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:  June 24, 2020 
 
FROM:  Calder Lynch, Deputy Administrator and Director 
Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services  
 
SUBJECT:  Updated 2020 SSI and Spousal Impoverishment Standards 
 
This CMCS informational bulletin is to provide an update on the 2020 Supplemental Security 
Income (SSI) and Spousal Impoverishment Standards. 
 
Certain Medicaid income and resource standards are adjusted annually in accordance with 
changes in the SSI federal benefit rate (FBR) and the Consumer Price Index (CPI). These include 
some of the standards described in section 1924 of the Social Security Act (the Act), which 
describes the financial eligibility rules (the spousal impoverishment rules) that apply when 
married individuals seek coverage of certain long-term services and supports. 
 
While some of the spousal impoverishment standards, such as the maximum community spouse 
income maintenance allowance and community spouse minimum and maximum resource 
allowances, are adjusted each January, section 1924 of the Act directs that the community 
spouses minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance (MMMNA) be adjusted, in 
accordance with changes to the federal poverty level, effective July 1st of each year. 
Additionally, as the community spouses monthly housing allowance (which is the basis for 
determining if the community spouse may have an excess shelter allowance) is calculated based 
on a percentage of the MMMNA, the housing allowance is adjusted each July 1st as well. 
 
Included with this informational bulletin is the revised 2020 SSI and Spousal Impoverishment 
Standards chart that displays the updated MMMNA and Community Spouse Monthly Housing 
Allowances. These standards are also available on Medicaid.gov at 
https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/eligibility/spousal-impoverishment/index.html. 
 
Please update your standards in accordance with this information. 
 
If you have any questions or need additional information, please contact Gene Coffey at 
410-786-2234 or Gene.Coffey@cms.hhs.gov.  2020 
SSI and Spousal Impoverishment Standards 
Supplemental Security Income (SSI)  Effective 1-1-20 
SSI Federal Benefit  SSI  Income Cap  Earned Income  Unearned Income 
Benefit Rate (FBR)  Resource  Limit (300%)  Break Even Point  Break Even Point 
Standard 
Individual  783.00  2,000.00  2,349.00  1,651.00  803.00 
Couple  1,175.00  3,000.00  N/A  2,435.00  1,195.00 
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) Limit:  1,260.00  (Blind SGA:  
2,110.00) 
CPI Increase for 2020:  1.7% 
CPI Increase, Since September 1988:  114.4% 
Spousal  Impoverishment 
Effective 1-1-20 Unless Otherwise Notes 
Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA):  2,155.00  All States (Except Alaska and Hawaii) 
(Effective 7-1-20)  2,693.75  Alaska 
2,478.75  Hawaii 
Maximum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance:  3,216.00 
Community Spouse Monthly Housing Allowance:  646.50  All States (Except Alaska and Hawaii) 
(Effective 7-1-20)  808.13  Alaska 
743.63  Hawaii 
Community Spouse Resources: 
Minimum Resource Standard:  25,728.00 
Maximum Resource Standard  128,640.00 
Home Equity Limits: 
Minimum:  595,000.00 
Maximum:  893,000.00