What DCF doesn't count
- Your home, of any value, if it's your principal place of residence: a house, condo, co-op, mobile home, motor home or houseboat, with its land (ESS 1640.0534). It stays excluded during a temporary absence if you intend to return or a spouse or dependent relative lives there. Florida's separate home-equity cap applies only to nursing home and other long-term care Medicaid, not to these programs (ESS 1640.0307.04).
- Money from selling your home, for up to three months while you buy another one (ESS 1640.0543.03).
- One automobile, regardless of value or use. If you have more than one, DCF excludes the one with the most equity. Cars over seven years old are also excluded, except luxury, classic (25 years or older) and customized vehicles (ESS 1640.0591).
- Household goods and personal effects, such as furniture, appliances, electronics and jewelry, regardless of value (ESS 1640.0565.01).
- Burial spaces for you and your immediate family, irrevocable prepaid burial contracts, and a limited amount of money you set aside for burial (ESS 1640.0509–1640.0516).
- Term life insurance, and small whole-life policies under DCF's face-value limit (ESS 1640.0554).
- A retirement fund you're already receiving regular payments from; the payments count as income instead (ESS 1640.0505.04). A pension fund owned by a spouse who isn't applying is also excluded.
What DCF counts
- Cash, checking and savings accounts, and certificates of deposit;
- Stocks, bonds and mutual funds;
- Retirement accounts you can withdraw from but aren't receiving payments from, minus any early-withdrawal penalty;
- A second car's equity (average trade-in value minus the loan);
- Real estate other than your home, though DCF can exclude it for a time while you make a good-faith effort to sell it (ESS 1640.0537);
- Your spouse's countable assets, if you live together: DCF always uses the couple limit (ESS 2240.0610).
DCF needs assets to be within the limit as of the date it decides your application, and if you qualify on any day of a month, you qualify for the whole month (ESS 1640.0402, 1640.0405).
If you're over the limit
Ask DCF how a specific asset will be counted before you move or give away money. Extra Help with drug costs has a higher resource limit, $18,090 for one person in 2026, so you may still qualify for it; see Extra Help in Florida. The full guide is Medicare Savings Programs in Florida.
Related questions
What are the Medicare Savings Program income limits in Florida?
The income side.
What documents do I need to apply for a Medicare Savings Program in Florida?
Statements DCF asks for.
Will Florida Medicaid take my house after I die if I get a Medicare Savings Program?
Your house after you die.
Sources
- Florida DCF — ESS Program Policy Manual, Chapter 1600, Assets (1640, SSI-related Medicaid) (PDF)
- Florida DCF — ESS Program Policy Manual, Chapter 2200, Standard Filing Unit (2240.0610) (PDF)
- Florida DCF — Appendix A-9.1, effective April 2026 (MSP asset limits) (PDF)
- Medicare.gov — Medicare Savings Programs
More questions in this guide
- What documents do I need to apply for a Medicare Savings Program in Florida?
- Will Florida Medicaid take my house after I die if I get a Medicare Savings Program?
- How do I apply for Extra Help with Medicare drug costs in Florida?
- How do I apply for a Medicare Savings Program in Florida?
- What are the Medicare Savings Program income limits in Florida?
- What is QMB in Florida?
Part of the guide: Medicare Savings Programs in Florida · All questions
Frequently asked questions
I still own a house up north. Does Florida count it?
Not if your spouse or a dependent relative lives there, or if you intend to return to it. DCF's manual (ESS 1640.0543.02) lets Florida residents exclude a home in another state on those terms. Otherwise, another house generally counts.
Does my IRA count?
It depends. If you're receiving regular payments from it, DCF counts the payments as income and not the account as an asset. If you can withdraw but aren't taking payments, DCF counts what's available, minus any early-withdrawal penalty (ESS 1640.0505.04).
My daughter's name is on my bank account. Does it all count?
DCF presumes all the money in a joint account belongs to you if you can withdraw it freely (ESS 1640.0302.01). You can show that part of the money is someone else's; DCF's manual explains what proof it accepts.
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