pays the cost of care that your own income doesn't cover, plus a personal needs allowance, and people on PAA also get Medical Assistance. Maryland does not add a state payment to SSI for people living on their own.
How to apply in Maryland
- By phone
- 1-800-332-6347
Applying is free. Nobody should charge you to apply.
Apply on the official siteWho may qualify in Maryland
| Where you live | A licensed assisted living facility or a Certified Adult Residential Environment (Project Home) home |
|---|---|
| Income | The cost of your care must be more than your countable income |
| Social Security | You must apply for Social Security benefits |
What you may get
| Monthly supplement, one person living on their own | None for people living on their own |
|---|---|
| What PAA pays in assisted living or Project Home | The cost of care your income doesn't cover, plus a personal needs allowance |
How Maryland is different
Where Maryland's rules differ from the federal rules for State SSI supplements.
- Paid separately by the state; apply with the Maryland Department of Human Services
Good to know
- People in Maryland Department of Health rehabilitative residences get only the personal needs allowance.
- PAA counts one person at a time; married couples are not paid as a couple.
Free help
Free help with this in Maryland
Maryland Department of Aging (MDOA)
Your local Area Agency on Aging can help with meals, rides, help at home, caregiver support and applying for benefits.
More help in Maryland
State SSI supplement in another state
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
Sources
- Maryland Department of Human Services, Public Assistance to Adults (PAA) (official government site). Checked Oct 28, 2026.
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