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Medicaid Planning · Delaware

Delaware Long-term-care Medicaid eligibility

Long-term-care Medicaid eligibility rules for Delaware.

Published: September 4, 2026. Last checked: September 2, 2026.

Income limits

Long-term-care income standard before the general disregard

$2,485 per month

Applies to the applicant under the institutional long-term care pathway for institutional long-term care and qualifying HCBS waivers. This is a cap. Details: single applicant; Delaware identifies this as 250% of SSI.

Source: Delaware DHSS Administrative Notice A-14-2025 [state-medicaid-agency] — Dated November 20, 2025; effective January 1, 2026

Long-term-care income standard after the $20 general disregard

$2,505 per month

Applies to the applicant under the institutional long-term care pathway for institutional long-term care and qualifying HCBS waivers. This is a cap. Details: single applicant when the source's $20 general-income disregard applies.

Source: Delaware DHSS Administrative Notice A-14-2025 [state-medicaid-agency] — Dated November 20, 2025; effective January 1, 2026

Long-term-care couple income standard before the general disregard

$3,727.50 per month

Applies to the household under the institutional long-term care pathway for institutional long-term care and qualifying HCBS waivers. This is a cap. Details: married couple when both spouses apply.

Source: Delaware DHSS Administrative Notice A-14-2025 [state-medicaid-agency] — Dated November 20, 2025; effective January 1, 2026

Long-term-care couple income standard after the $20 general disregard

$3,747.50 per month

Applies to the household under the institutional long-term care pathway for institutional long-term care and qualifying HCBS waivers. This is a cap. Details: married couple when both spouses apply and the source's $20 general-income disregard applies.

Source: Delaware DHSS Administrative Notice A-14-2025 [state-medicaid-agency] — Dated November 20, 2025; effective January 1, 2026

Asset limits

Applicant resource limit

$2,000

Applies to the applicant under the institutional long-term care pathway for institutional long-term care and qualifying HCBS waivers. This is a cap. Details: single applicant.

Source: Delaware DHSS Administrative Notice A-14-2025 [state-medicaid-agency] — Dated November 20, 2025; effective January 1, 2026

Resource limit when both spouses apply

$3,000

Applies to the household under the institutional long-term care pathway for institutional long-term care and qualifying HCBS waivers. This is a cap. Details: married couple when both spouses apply.

Source: Delaware DHSS Administrative Notice A-14-2025 [state-medicaid-agency] — Dated November 20, 2025; effective January 1, 2026

Community spouse resource allowance (CSRA)

Community-spouse resource allowance

$32,532 minimum to $162,660 maximum

Applies to the community spouse under the spousal impoverishment pathway for institutional long-term care and qualifying HCBS waivers. This is a range. Details: institutionalized applicant with a community spouse; actual allowance depends on assessed resources and adjustments.

Source: Delaware DHSS Administrative Notice A-17-2025 [state-medicaid-agency] — Dated December 10, 2025; effective January 1, 2026

Monthly maintenance needs allowance (MMMNA)

Community-spouse monthly maintenance-needs allowance

$2,705 minimum to $4,066.50 maximum

Applies to the community spouse under the spousal impoverishment pathway for institutional long-term care and qualifying HCBS waivers. This is a range. Details: institutionalized applicant with a community spouse; the excess-shelter calculation and spouse income affect the actual allowance.

Source: Delaware DHSS Administrative Notice A-05-2026 [state-medicaid-agency] — Dated April 27, 2026; minimum and shelter standards effective July 1, 2026 Additional authority: Delaware DHSS Administrative Notice A-17-2025 [state-medicaid-agency] — Dated December 10, 2025; effective January 1, 2026

Home-equity limits

Home-equity limit

$752,000

Applies to the applicant under the institutional long-term care pathway for long-term-care services. This is a cap. Details: applicant subject to Delaware's substantial-home-equity rule.

Source: Delaware DHSS Administrative Notice A-16-2025 [state-medicaid-agency] — Dated December 10, 2025; effective January 1, 2026

Sources

Methodology & sources

Checked at least annually and whenever the state or CMS publishes new long-term-care eligibility figures.

General information, not legal advice.