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:   November 23, 2021 
 
FROM:   Daniel Tsai, Deputy Administrator and Director  
Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) 
 
SUBJECT:   2022 SSI and Spousal Impoverishment Standards  
 
This CMCS Informational Bulletin provides an update on the 2022 Supplemental Security Income 
(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 2022 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 should 
update their standards in accordance with this information for the provisions that become effective on 
January 1, 2022. 
 
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Gene Coffey, Technical 
Director, Division of Medicaid Eligibility Policy at 410-786-2234 or Gene.Coffey@cms.hhs.gov. 
  2022  
SSI  and Spousal  Impoverishment  Standards  
 
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)                         
Effective 1-1-22 
 
SSI Federal   SSI Resource  Income Cap  Earned Income  Unearned Income  
Benefit Rate (FBR)   Standard   Limit (300%)   Break Even  Point   Break Even  Point  
Individual   841.00   2,000.00   2,523.00   1,767.00   861.00  
Couple    1,261.00   3,000.00   N/A   2,607.00   1,281.00  
   
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) Limit:   1,350.00   (Blind SGA:  2,260.00)  
     
CPI Increase for  2022:   5.4%  
CPI Increase, Since September 1988:   129.0%       
Spousal Impoverishment      
Effective 1-1-22    Unless Otherwise Noted  
     
Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs  Allowance (MMMNA):   2,177.50   All States (Except Alaska and Hawaii)  
(Effective 7-1-21)   2,721.25   Alaska  
  2,505.00   Hawaii  
 
Maximum Monthly Maintenance  Needs Allowance:   3,435.00  
Community Spouse Monthly Housing Allowance:   653.25   All States (Except Alaska and Hawaii)  
(Effective 7-1-21)   816.38   Alaska  
  751.50   Hawaii  
   
Community Spouse Resources:  
 
Minimum Resource Standard:   27,480.00  
Maximum Resource Standard   137,400.00    
 
Home Equity Limits:  
Minimum:   636,000.00  
Maximum:   955,000.00