The CCSP Waitlist in Georgia:How It Works and What to Do

Yes, Georgia's CCSP often has a waitlist, and your loved one's place on it depends on how urgent their needs are, not only on when you called. CCSP is part of the Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program (EDWP). The program has a set budget, so it can only serve a limited number of people at a time.

The waitlist starts with one phone call to your local Area Agency on Aging. A short screening checks whether your loved one may qualify and how urgent their situation is. Georgia.gov says that urgency affects placement on the waiting list.

You cannot skip the line by calling more often. But you can make sure the screening reflects your loved one's real needs, keep your contact details current, and use other help while you wait. This guide explains each step.

The CCSP waitlist at a glance

• Who keeps it: your local Area Agency on Aging (AAA). In metro Atlanta, that is the Atlanta Regional Commission.
• How to get on it: call the statewide line at 866-552-4464 for a phone screening.
• What sets your place: the screening score for need and urgency, plus how long you have been waiting.
• Check-ins: people on the list are re-screened every four months.
• When a spot opens: a nurse or care coordinator visits the home and builds a care plan.
• While you wait: other Area Agency on Aging services may help, even before Medicaid waiver services start.

Who can get on the CCSP waitlist?

The waitlist is for people who appear to qualify for EDWP. That means a Georgian who is older or has a physical disability, who needs a nursing-home level of care, and who has or can get Medicaid. The phone screening is the first check.

The state's case management manual says applicants who appear eligible based on their screening scores are placed on a waiting list for an assessment. Being on the list is not a final approval. The full eligibility decision comes later, after the in-home assessment and the Medicaid review.

• Lives in Georgia and will receive care in the area where they are screened.
• Needs daily help that rises to a nursing-home level of care.
• Has Medicaid, or applies for it. People without full Medicaid apply through their county DFCS office or through Social Security, as the EDWP overview explains.
• Wants care at home or in the community instead of in a nursing home.

How does the CCSP waitlist work in Georgia?

The Georgia Division of Aging Services runs EDWP through the Area Agencies on Aging. Your local AAA is the front door for CCSP. Here is the path most families follow.

1. 1

   Call for a screening

   Call 866-552-4464. A staff member asks about your loved one's health, daily needs and living situation.

2. 2

   Get a screening score

   The answers produce a score called the DON-R (Determination of Need, Revised). It measures impairment and unmet need for care.

3. 3

   Join the waitlist

   If your loved one appears eligible and no spot is open, their name goes on the waitlist.

4. 4

   Re-screening

   The AAA re-screens people on the list every four months to check for changes.

5. 5

   Assessment and care plan

   When a spot opens, a nurse or care coordinator visits and builds a care plan with your loved one and their caregiver.

Why is there a waitlist at all?

EDWP is a budgeted program. The manual says cost and the number of people already enrolled affect the availability of funds. When funds are tight, new admissions slow down or stop until spots open.

How is a person's place on the waitlist decided?

It is not simply first come, first served. When spots are limited, the manual tells AAAs to refer the applicants with the highest DON-R scores and the most days on the waiting list for assessment first. So both need and time matter.

This is why the screening call is so important. The score reflects what you tell the screener. If you describe a good day, the score may not show how much help your loved one really needs.

Does anyone skip the waitlist?

The manual names two groups. People moving out of a nursing home through Georgia's Community Transitions or Money Follows the Person program are not placed on the waitlist when no admission limits are in place. People moving from SOURCE to traditional EDWP also go straight to an assessment.

Hospitals and Adult Protective Services can refer people to the AAA. But we found no state rule saying these referrals move someone ahead on the list. Ask the AAA how your loved one's situation is weighed.

What happens while my parent is on the waitlist?

The AAA re-screens people on the waitlist every four months. The manual says re-screening continues until the person is removed from the list. Each check-in is a chance to report new needs.

Keep your phone number and your loved one's address current with the AAA. The manual lets the AAA send a removal notice if it gets no response after a reasonable time. It should try to call first, but a missed call can still cost your place.

Should I call if things get worse?

Yes. You do not have to wait for the next re-screening. A fall, a hospital stay, a new diagnosis or a caregiver who can no longer help are all changes worth reporting. Ask the AAA whether the change calls for a new screening.

• Write down the date you were screened and who you spoke with.
• Keep a simple log of falls, hospital visits and new needs.
• Tell the AAA right away if your phone number or address changes.
• Ask the AAA about the Medicaid application if your loved one does not have full Medicaid yet.

What help can families get while waiting for CCSP?

The waitlist does not mean you are on your own. The manual says AAAs track people on the list who receive non-EDWP services. Ask the AAA what is available in your county.

• Home-delivered meals

  Meals brought to the home for people who cannot easily leave it.

• Caregiver support

  Caregiver education, support and respite programs through the AAA.

• Non-Medicaid home services

  State and federal home services for people who do not qualify for Medicaid.

• Options counseling

  Help comparing long-term care choices through the ADRC.

• Ombudsman and legal help

  The long-term care ombudsman and legal assistance programs.

• Medicare counseling

  Free Medicare help through Georgia's SHIP program.

The Division of Aging Services lists these programs and services. In metro Atlanta, the Atlanta Regional Commission runs Empowerline at 404-463-3333. Its services include delivered meals and respite vouchers for caregivers.

Some families also look at Medicare. Medicare can pay for short-term skilled home health care if your loved one qualifies, but not for long-term daily help. Our guide to Medicare home care in Georgia explains the difference.

Is SOURCE a way around the CCSP waitlist?

SOURCE is the other part of EDWP. It pairs home care with a primary care doctor and case management. Georgia.gov tells families to call the SOURCE provider for their county to apply.

We could not confirm from state sources whether SOURCE has its own waitlist. SOURCE also has its own rules, including the type of Medicaid your loved one has. Our CCSP vs SOURCE guide and SOURCE explainer cover who each path fits.

What happens when my parent's name comes up?

Georgia.gov says you will be contacted when your name reaches the top. A nurse or care coordinator then visits for an in-home assessment. They work with your loved one and their caregiver to build a care plan.

The care plan lists the services your loved one will receive, such as personal support, adult day health or home-delivered meals. Your loved one can choose the agencies that provide them. Read more in our CCSP guide and our EDWP explainer.

What if my loved one is turned down?

If the screening finds your loved one does not qualify, the AAA sends a written notice. The manual says applicants receive notices that explain their right to appeal. Read the notice closely and keep it. It tells you how to ask for a review.

How A1-GA Healthcare Agency helps

A1-GA Healthcare Agency is a Georgia DCH-approved Medicaid home care provider in Norcross. We have provided in-home care since 2008 and staffed caregivers since 2004. We deliver EDWP services across metro Atlanta, including personal support, respite and Structured Family Caregiving.

We cannot move anyone up the waitlist. What we can do is explain the steps, help you prepare for the screening call, and be ready to start care when a spot opens. If a relative lives with your loved one, we can also explain whether Structured Family Caregiving might fit once EDWP is in place.

• Call: 678-446-1832
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
• Email: [email protected]
• Check eligibility: Start the short eligibility form

See our EDWP services page for what we provide.