Asset spend-down estimator
Texas · 2026 limits
Texas HHSC still counts most bank and brokerage balances toward a $2,000 applicant resource limit for Medicaid for the Elderly and People with Disabilities (MEPD). This page runs asset spend-down math for Harris, Bexar, Dallas, and every other Texas county using posted 2026 federal CSRA brackets.
Enter marital status and countable assets for the person who will file with Texas HHSC. The form applies the $2,000 single cap and federal CSRA range ($29,724 to $162,660) when a spouse stays home.
Rosa in El Paso listed $71,400 across two CDs and a credit union share draft for her husband Marco. HHSC treated the full balance as countable, so the raw gap opened near $69,400 before the community spouse allowance.
Common mistake: Moving Marco's IRA into Rosa's name without a plan. HHSC still traces the account through statements. List every account you will hand to your eligibility worker before you shuffle titles.
These figures come from Texas agency policy and federal CSRA updates. Call your local eligibility office if your case involves waivers, estate recovery, or managed care plans.
| Rule | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Single applicant resource limit | $2,000 | Texas HHSC MEPD |
| Couple resource limit (both applying) | $3,000 | Texas HHSC MEPD |
| CSRA minimum (2026) | $29,724 | Federal CMS update |
| CSRA maximum (2026) | $162,660 | Federal CMS update |
| Look-back period | 60 months | Texas HHSC transfer rules |
| Home equity cap (2026) | $713,000 | Federal minimum |
| Burial fund exclusion | $1,500 | Texas HHSC handbook |
| Vehicle exclusion | One vehicle | Texas HHSC handbook |
| Nursing facility income cap (2026) | $2,901 / month | Federal SSI-related amount |
| Income spend-down path (LTC) | Miller Trust (QIT) required above cap | Texas HHSC |
| Primary program | MEPD / STAR+PLUS waiver | Texas HHSC |
The widget subtracts Texas countable resources from the posted limit for your filing status. Single applicants compare savings against $2,000. Married couples where both seek coverage use the $3,000 couple cap.
When only one spouse applies and the other stays home, the tool splits total assets. Half of the combined balance becomes the Community Spouse Resource Allowance, floored at $29,724 and capped at $162,660 for 2026. The applicant may keep $2,000 on top of that protected share.
James and Linda in Plano held $248,000 between IRAs and checking. HHSC counted the IRAs, set Linda's CSRA near $124,000, and still expected James to spend or convert the remainder through allowed channels before the nursing home month billed.
Common mistake: Entering only the applicant's name on joint accounts. HHSC divides jointly owned liquid accounts unless you prove otherwise. Type the full household balance you expect on Form H1200.
A positive spend-down number is the countable dollars Texas still expects you to remove before the first eligibility month. It is not an approval letter. Your local eligibility office can reject the file if a vehicle, homestead, or promissory note was misclassified.
A $0 result means your inputs already sit at or below the limit after CSRA math. You may still owe income planning. Nursing facility applicants above $2,901 monthly must route excess income through a Miller Trust even when assets pass.
Carlos in McAllen saw $0 asset spend-down but $640 monthly income over the cap. His attorney opened a Qualified Income Trust at a Texas bank before HHSC finalized the packet. Asset math alone would have missed that step.
Common mistake: Treating a $0 asset gap as automatic Medicaid approval. HHSC still checks level-of-care forms, citizenship documents, and five-year transfer history.
This page does not score STAR+PLUS functional eligibility, estate recovery waivers, or penalty months from gifts. Texas divides the average daily nursing home rate into transfer penalties, and that divisor changes with market rates.
The form does not value a Hill Country ranch, oil royalties, or a spouse's 401(k) still at work. Each asset class follows a different HHSC worksheet line.
HHSC also runs an estate recovery program after death for members 55 and older who received nursing facility or certain community services. Planning conversations belong with a Texas elder law attorney before you spend six figures on remodeling.
Common mistake: Gifting $25,000 to an adult child eleven months before filing. HHSC can impose penalty months with no coverage even if assets later fall below $2,000. Pay legitimate debt and care invoices instead.
Texas administers Medicaid through the Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC). Long-term care applications usually start at a local Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) or an HHSC eligibility office in counties like Travis, Tarrant, and Hidalgo.
MEPD covers nursing facility care and certain home-based services. STAR+PLUS managed care plans handle many waiver slots, but asset tests still follow the same $2,000 resource standard for the applicant.
Texas does not offer a medically needy income spend-down for nursing home cases the way Pennsylvania does. Families above the $2,901 monthly income cap must assign excess funds to a Miller Trust, also called a Qualified Income Trust, with a Texas trustee.
Community spouses may keep the greater of the CSRA calculation or certain income protections under spousal impoverishment rules. The state uses the federal maximum home equity cap of $713,000 in 2026 unless a spouse or dependent child still lives in the house.
Burial spaces, one vehicle, and up to $1,500 in a designated burial fund can be excluded if titled correctly. Prepaid funeral contracts follow separate HHSC policy memos.
Look-back reviews cover asset transfers made within 60 months before application. Penalty length equals the uncompensated transfer amount divided by the average monthly nursing home cost published by HHSC.
Rural applicants in Lubbock and Amarillo follow the same resource test as families in Houston. Waiver interest lists vary by region, but the $2,000 asset cap does not.
Common mistake: Assuming Texas exempts a second home because it is "in the family." Non-homestead real estate counts unless occupied by a spouse or dependent child under HHSC rules. Budget property taxes and sale costs before you rely on an appraisal.
| Asset | Texas rule |
|---|---|
| Primary home | Exempt if applicant, spouse, or dependent child lives there or equity is below $713,000 (2026) |
| One vehicle | Exempt regardless of value for applicant or community spouse transportation |
| Household goods | Exempt personal property in the home |
| Burial fund | Up to $1,500 in a separately designated account |
| Prepaid funeral | Irrevocable funeral contract may be exempt with HHSC documentation |
| Term life insurance | Exempt if face value is $1,500 or less |
| IRA / 401(k) | Countable unless receiving required minimum distributions treated as income |
| Second home or land | Countable; must be sold or spent down unless occupied by exempt relative |
Read our pillar guides for look-back rules, Miller Trusts, spousal allowances, and estate recovery. Start withwhat is Medicaid spend down or theasset limits guide if you are new to the topic.
These supporting posts cover countable assets, application steps, and spend-down strategies that pair with this calculator.
Asset caps differ sharply by state. California reinstated a $130,000 single limit in January 2026. Oklahoma and Louisiana still follow the $2,000 federal floor for many cases.
Texas HHSC uses a $2,000 countable resource limit for a single MEPD applicant and $3,000 when both spouses apply. Certain exempt assets, like a primary home and one car, do not count toward that cap.
Texas does not use a medically needy income spend-down for most nursing facility cases. Applicants above the monthly income cap must use a Miller Trust (Qualified Income Trust) instead of stacking doctor bills.
When one spouse stays home, HHSC protects between $29,724 and $162,660 of combined countable assets for the community spouse in 2026. The applicant may keep $2,000 in addition to that protected share.
Texas reviews asset transfers made within 60 months before your application date. Gifts, below-market sales, and some trust funding can trigger penalty months without coverage.
Nursing facility applicants with gross income above $2,901 per month in 2026 generally must deposit excess income into a Qualified Income Trust each month. The trust must be irrevocable and managed by a Texas trustee.
HHSC eligibility offices and local ADRC staff collect Form H1200 and supporting statements. Call 2-1-1 or (877) 541-7905 to reach your local office. Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas hubs see the highest volume.
No. A $0 asset result does not clear you for MEPD. HHSC still reviews STAR+PLUS level-of-care forms, Miller Trust setup when income tops $2,901 monthly, and 60-month gift history.
This calculator does not decide Texas Medicaid eligibility and is not legal or financial advice. Verify figures with Texas HHSC or your county eligibility office before you transfer property or file an application.
