What is the "Extra Help" resource limit?
To get extra help in 2026, your total resources must be no more than to $16,590* for an individual ($33,100* for a married couple living together). *These limits do not include the $1,500 per person burial exclusion, see more details below.$1,500 per person Burial Exclusion:
All beneficiaries are permitted a $1,500 per person burial exclusion from their resources.
This exclusion can be taken into account by either reducing your resources by $1,500 per person
(Medicare & You Handbook) or by increasing the resource limit by $1,500 per person
(Most other Social Security Administration and Medicare documents). Below is a chart showing the resource figures with,
and without taking into account the burial exclusion:
Maximum Resource Limit
With $1,500 Burial Exclusion
Without $1,500 Burial Exclusion
Individuals
$18,090
$16,590
Couples
$36,100
$33,100
Resources include the value of the things you own. Some examples are:
- Real estate (other than your primary residence);
- Bank accounts, including checking, savings and certificates of deposit;
- Stocks;
- Bonds, including U.S. Savings Bonds;
- Mutual funds;
- Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs); or
- Cash at home or anywhere else.
Click on the year below to change the above qualification figures for that year:
2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006
If you receive Extra-Help (also known as LIS) or are dual eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, there are Medicare Prescription Drug plans in your state that will qualify for the $0 monthly premium. Click on your state below to see PDP plans that qualify for the $0 premium:
AK AL AR AZ CA CO CT DC DE FL GA HI IA ID IL IN KS KY LA MA MD ME MI MN MO MS MT NC ND NE NH NJ NM NV NY OH OK OR PA PR RI SC SD TN TX UT VA VT WA WI WV WY
Also see:
- 2026 Federal Poverty Level Guidelines (FPL): 2026/2027 LIS Qualifications and Benefits
- 2027 Low-Income Subsidy Benchmark Premium Amounts (includes 2026 - 2006 for comparison)
- What is the income limit for extra help?
- What does not count toward the income limit?
- What is the resource limit?
- What does not count as a resource?
- Income and Resources (Assets) Worksheet
- CMS Guide to LIS Consumer Mailings
- What will plans be like in 2027
(Source: Social Security Administration: Understanding The Extra Help With Your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan publication 10508, SSA Publication No. 05-10115, January 2011. Additional examples and links from this site)