How to Help a Parent Apply for Extra Help (2026)
By Charles “Chuck” Brodsky, Co-Founder, MediNav · Updated July 2026
Extra Help cuts a parent's Medicare drug costs to near zero, about $5,700 a year. How an adult child can check if Mom or Dad qualifies, what counts toward the 2026 limits, and how to apply and help them.
If you help a parent with Medicare and their prescriptions feel expensive, Extra Help is often the single biggest thing you can fix. It's a federal program that brings Part D drug costs down to a $0 premium, $0 deductible, and small copays, worth roughly $5,700 a year. Here's how to check and help them apply.
Who qualifies in 2026
In 2026, the income limits are about $23,940 a year for a single person and $32,460 for a married couple. Savings (not counting their home and one car) must be under $18,090 (single) or $36,100 (married). Because some income and savings don't count, it's worth applying even if your parent looks a little over the line.
What counts, and what doesn't
Their home doesn't count. One car doesn't count. Household items and personal belongings don't count. What does count is income like Social Security and pensions, and savings like checking, savings, and investment accounts. And if your parent qualifies for a Medicare Savings Program, they're enrolled in Extra Help automatically.
How to apply, and how to help
Extra Help is a single federal application through the Social Security Administration, free at ssa.gov/extrahelp or by phone at 1-800-772-1213. You can sit with your parent and complete it together. To speak with Social Security or Medicare on their behalf, have your parent sign the authorization form first (Medicare's Form CMS-10106) so you're not blocked when you call.
Do this even if you're not sure
The most common reason people miss Extra Help is assuming they earn too much and never applying. The limits are higher than most families expect, and there's no downside to checking. A free two-minute benefits check will tell you whether it's worth applying, and flag the Medicare Savings Programs at the same time, since qualifying for one enrolls your parent in Extra Help automatically.
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Can I apply for Extra Help on behalf of my parent?
You can help your parent complete the application and submit it together, and you can speak with Social Security once your parent has authorized it. The application itself is your parent's, signed by them, through the Social Security Administration at ssa.gov/extrahelp or 1-800-772-1213.
What are the 2026 Extra Help income limits?
About $23,940 a year for a single person and $32,460 for a married couple, with countable savings under $18,090 (single) or $36,100 (married). Their home and one car never count, so apply even if they're close.
Does my parent's house or car count against them?
No. Their home and one vehicle don't count toward the Extra Help savings limit, and neither do household goods and personal belongings. Countable savings are things like bank and investment accounts.
How much is Extra Help worth?
About $5,700 a year, it lowers a parent's Part D premium and deductible to $0 and leaves only small copays on covered medications.
Updated July 2026. Sources: Medicare.gov, SSA, CMS (2026). Estimates, verify with SSA and your state.