Michigan Medicaid Income and Asset Limits for Home Care (2026)

The Michigan Medicaid income limit depends on the category your loved one fits. As of 2026, seniors and adults with disabilities usually qualify at about 100% of the federal poverty level, while the MI Choice Waiver allows up to 300% of the SSI benefit rate. Countable assets are generally capped at about $2,000 for one person.

On this page

1. Why the Michigan Medicaid income limit matters for home care
2. Michigan Medicaid income limits by category (2026)
3. What are the Michigan Medicaid asset limits?
4. How spousal impoverishment rules protect a husband or wife
5. What is a Michigan Medicaid spend-down?
6. What if my parent is over the Medicaid income or asset limit?
7. Use the free eligibility checker before you apply
8. Frequently asked questions

Why the Michigan Medicaid income limit matters for home care

Michigan’s two main programs that pay for care at home, Home Help and the MI Choice Waiver, both run through Medicaid, so your loved one has to qualify for Medicaid first. The Home Help program is available to anyone with full Medicaid coverage who needs hands-on help with daily tasks.

Home Help has no income test of its own, so the real question is which Medicaid category your loved one can get into. The table below covers the categories that matter for home care.

Michigan Medicaid income limits by category (2026)

These are the most recent published limits we could confirm. MDHHS adjusts them each year when the federal poverty level and SSI rates change, so treat them as a guide.

Medicaid category	Who it covers	Monthly income limit (single)	Asset limit
Healthy Michigan Plan	Adults 19 to 64 without a disability determination	133% of the federal poverty level, about $1,735	No asset test
SSI-related Medicaid (aged, blind or disabled)	Adults 65 and older, or any age with a qualifying disability	100% of the federal poverty level, about $1,305	About $2,000 single / $3,000 couple
Medicaid with a spend-down (deductible)	Aged, blind or disabled adults over the income limit	Over the limit, but medical bills reduce countable income	About $2,000 single / $3,000 couple
MI Choice Waiver and nursing-facility Medicaid	Adults who need a nursing-facility level of care	300% of the SSI benefit rate, about $2,901	About $2,000 single, with spousal protections

For Home Help, the first two rows cover most families; the last row applies to the waiver. Our MI Choice Waiver guide explains how its rules differ.

What counts as income

MDHHS counts most monthly income: Social Security, pensions, wages, annuities, rent and veterans benefits. A few items are excluded or disregarded, so the countable figure is often a little lower than the gross amount.

What are the Michigan Medicaid asset limits?

For seniors and adults with disabilities, countable assets must be at or below $2,000 for one person and about $3,000 for a married couple applying together. The Healthy Michigan Plan has no asset test.

Assets that usually do not count

• The primary home, as long as your loved one lives there or intends to return, with home equity below $730,000.
• One vehicle.
• Household goods, clothing and personal belongings.
• An irrevocable funeral contract or a burial plot.
• Term life insurance and small whole life policies.

Assets that do count

• Checking and savings balances, stocks, bonds, mutual funds and CDs.
• A second property or extra vehicle, and whole life cash value above the exempt amount.

Michigan applies a 60-month look-back period for MI Choice and nursing-facility Medicaid. Gifts or below-market transfers in that window can trigger a penalty period.

How spousal impoverishment rules protect a husband or wife

When one spouse applies for MI Choice or nursing-facility Medicaid and the other stays at home, federal spousal impoverishment rules let the healthy spouse keep more. As of 2026, the community spouse can keep countable assets between roughly $31,584 and about $157,920, and can receive part of the applicant’s income to reach a minimum monthly needs allowance of about $2,643.

These protections apply to the waiver, not to regular Medicaid. For a married person who needs a high level of care, the waiver often makes qualifying easier. Our MI Choice Waiver service page explains how we help families apply through their Area Agency on Aging.

What is a Michigan Medicaid spend-down?

Michigan is a medically needy state. If your loved one is 65 or older, blind or disabled and earns more than the income limit, MDHHS can set a monthly deductible. Once medical bills for the month reach that deductible, Medicaid coverage starts for the rest of the month.

Bills that count include doctor visits, prescriptions, Medicare premiums, medical supplies and, in many cases, paid in-home care. Ask the MDHHS caseworker how the deductible is figured and which bills to submit.

Michigan does not use Miller trusts to get under the MI Choice income cap. Applicants over the 300% figure are usually directed to the spend-down route or other planning options, so talk to the waiver agent early.

What if my parent is over the Medicaid income or asset limit?

Being over the limit is common and not the end of the road. Families in Detroit, Dearborn, Warren, Sterling Heights, Ann Arbor, Flint, Lansing and Grand Rapids usually have options.

1. Recheck what really counts. The house, car and personal items are exempt, and some income is disregarded.
2. Use the spend-down. Regular medical costs may bring countable income under the limit.
3. Spend assets on exempt items. Home repairs, paying down the mortgage, a prepaid funeral or medical equipment are allowed uses of savings.
4. Consider the MI Choice Waiver. Its income limit is higher and married couples get spousal protections.
5. Talk to an elder law attorney before transferring property, because the look-back rules can create penalties.

Our guide to who qualifies for Home Help in Michigan covers the functional side of eligibility once the financial side is settled.

Use the free eligibility checker before you apply

Run your loved one’s income and assets through our Michigan Medicaid eligibility check. It shows which category looks like the best fit. If the numbers work, our MI Bridges walkthrough shows what to gather and where to click.

Once Medicaid is approved, Supportive Solutions Homecare helps families enroll in Medicaid home care through Home Help, including setting up a family member as the paid caregiver. Official rules come from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, and a caseworker makes the final decision.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Michigan Medicaid income limit in 2026?

It depends on the category. As of 2026, seniors and adults with disabilities generally qualify at about 100% of the federal poverty level, adults 19 to 64 under the Healthy Michigan Plan at 133%, and MI Choice Waiver applicants at 300% of the SSI rate. MDHHS publishes updated figures each year, so confirm the current numbers before applying.

What is the income limit for the MI Choice Waiver?

The MI Choice Waiver uses the special income level, which is 300% of the federal SSI benefit rate, about $2,901 per month for one person as of the latest published figure. Countable assets must be at or below $2,000 for the applicant, and a spouse at home can keep a protected share of the couple’s savings.

How do I check if my loved one is eligible before applying?

Start with our free online Medicaid eligibility check, which asks about age, disability, income, assets and daily care needs, then points you to the most likely category. It is not an official decision, but it helps you gather the right documents and avoid a denial for a simple paperwork problem.

What if my parent is over the Medicaid income or asset limit?

Your parent may still qualify. Michigan allows a spend-down, where medical bills reduce countable income each month. Exempt purchases such as home repairs or a prepaid funeral can lower countable assets. The MI Choice Waiver has a higher income limit and spousal protections. Talk to an elder law attorney before moving money, because transfers can trigger penalties.

Does the Home Help program have its own income limit?

No. Home Help does not run a separate income test. Anyone with active, full-coverage Michigan Medicaid can be assessed for Home Help, and hours are based on functional need, not income. That is why the first step for most families is getting Medicaid approved through MI Bridges, then requesting a Home Help assessment from the local MDHHS office.