The Senior Desk · Already owed
Extra Help with Medicare drug costs
Worth thousands a year in prescription costs. This page explains who looks likely to qualify and how to apply — it does not decide, and we never file for you.
Who looks likely to qualify
If your SSA-countable income is at or below 150% of the federal poverty guideline and your money in the bank and investments are under the resource limit, you look likely to qualify. SSA counts income its own way — it sets aside the first $20 a month of most income, and for wages the first $65 plus half the rest — so the number that matters is lower than your raw income.
The 2026 figures
| Income line | 150% of the poverty guideline — about $23,940 a year for one person |
|---|---|
| Money in the bank (single) | about $16,590 (a bit higher with money set aside for burial) |
| Money in the bank (couple) | about $33,100 |
| What does NOT count | your home and one car |
How to apply — with the agency, not with us
The application is the government's own. We hand you the link; you apply directly. We never submit anything for you, and only the agency can decide who is eligible.
Apply for Extra Help at ssa.gov (official site)Related
Already yours. Go claim it.
— The Senior Desk