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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 7500 Security Boulevard, Mail Stop S2-26-12 Baltimore, Maryland 21244-1850 CMCS Informational Bulletin DATE: December 9, 2025 FROM: Dan Brillman Deputy Administrator, CMS Director, Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) SUBJECT: 2026 SSI, Spousal Impoverishment, and Medicare Savings Program Resource Standards This CMCS Informational Bulletin provides an update on the 2026 Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Spousal Impoverishment Standards as well as the 2026 resource standards for the Medicare Savings Program (MSP) groups. SSI and Spousal Impoverishment Standards Certain Medicaid income and resource standards are adjusted beginning each January in accordance with changes in the SSI federal benefit rate (FBR) and the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Many states offer, for example, categorical eligibility to individuals who are not receiving SSI but who meet the financial eligibility requirements of the program, as authorized by section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(I) of the Social Security Act (“the Act”). Similarly, most states have adopted the “special income level” institutional eligibility category authorized under section 1902(a)(10)(A)(ii)(V) of the Act, the maximum income standard for which is 300% of the SSI FBR. Additionally, certain eligibility standards relating to coverage of long-term services and supports, including the home equity limitation in section 1917(f) of the Act and elements of the spousal impoverishment statute in section 1924 of the Act, are increased each year based on increases in the CPI for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). Included with this Informational Bulletin is the 2026 SSI and Spousal Impoverishment Standards chart that displays the new standards. These standards are also available on Medicaid.gov at https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/eligibility/spousal-impoverishment/index.html. States must update their standards in accordance with this information for the changes that become effective on January 1, 2026. MSP Resource Standards The MSP groups are mandatory Medicaid eligibility groups that provide coverage of some or all Medicare Part A and B premiums and cost-sharing for low-income Medicare beneficiaries.0F1 The resource standard for the MSP groups are based on the SSI resource standard, which is set forth in 1 Sections 1902(a)(10)(E), 1905(p) and 1905(s) of the Act and 42 C.F.R. §§ 435.123-435.126.