DC's asset limit is double the federal standard most states use — and its spend-down window for excess income is more forgiving than most states too. Here's how it actually works in 2026.
DC-specific — figures don't apply nationallyDC's Medicaid asset limit for long-term care is $4,000 for a single applicant in 2026 — double the $2,000 federal standard most states use, and meaningfully higher than neighboring jurisdictions. If you're comparing options across the DC metro area, this is a real, material difference in how much you can hold in savings and still qualify.
The Elderly and Persons with Physical Disabilities (EPD) Waiver, operated by the Department of Long-Term Care within DHCF, is DC's primary HCBS program — for seniors 65+ and physically disabled adults 18-64 who would otherwise need nursing-facility-level care but want to remain at home or in an assisted living community. It serves approximately 6,100 people annually and is not an entitlement — slots are limited, so applying before care becomes urgent matters.
| Nursing Home Medicaid | EPD Waiver | |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 asset limit | $4,000 (single) | $4,000 (single) |
| 2026 income limit | $2,982/month | $2,982/month |
| Guaranteed if eligible? | Yes — an entitlement | No — ~6,100 annual slots |
Source: DC Department of Health Care Finance (DHCF); figures effective 2026.
Qualifying medically for the EPD Waiver requires two specific steps: a Prescription Order Form (POF) completed by a DC Medicaid provider, and a face-to-face "level of need" assessment conducted by Liberty Healthcare, the District's assessment contractor. Together, these document that you'd need nursing-home-level care without the waiver's support.
DC offers a Medically Needy pathway for those whose income exceeds the standard limit but who have significant medical expenses. DC's Medically Needy Income Limit is $856.90/month, and the spend-down period runs a full 6 months — your medical expenses are tracked over a rolling 6-month window until they bring your countable income down to that limit, after which DC Medicaid covers the rest for the remainder of that window.
$4,000 for a single applicant — double the $2,000 federal standard most states use.
DC's primary HCBS program for seniors and physically disabled adults needing nursing-facility-level care at home — about 6,100 annual slots, not an entitlement.
DC's Medically Needy spend-down runs a full 6 months, more forgiving than the 1-month window many states use.
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