For 2026, Florida’s long-term care Medicaid income limit is $2,982 per month in gross income for a single applicant (300% of the Federal Benefit Rate), with a countable asset limit of $2,000. Applicants whose income exceeds the cap can still qualify by routing their income through a Qualified Income Trust (Miller Trust). These figures change every year, so confirm the current limits before applying.
If you or a loved one may need nursing home care or long-term care services in Florida, understanding Medicaid’s income and asset limits is the first step. These numbers change every year, and the difference between qualifying and being denied often comes down to a few hundred dollars a month.
Here are the current 2026 Florida Medicaid limits — and what to do if you’re over them.
2026 Florida Medicaid Limits at a Glance
Income Limits Explained
Florida’s Long-Term Care Medicaid (also called ICP — Institutional Care Program) uses a monthly income cap equal to 300% of the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR). For 2026, that cap is $2,982 per month.
What Counts as Income?
Medicaid counts your gross income (before deductions) from all sources:
| Counted as Income | NOT Counted as Income |
|---|---|
| Social Security (retirement & SSDI) | VA Aid & Attendance benefits |
| Pension payments | Food stamps / SNAP |
| IRA withdrawals / Required Minimum Distributions | Gifts from family members |
| Rental income from property | Loans (must be documented) |
| Wages and self-employment income | Tax refunds |
| Alimony received | One-time insurance settlements (case-by-case) |
| Dividends, interest, and capital gains | |
| Workers’ compensation |
What If My Income Exceeds $2,982/Month?
You establish a Qualified Income Trust (QIT), also called a Miller Trust. Each month, you deposit your income into the trust. The trust then pays:
- A $160 personal needs allowance back to you
- Your Medicare premiums
- A spousal maintenance allowance (MMMNA) to your spouse if applicable
- The remaining balance to the nursing facility
A QIT is a standard legal tool that a Medicaid planning attorney can set up quickly. It does not shelter assets or hide income — it simply routes your income in the way Florida requires.
Asset Limits Explained
To qualify for Long-Term Care Medicaid, your countable assets must be at or below:
Countable vs. Exempt Assets
| Countable (Must Spend Down) | Exempt (Does NOT Count) |
|---|---|
| Cash, checking, and savings accounts | Primary residence (equity under $752,000) |
| Stocks, bonds, mutual funds | One vehicle (any value) |
| Certificates of deposit (CDs) | Personal belongings and household furnishings |
| Non-primary real estate | Irrevocable prepaid funeral/burial contracts |
| Additional vehicles | Term life insurance (no cash value) |
| Life insurance with cash value over $2,500 | Wedding and engagement rings |
| Cryptocurrency | Medical equipment |
| Investment property | IRAs/401(k)s in payout status (counted as income instead) |
Spousal Protections: Keeping the Healthy Spouse Out of Poverty
When only one spouse needs nursing home care, federal law protects the “community spouse” (the healthy spouse who stays home) from being impoverished.
Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA)
The community spouse can keep between $32,532 and $162,660 in countable assets, depending on the couple’s total resources. Only assets above the CSRA must be spent down.
Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA)
The community spouse is guaranteed a minimum monthly income of $2,644 (up to a maximum of $4,067). If the community spouse’s own income is less than $2,644, the Medicaid recipient’s income can be diverted to make up the difference.
Regular Medicaid vs. Long-Term Care Medicaid
Many people confuse Regular Medicaid (MEDS-AD) with Long-Term Care Medicaid (ICP/SMMC-LTC). They have very different rules:
| Factor | Regular Medicaid (MEDS-AD) | Long-Term Care Medicaid (ICP / SMMC-LTC) |
|---|---|---|
| Income limit (single) | $1,171/month | $2,982/month |
| Asset limit (single) | $5,000 | $2,000 |
| Level of care required | None | Must need nursing facility level of care |
| Look-back period | None | 60 months |
| Spousal protections (CSRA/MMMNA) | None | Yes — up to $162,660 / $4,067 |
| QIT required if over income | No | Sí |
| Covers nursing home | No | Sí |
What Changed from 2025 to 2026?
| Limit | 2025 | 2026 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| ICP income limit | $2,829/mo | $2,982/mo | ↑ +$153 |
| CSRA maximum | $154,140 | $162,660 | ↑ +$8,520 |
| CSRA minimum | $30,828 | $32,532 | ↑ +$1,704 |
| MMMNA minimum | $2,555/mo | $2,644/mo | ↑ +$89 |
| MMMNA maximum | $3,853/mo | $4,067/mo | ↑ +$214 |
| Home equity limit | $713,000 | $752,000 | ↑ +$39,000 |
| Regular Medicaid income | $1,073/mo | $1,171/mo | ↑ +$98 |
| Individual asset limit | $2,000 | $2,000 | No change |
| Personal needs allowance | $160/mo | $160/mo | No change |
| Penalty divisor | $10,645/mo | $10,645/mo | No change |
The 60-Month Look-Back Period
Long-Term Care Medicaid has a 60-month (5-year) look-back period. When you apply, DCF reviews all asset transfers made during the previous 5 years. Any transfer made for less than fair market value (gifts, below-market sales, adding names to deeds) triggers a penalty period during which you are ineligible for Medicaid.
The penalty is calculated by dividing the transfer amount by the penalty divisor ($10,645/month for 2026):
For a detailed guide, see our page on the Florida Medicaid look-back period and planning strategies.
How to Qualify If You Are Over the Limits
Being over the income or asset limits does not mean you cannot qualify. A Medicaid planning attorney can help you use legally permissible strategies to meet eligibility requirements:
| If You Are Over On… | Strategy |
|---|---|
| Income (over $2,982/mo) | Establish a Qualified Income Trust (QIT / Miller Trust) |
| Assets (over $2,000) | Strategic spend-down: pay off debts, home improvements, prepaid funeral, vehicle purchase |
| Home equity (over $752,000) | Pay down mortgage to reduce equity below the cap |
| Spouse’s assets | CSRA protections — spouse keeps up to $162,660 automatically |
| Made gifts in last 5 years | Crisis planning strategies: half-a-loaf, promissory notes, caretaker child exception |
Not Sure If You Qualify? We Can Help.
Florida’s Medicaid rules are complex, and the limits change every year. Our attorneys have helped hundreds of families navigate the eligibility process — even when they thought they made too much or had too many assets.
Call (813) 501-5071 for a free consultation, or schedule online.
Preguntas frecuentes
What is the income limit for Florida Medicaid in 2026?
For 2026, long-term care (ICP) Medicaid in Florida uses a gross monthly income cap of $2,982 for a single applicant, which equals 300% of the Federal Benefit Rate. The countable asset limit is $2,000. When both spouses apply, each is measured against the income cap separately. Because these numbers are adjusted annually, verify the current figure with DCF or an elder law attorney before filing.
What is the highest income you can have and still qualify for Medicaid in Florida?
For long-term care Medicaid, gross monthly income above the 2026 cap of $2,982 does not automatically disqualify you. Florida is an “income-cap” state that allows a Qualified Income Trust (Miller Trust): income deposited into the trust each month is not counted toward the cap, so even applicants with income well above $2,982 can qualify when the trust is properly drafted and used. The trust does not shelter assets or hide income – it simply routes income in the way Florida requires.
What disqualifies you from Medicaid in Florida?
The most common disqualifiers for long-term care Medicaid are countable assets above $2,000 (for a single applicant), income above the cap without a Qualified Income Trust, home equity above the federal limit, and uncompensated asset transfers within the 60-month look-back period that create a penalty. Many of these can be addressed with lawful planning – excess assets can often be converted to exempt form, and over-income applicants can use a Miller Trust.
What counts as income for Florida Medicaid?
Florida counts gross income (before deductions) from essentially all sources: Social Security, pensions, annuity payments, IRA distributions, wages, rental income, and similar recurring payments. It is the applicant’s own gross income that is measured against the cap. If that total exceeds $2,982 per month in 2026, a Qualified Income Trust is required to qualify.
How can I qualify for Medicaid if I am over the income or asset limits?
Being over the limits does not mean you are permanently ineligible. Over-income applicants use a Qualified Income Trust; over-asset applicants can use lawful spend-down strategies such as converting countable assets to exempt ones (homestead, one vehicle, prepaid funeral), spousal protections through the Community Spouse Resource Allowance, and Medicaid-compliant annuities. In Florida, choosing among these strategies is the practice of law and should be done with a licensed elder law attorney. This page is general information, not legal advice for your situation.
