Information checked: 2026-09-10 · Maintenance label: Annual variable values
Extra Help is the federal subsidy that pays part of the premium, deductible and copayments for Medicare prescription drug coverage. Social Security estimates it is worth about $5,700 a year.
It is also the benefit people rule themselves out of by guessing. The resource test excludes a great deal — your home, your car, your possessions — so households that assume they have too much often do not.
This guide gives the 2026 income and resource limits, what counts and what does not, and how to apply at no cost.
Key takeaway
For 2026 the limits are an annual income of $23,940 for an individual and $32,460 for a married couple living together, with resources of $18,090 and $36,100. Your home, your vehicles, your personal possessions and money set aside for burial expenses are not counted as resources. Apply free through Social Security online, by phone, or at a local office.
Table of contents
- The 2026 limits
- What Extra Help pays for
- Which resources are counted
- How to apply
- If you are refused
- Frequently asked questions
- Summary
The 2026 limits
| Annual income limit | Resource limit | |
|---|---|---|
| Individual | $23,940 | $18,090 |
| Married couple living together | $32,460 | $36,100 |
Apply for it even if you are close to a limit or slightly above one. Social Security decides eligibility from the financial information on your application, and certain income and resources are excluded from the counted totals, so the figure you calculate at your kitchen table is not the figure that decides the case.
Apply directly, at no costSSA Extra Help application ›The official application for help with Medicare drug premiums, deductibles and copayments. Free to file, online or by phone.What Extra Help pays for
Extra Help applies to the costs of Medicare prescription drug coverage:
- Monthly plan premiums
- The annual deductible
- Prescription copayments
Social Security puts the estimated value at roughly $5,700 a year. For someone on several regular prescriptions, that is not a marginal saving.
Which resources are counted
This is where most self-assessments go wrong. Counted resources are the liquid and investable ones:
- Real estate other than your primary residence
- Bank accounts, including checking, savings and certificates of deposit
- Stocks, bonds and mutual funds
- Individual retirement accounts
- Cash you hold
Not counted:
- Your primary residence
- Your vehicles
- Personal possessions, jewellery and home furnishings
- Rental property used for self-support
- Life insurance policies
- Burial expenses, and interest earned on money set aside for them
- Certain Native American trust distributions
A homeowner with a car and modest savings can be well inside the resource limit while believing they are far outside it.
How to apply
- Apply online through Social Security's Extra Help application, or call 1-800-772-1213, or visit a local Social Security office.
- Report your income and your resources as the application asks. Social Security determines eligibility from what you report.
- If you are approved, choose a Medicare drug plan. If you do not choose one, CMS may assign you to a plan.
The application is free. No company needs to be paid to file it for you, and paying one does not change the outcome or the speed.
If you already receive Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, or help from a Medicare Savings Program, ask Social Security whether you need to apply at all — your situation may already be accounted for, and that is a question worth asking before filling in forms.
If you are refused
A refusal is a decision about the figures you reported, so the first step is to check whether those figures were right. Resources are measured as they are, and people routinely include assets that are excluded.
Circumstances also change. If your income falls, your savings are spent down, or your household composition changes, you can apply again — a refusal in one year is not a permanent answer.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 2026 Extra Help income limits?
$23,940 a year for an individual and $32,460 for a married couple living together.
What are the 2026 resource limits?
$18,090 for an individual and $36,100 for a married couple living together.
Does my house or car count against the resource limit?
No. Your primary residence, your vehicles, personal possessions, home furnishings, life insurance policies and money set aside for burial expenses are not counted.
What does Extra Help actually pay?
Costs of Medicare prescription drug coverage: monthly premiums, the annual deductible and prescription copayments. Social Security estimates the value at about $5,700 a year.
Does it cost anything to apply?
No. Apply free at Social Security online, by phone on 1-800-772-1213, or at a local office.
Summary
Four numbers: $23,940 and $32,460 of income, $18,090 and $36,100 of resources.
Do not disqualify yourself on a mental estimate. The home, the car and the possessions are excluded, the application is free, and the decision is Social Security's to make.
- Social Security Administration, Understanding the Extra Help With Your Medicare Prescription Drug Plan (August 2026) — The 2026 Extra Help income and resource limits, what is and is not counted as a resource, and how to apply
- Social Security Administration, Apply for Medicare Part D Extra Help — That eligibility depends on income and resources reported on the application, and the application routes