Delaware Medicaid eligibility turns on two numbers: your income and, for some applicants, your assets. Most adults ages 19 through 64 qualify with household income at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level, which works out to roughly $22,025 a year for a single person in 2026 and $45,540 for a family of four. Pregnant women, children, and people qualifying through age or disability face different income thresholds, and anyone applying based on age (65+), disability, or long-term care needs must also pass an asset test of $2,000 for an individual or $3,000 for a married couple.
Income Limits by Coverage Group
Delaware sets different income ceilings depending on who is applying and why. The dollar figures below reflect the 2026 federal poverty guidelines and adjust every January.1HealthCare.gov. Federal Poverty Level (FPL)
- Adults 19–64 without a disability: Income at or below 138 percent of the federal poverty level. Roughly $22,025 for an individual, $45,540 for a family of four.
- Pregnant women: Income at or below 212 percent of the federal poverty level. A pregnant woman counts as at least two household members for the calculation.2Delaware Department of Health and Social Services. 2025 Federal Poverty and Medical Assistance Levels
- Infants under age one: Qualify at about 217 percent of the federal poverty level through Medicaid.
- Older children under 19: Qualify at lower but still elevated thresholds compared to adults. Children whose family income is too high for Medicaid may still qualify for Delaware’s CHIP program.
- SSI recipients: If you receive Supplemental Security Income, you are automatically enrolled in Delaware Medicaid. Delaware is a “1634 state,” so the Social Security Administration notifies the state electronically when it approves your SSI claim, and no separate application is needed.3Delaware Administrative Code. Delaware Administrative Code – 17000 SSI Related Programs4Social Security Administration. State Medicaid Eligibility and Enrollment Policies and Rates of Medicaid Participation Among Disabled Supplemental Security Income Recipients
Children often qualify when parents don’t. Families earning too much for adult Medicaid frequently find their children still eligible, so apply even if you expect the adults in the household to be denied.
How Delaware Counts Your Income
For most applicants, including parents, children, pregnant women, and non-disabled adults, Delaware uses the Modified Adjusted Gross Income method.5Delaware Administrative Code. Delaware Social Services Manual 16000 MAGI starts with your adjusted gross income from your tax return and adds back non-taxable Social Security benefits and tax-exempt interest. Child support you receive is not counted.
Countable income includes wages, self-employment earnings, unemployment benefits, rental income, and Social Security payments. Allowable tax deductions such as student loan interest and IRA contributions reduce your countable income. If your earnings fluctuate seasonally, Delaware looks at what you are currently earning rather than a fixed annual snapshot.
People qualifying through age (65 and older), disability, or blindness are evaluated under a separate, non-MAGI set of rules. Those rules also apply an asset test, which MAGI-based applicants don’t face.
Asset Limits for Seniors, Disabled Applicants, and Long-Term Care
If you’re applying based on age, disability, or the need for long-term care, Delaware looks at what you own in addition to what you earn. The resource limit is $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a married couple applying together.6Medicaid.gov. January 2026 SSI and Spousal CIB These limits haven’t changed in decades, so they catch more people than you might expect.
Countable assets include bank accounts, stocks, bonds, and real estate you don’t live in. Several significant assets don’t count toward the limit:
- Your home: Exempt as long as your equity interest doesn’t exceed $752,000 in 2026 and you or your spouse still live there (or you intend to return).
- One vehicle used for transportation.
- Personal belongings and household goods.
- Prepaid burial arrangements and a small amount of life insurance.
Spousal Protections for Long-Term Care
When only one spouse needs long-term care Medicaid, the healthy spouse living at home doesn’t have to impoverish themselves. The community spouse can keep up to $162,660 in countable assets in 2026.6Medicaid.gov. January 2026 SSI and Spousal CIB The community spouse also receives a monthly maintenance needs allowance for basic living expenses, ranging from roughly $2,644 to $4,067 per month in 2026.
Miller Trusts When Income Is Over the Cap
Delaware allows applicants whose income exceeds the long-term care cap, but who meet the asset test, to use a Miller Trust (also called a Qualified Income Trust). You deposit your monthly income into an irrevocable trust, and a trustee uses the funds to pay your patient responsibility to the care facility and other approved expenses. The income in the trust no longer counts toward the Medicaid income limit. When you pass away, any money remaining in the trust must be repaid to Delaware for benefits received.
Setting one up requires a written trust agreement, typically prepared by an attorney, and a dedicated bank account in the trust’s name. If the applicant is incapacitated and has no power of attorney authorizing trust creation, a court-appointed guardian may need to establish it.
Spending Down Excess Assets
If your assets exceed the limit but your income qualifies, you can convert countable assets into exempt ones. Common moves include paying off debt, making home modifications like wheelchair ramps, modifying a vehicle for accessibility, or prepaying funeral and burial costs. Keep receipts and documentation for every purchase. Medicaid will review these transactions, and anything that looks like a gift rather than a fair-value purchase can trigger a penalty.
The 60-Month Look-Back for Long-Term Care
When you apply for long-term care Medicaid, Delaware reviews the previous 60 months of financial transactions for both you and your spouse.7Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 42 USC 1396p – Liens, Adjustments and Recoveries, and Transfers of Assets If you gave away assets or sold them below market value during that five-year window, Medicaid imposes a penalty period during which you are ineligible for long-term care benefits. The length of the penalty depends on the value of the transfer.
Some transfers don’t trigger a penalty. You can transfer your home without consequence to:
- Your spouse
- A child under 21, or a child who is blind or permanently disabled
- A sibling who already has an ownership interest in the home and has lived there for at least one year before your admission to a facility
- An adult child who lived in your home for at least two years before you entered a nursing home and provided care that allowed you to remain at home during that time
Transferring assets to family members five or six years before you ever need care is legitimate planning. Doing it 18 months before you apply for Medicaid creates a penalty that can leave you without coverage when you need it most. Anyone considering significant gifts or transfers should consult an elder law attorney well before applying.
Residency and Immigration Status
You have to live in Delaware and intend to stay. There is no waiting period: you can apply the day you arrive, as long as you plan to remain in the state or moved here for work or to look for a job.8Legal Information Institute. Delaware Admin Code 16-14000-14110 – State Residency People without a fixed address still qualify as residents if they are physically present with the intent to stay.9Delaware Register of Regulations. Delaware Register of Regulations – State Residency A Delaware driver’s license, state ID, lease, mortgage statement, utility bill, or government mail proves residency. If you’re experiencing homelessness, a letter from a shelter or social service agency works.
Immigration status adds another layer. Lawfully present immigrants such as refugees and asylees can apply for full Medicaid without any waiting period. Green card holders and other qualified immigrants generally must complete a five-year waiting period before they’re eligible for full benefits, though pregnant women and children may qualify sooner through Medicaid or CHIP. Undocumented immigrants cannot receive full Medicaid but may receive emergency medical assistance for life-threatening conditions under federal law.
If Your Income or Assets Are Just Over the Limit
Being slightly above 138 percent of the federal poverty level doesn’t leave you without options. You may qualify for subsidized coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace instead, or you may be able to lower your countable income by claiming allowable deductions you’d previously overlooked. For asset-tested programs, legitimate spend-down on exempt purchases or, where applicable, a Miller Trust can bring you within the rules.
Eligibility also isn’t permanent once granted. Delaware redetermines eligibility periodically, usually once a year, and you’re expected to report changes in income, household size, or address between renewals.10HealthCare.gov. Reporting Income, Household, and Other Changes A raise, a new baby, a spouse moving out, or a move to another state can change your eligibility or your benefits, and reporting promptly protects you from owing money back for benefits you weren’t entitled to.