Aging mom wants to move into section 8 housing but has a small savings that could impact her ability to pay?

How can we safely, keep her meager saving intact for things like car insurance and medical expenses without having it impact her rent? She is very independent now and we'd like keep it that way for as long as possible. Her small savings would quickly be depleted if it was included in her "income" and leave nothing for food or unexpected expenses that happen in life. My goal isn't to cheat the government or landlords, simply to allow her to keep her independence and dignity for as long as possible.