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 4, 2021 
FROM:  Anne Marie Costello, Acting Deputy Administrator and Director 
Center for Medicaid and CHIP Services (CMCS) 
SUBJECT:   Updated 2021 SSI and Spousal Impoverishment Standards 
This CMCS informational bulletin provides an update on the 2021 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 1 as well.  
Included with this informational bulletin is the revised 2021 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, Technical 
Director, Division of Medicaid Eligibility Policy at  
410-786-2234 or Gene.Coffey@cms.hhs.gov. 2021 
SSI and Spousal Impoverishment Standards 
 
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) 
Effective 1-1-21 
 
 
SSI Federal Benefit  SSI Resource  Income Cap  Earned Income  Unearned Income 
Benefit Rate (FBR)  Standard  Limit (300%)  Break Even Point  Break Even Point 
Individual  794.00  2,000.00  2,382.00  1,673.00  814.00 
Couple  1,191.00  3,000.00  N/A  2,467.00  1,211.00 
   
Substantial Gainful Activity (SGA) Limit:  1,310.00  (Blind SGA:  2,190.00) 
     
CPI Increase for 2021:  1.4% 
CPI Increase, Since September 1988:  117.3%      
Spousal  Impoverishment     
Effective 1-1-21   U nless 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:  3,259.50 
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:  26,076.00 
Maximum Resource Standard  130,380.00   
 
Home Equity Limits: 
Minimum:  603,000.00 
Maximum:  906,000.00