Can Social Security pay for a nursing home? What your benefits actually cover

Nearly 76 million Americans receive some form of Social Security benefit, the vast majority of those receive retirement benefits that replace a portion of what their monthly earnings were before they quit their 9-to-5 gig. Whether from retirement benefits, disability or Supplemental Security Income, this money can be used to cover their expenses as they see fit.

For example, it can be used to cover nursing home stays, but the monthly amount a beneficiary receives won’t necessarily cover the full cost depending on how much an individual receives.

The average Social Security retirement benefit in 2026 is $2,071. But as Geoffrey Schmidt, a certified public accountant and host of the Holy Schmidt! Podcast, says, “it’s just a number.”

Medicare, Medigap plans and Medicare Advantage plans will cover short-term stays at skilled nursing home facilities if they meet specific requirements. However, they do not cover long-term stays or custodial nursing home stays.

So, when planning for retirement, you should speak to a financial planner to help map out your situation so that you can keep living comfortably into your golden years.

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