2026 Extra Help Income and Asset Limits
Eligibility for Extra Help depends on two primary financial factors: your annual income and your countable assets. The federal government sets these benchmarks using the Federal Poverty Level (FPL).
Thanks to the Inflation Reduction Act, anyone earning up to 150% of the FPL qualifies for the complete subsidy package. You no longer need to worry about partial tiers or sliding-scale benefits.
Income Limits for 2026
For the 48 contiguous states and Washington, D.C., the 2026 annual income limit is $23,940 for an individual. For a married couple living together, the 2026 limit is $32,460.
Income limits are higher if you live in Alaska or Hawaii. They also increase if you support other dependent family members who reside in your home.
The Social Security Administration automatically applies a standard $20 monthly unearned income disregard when calculating eligibility. This exclusion raises the effective monthly income limit in 2026 to $2,015 for an individual and $2,725 for a married couple.
Resource and Asset Limits
The government also evaluates your countable resources to ensure assistance goes to those with true financial need. Countable assets include checking and savings accounts, certificates of deposit, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and individual retirement accounts.
Countable assets also include any real estate you own other than your primary home. However, the government excludes many essential possessions from this calculation entirely.
Your primary residence, one primary vehicle, household furniture, personal jewelry, and life insurance policies do not count. The government also excludes dedicated burial plots from your asset tally.
In 2026, standard countable resources cannot exceed $18,090 for an individual or $36,100 for a married couple. These official limits include a built-in burial expense allowance of $1,500 per person ($3,000 per couple).
If you state on your application that you will not use any savings for burial costs, lower limits apply. Without that allowance, the baseline 2026 resource limits are $16,590 for an individual and $33,100 for a married couple.
| Eligibility Category | Individual (2026) | Married Couple (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Income Limit (150% FPL) | $23,940 | $32,460 |
| Monthly Income (with $20 Disregard) | $2,015 | $2,725 |
| Resource Limit (with Burial Allowance) | $18,090 | $36,100 |
| Resource Limit (without Burial Allowance) | $16,590 | $33,100 |
