Delaware has roughly 245,000 Medicare beneficiaries, and thousands of them qualify for Medicare Extra Help, also called the Low-Income Subsidy (LIS), without knowing it. Extra Help is a federal program run by the Social Security Administration that pays most of your Medicare Part D premium, eliminates your deductible, and caps your drug copays at $5.10 for generics and $12.65 for brand-name drugs in 2026.
Delaware residents use the same national income and resource limits as most other states, but the state layers on two extra advantages: Medicare Savings Programs administered by the Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA) with no asset test, and the Delaware Prescription Assistance Program (DPAP) that stacks on top of Extra Help. This page walks through the 2026 limits, Delaware-specific application channels, and what to do if you are denied. For the national version of these rules, see Medicare Extra Help eligibility.
Direct Answer: Do Delaware Residents Qualify for Extra Help?
Yes. Delaware Medicare beneficiaries qualify for Extra Help in 2026 using the same nationwide limits as 48 other states: income under $23,940 a year for one person or $32,460 for a couple, and resources under $16,590 single or $33,100 married. Delaware also runs Medicare Savings Programs through DMMA with no separate asset test, and enrollment in QMB, SLMB, or QI automatically qualifies you for full Extra Help benefits.
2026 Extra Help Income and Resource Limits for Delaware Residents
Delaware follows the same nationwide Extra Help limits used in 48 other states and D.C.: 150% of the Federal Poverty Level for income, and a resource test on top of that. For 2026, that means $23,940 a year ($1,995 a month) for a single person or $32,460 a year ($2,705 a month) for a married couple. Since the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 took effect on January 1, 2024, there is only one level of Extra Help. Everyone who qualifies gets the same full benefit, regardless of whether their income is 100% or 149% of the poverty level.
Resources (assets) count separately from income. Countable resources include bank accounts, stocks, bonds, CDs, and retirement accounts not in payout status. Your home, one vehicle, and personal belongings do not count. The 2026 resource limit is $16,590 for a single person or $33,100 for a married couple, rising to $18,090 and $36,100 if you set aside up to $1,500 per person for burial expenses.
Delaware Medicare Savings Programs: The Fast Path to Extra Help
Delaware's Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance (DMMA) runs three Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) that help pay Medicare Part A and Part B costs: QMB, SLMB, and QI. Anyone approved for a Delaware MSP is automatically enrolled in full Extra Help with no separate application needed. This makes MSP enrollment one of the fastest ways for a low-income Delaware Medicare beneficiary to lock in both benefits at once.
Delaware is one of the more generous states for this benefit: unlike many states, Delaware does not apply a resource or asset test to QMB, SLMB, or QI applicants. Only your monthly income and household composition are checked, which means a Delaware resident with modest savings who would fail an asset test in a neighboring state can still qualify here.
2026 Delaware Medicare Savings Program Monthly Income Limits (No Asset Test)| Program | Individual limit | Couple limit | What it pays |
|---|
| QMB | $1,350/month | $1,824/month | Part A and Part B premiums, deductibles, coinsurance, and copays |
| SLMB | Above QMB, up to $1,616/month | Above QMB, up to $2,184/month | Part B premium only |
| QI | Above SLMB, up to $1,816/month | Above SLMB, up to $2,455/month | Part B premium only (limited federal funding, first come first served) |
All three Delaware Medicare Savings Programs are administered by DMMA with no separate asset limit. Approval for any of the three automatically triggers full Medicare Extra Help enrollment.
Source: Delaware DHSS/DMMA Medicare Savings Programs; Medicaid.gov MSP fact sheet 2026
Is Delaware a Medicaid Expansion State? What That Means for Extra Help
Delaware expanded Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act effective January 1, 2014, so there is no ACA gap for low-income adults in the state (the coverage hole that leaves adults too poor for marketplace subsidies but ineligible for Medicaid in the 10 non-expansion states). Full-scope Delaware Medicaid uses MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) rules and covers adults up to 138% of the Federal Poverty Level, adjusted for family size (about $22,025 a year for one person and $45,540 for a family of four in 2026).
Extra Help works differently. It is not a MAGI-based Medicaid program, it is a federal Social Security Administration benefit with its own 150% FPL income test and a separate resource test that Delaware Medicaid does not apply to working-age MAGI adults. That is why some Delaware residents who earn too much for full Medicaid (above 138% FPL) can still qualify for Extra Help (up to 150% FPL) or for a Delaware Medicare Savings Program.
Delaware Prescription Assistance Program (DPAP): Stacking State Help With Extra Help
Delaware runs its own State Pharmaceutical Assistance Program (SPAP) called the Delaware Prescription Assistance Program (DPAP), administered by DMMA. DPAP is open to Delaware residents age 65 or older, or under 65 and receiving Social Security Disability, with household income under 200% FPL or annual drug costs over 40% of income. DPAP provides up to $3,000 per year toward medically necessary prescriptions and Part D premiums, with a client copay of 25% of the drug cost or a $5 minimum.
DPAP and Extra Help are separate programs and can be received at the same time, but DPAP requires proof that you applied for Extra Help (if Medicare-eligible) within 90 days of your DPAP approval. Delaware residents who qualify for both typically see the largest reduction in out-of-pocket drug costs of any pairing available in the state.
Common Reasons Extra Help Applications Are Denied in Delaware
SSA denies roughly 1 in 5 Extra Help applications nationwide, and Delaware residents run into the same handful of issues. Most of these can be fixed by submitting missing paperwork or correcting an income figure within the response window.
- Household income above 150% FPL once every member's countable income is combined
- Countable resources above $16,590 single or $33,100 married, often because a retirement account was not correctly excluded
- Not yet enrolled in Medicare Part A or Part B at the time of application
- Missing bank statements, tax documents, or other verification SSA or DMMA requested
- For Delaware MSP applications specifically, monthly income above the DMMA QMB, SLMB, or QI threshold for your household size
How to Appeal a Denial in Delaware
Extra Help denials from the Social Security Administration can be appealed by requesting reconsideration in writing within 60 days of the denial notice, either at your local Delaware Social Security office or by calling 1-800-772-1213. You can reapply at any time if your income or resources change.
Delaware Medicare Savings Program denials from DMMA follow the state Medicaid fair hearing process. Contact DMMA Customer Relations at 1-866-843-7212 to ask about requesting a fair hearing, and reach out to the Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau at 1-800-336-9500 for free counseling on either appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 2026 income limit for Medicare Extra Help in Delaware?
Delaware uses the same nationwide 2026 Extra Help income limit as 48 other states: $23,940 a year ($1,995 a month) for a single person and $32,460 a year ($2,705 a month) for a married couple living together. This equals 150% of the Federal Poverty Level. Each additional household member adds $8,520 to the limit. There is no separate Delaware-specific income limit for Extra Help itself.
Does Delaware have its own version of Extra Help?
No. Extra Help (the Low-Income Subsidy) is a federal Social Security Administration program with the same income and resource limits nationwide, except for Alaska and Hawaii. Delaware does not run a separate state Extra Help program, but it does run its own Medicare Savings Programs and the Delaware Prescription Assistance Program (DPAP), which layer additional help on top of federal Extra Help.
Does Delaware require an asset test for Medicare Savings Programs?
No. Delaware is one of the states that does not apply a resource or asset limit to its Medicare Savings Programs (QMB, SLMB, and QI), administered by DMMA. Only your monthly income and household composition are reviewed. This makes it easier for Delaware residents with modest savings to qualify compared to states that still enforce an asset test.
How do I apply for Extra Help in Delaware?
You can apply directly with the Social Security Administration online at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or at a local Delaware Social Security office. You can also apply for a Delaware Medicare Savings Program through DMMA's ASSIST portal at assist.dhss.delaware.gov or by calling 1-866-940-8963, which automatically qualifies you for full Extra Help if approved. The Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau (1-800-336-9500) offers free help with either application.
What is the Delaware Prescription Assistance Program and can I get it with Extra Help?
The Delaware Prescription Assistance Program (DPAP) is a state pharmaceutical assistance program for Delaware residents age 65 or older, or under 65 with Social Security Disability, who have income under 200% FPL. DPAP provides up to $3,000 a year toward prescriptions and Part D premiums. You can receive DPAP and federal Extra Help at the same time, but DPAP requires proof you applied for Extra Help within 90 days of DPAP approval.
What happens if my Extra Help application is denied in Delaware?
You can request reconsideration from the Social Security Administration in writing within 60 days of the denial notice, or call 1-800-772-1213. If you applied for a Delaware Medicare Savings Program through DMMA and were denied, you can request a state Medicaid fair hearing by contacting DMMA Customer Relations at 1-866-843-7212. The Delaware Medicare Assistance Bureau offers free counseling to help with either appeal.
What is the resource (asset) limit for Extra Help in 2026?
The 2026 federal resource limit for Extra Help is $16,590 for a single person and $33,100 for a married couple. These limits rise to $18,090 and $36,100 if you set aside up to $1,500 per person for burial expenses. Your primary home, one vehicle, and personal belongings do not count. This resource test applies nationwide, including in Delaware, and is separate from Delaware's asset-test-free Medicare Savings Programs.
Can I get Extra Help automatically in Delaware without applying?
Yes. If you already have full Delaware Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or a Delaware Medicare Savings Program (QMB, SLMB, or QI), the Social Security Administration and CMS automatically enroll you in Extra Help. You will get a notice by mail each fall confirming your status and Part D plan assignment. Everyone else must apply through SSA or DMMA.
