What Is EDWP?Georgia's Elderly & Disabled Waiver Explained

EDWP is Georgia's Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program. It is a Medicaid program that pays for care at home instead of in a nursing home. It serves Georgians who are older or have a physical disability and need nursing-home-level help. The Georgia Department of Community Health (DCH) runs it. Your local Area Agency on Aging is the front door.

If you have heard the names CCSP or SOURCE, you have already heard of EDWP. Both are part of the same program. This guide explains what EDWP covers, who qualifies, how to apply, and what changed in 2026.

EDWP at a glance

• Full name: Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program
• Type: Georgia Medicaid home and community-based services (HCBS) waiver
• Run by: Georgia Department of Community Health, through Georgia's 12 Area Agencies on Aging
• Who it serves: older adults, and adults 21 and over with physical limitations, who need a nursing-home level of care
• Where care happens: at home or in an approved community setting
• How to start: call 866-552-4464, Georgia's statewide Area Agency on Aging line
• Waitlist: often, yes

What does EDWP stand for, and why do people also say CCSP and SOURCE?

EDWP stands for the Elderly and Disabled Waiver Program. Georgia families run into three names for it. That causes real confusion, so here is a simple key.

The A1 Name Decoder

• EDWP is the umbrella. It is the Medicaid waiver itself.
• CCSP (Community Care Services Program) is the program's older name. It also still names one of the two ways EDWP services are delivered.
• SOURCE (Service Options Using Resources in a Community Environment) is the other way services are delivered. It links care at home with primary medical care.

Georgia's own documents reflect this history. The state DFCS Medicaid policy manual says EDWP was formerly known as CCSP. The DCH fact sheet says CCSP and SOURCE are both part of EDWP. Both statements are true.

CCSP vs. SOURCE: what is the difference?

You do not have to choose a path yourself. Your loved one's Medicaid and medical situation decides which one fits.

What services does EDWP cover?

EDWP pays for help that keeps a person safe at home. A care coordinator builds a care plan around your loved one's needs. Covered services include:

• Personal support

  Help with bathing, dressing, meals, and moving around the home

• Adult day health

  Daytime care in a center, with nursing, therapy, planned activities, and meals

• Alternative living services

  A supervised residence with meals and personal care, for people who cannot stay in their own home

• Home-delivered meals

  Meals prepared outside the home and brought to the door

• Emergency response services

  A way to call for help at any hour

• Respite care

  Breaks for family caregivers, including out-of-home overnight respite

• Structured Family Caregiving (SFC)

  Support for a family caregiver who lives with the member

• Case management

  A care coordinator who plans, arranges, and monitors services

Who qualifies for EDWP in Georgia?

Your loved one must meet all six of these requirements:

• Age or disability. Be 65 or older, or be 21 or older with a qualifying physical disability.
• Physical limitations. Have a functional impairment caused by physical limitations. Georgia counts Alzheimer's disease and other dementias as physical conditions.
• Nursing-home level of care. A physician must approve the need for an intermediate level of nursing home care.
• Medicaid. Be eligible for Medicaid, or potentially eligible after a financial screening.
• Choice of home care. Choose care at home or in the community instead of a nursing home.
• One waiver at a time. Not be enrolled in another Georgia Medicaid waiver.

Does my loved one need Medicaid already?

Not always. Georgia's waiver programs use a higher income limit than regular Medicaid. A person who earns too much for regular Medicaid may still qualify through EDWP. Some members pay a monthly cost share based on income. The financial screening covers this. For the current limits, see the DCH EDWP fact sheet.

Does Medicare count?

No. Medicare alone does not qualify anyone for EDWP. Georgia Medicaid is required.

How do you apply? The A1 EDWP Path

The A1 EDWP Path is our five-step map of how Georgia families move from a first phone call to care at home. It follows the state's own process.

1. 1

   Check the fit

   Review the six requirements above. If most apply, go to step 2.

2. 2

   Call the Area Agency on Aging

   Dial 866-552-4464. Staff will screen your loved one by phone.

3. 3

   Join the waitlist if needed

   If the screening finds your loved one eligible, they go on the EDWP waiting list.

4. 4

   Complete the in-person assessment

   When funding opens, a care coordination agency visits your home. The visit confirms eligibility and the level of care.

5. 5

   Start services

   A care coordinator builds a care plan with your loved one's doctor. Services then begin through the providers you choose.

What to gather before you call

• Proof of income
• Proof of assets, such as bank accounts or property
• Proof of citizenship
• Doctor approval for intermediate nursing home care and for a care plan

Missing a document? Call anyway. You can gather the rest along the way.

Is there an EDWP waitlist in 2026?

Often, yes. Georgia.gov notes that EDWP often has a waitlist and that availability depends on capacity and need. The state's Medicaid manual explains why. EDWP is a budgeted program, so it serves a limited number of people statewide.

The practical advice is simple: apply early. Your loved one's place on the list starts only after you call.

What changed with EDWP in 2026?

A new state system caused authorization delays

Georgia moved EDWP case management onto a new system called Georgia Horizons. On July 27, 2026, DCH reported that a significant number of EDWP prior authorizations had been entered incorrectly into the state's Medicaid billing system. DCH said most authorizations have since been processed. It said it is working to limit disruption to member services.

The fiscal year 2027 state budget

Georgia's FY2027 budget includes funding to increase EDWP Enhanced Case Management. Many 2026 headlines about new waiver slots referred to the NOW and COMP waivers. Those serve Georgians with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They are separate from EDWP.

EDWP vs. Georgia's other Medicaid waivers

Georgia runs four Medicaid waivers. Each has its own rules and services.

• EDWP: older adults and adults with physical disabilities who need nursing-home-level care
• ICWP (Independent Care Waiver Program): adults with severe physical disabilities or a traumatic brain injury
• NOW (New Options Waiver): people with intellectual or developmental disabilities
• COMP (Comprehensive Supports Waiver Program): people with intellectual or developmental disabilities who need more intensive support

A person can be enrolled in only one waiver at a time.

How A1 Georgia Healthcare Agency helps

A1 Georgia Healthcare Agency is a Metro Atlanta home care provider based in Norcross, owned and operated by a registered nurse with over 30 years of nursing experience. We have provided in-home care since 2007. We serve Georgians on EDWP through in-home personal care, respite, and Structured Family Caregiving.

If you are not sure where your family stands, call us. We will explain which path fits and what to expect next. If EDWP is not the right fit, we will tell you that too.

• Phone: 678-446-1832
• Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Email: [email protected]
• Office: 4505 Peachtree Ind. Blvd, Suite K, Norcross, GA 30092