This is the time of year for annual updates to federal programs that intersect with state services that may benefit the people you care about, including Social Security, VA Pension with Aid and Attendance (A&A), and Medicaid. This summary of 2026 benefit updates will help you plan for your loved one’s income, care, and housing costs in the new year.

Social Security

Social Security benefits will increase by 2.8% in 2026, resulting in an average monthly increase of $56 for retired workers. This Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) takes effect with December 2025 benefits, which are payable in January 2026. This adjustment also applies to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment levels, which will see a 2.8% increase for January 2026 payments.

The 2026 Social Security increase will be significantly offset by rising Medicare costs, meaning that beneficiaries will see much less in their “take-home” pay. Here’s how Medicare costs eat into the COLA:

1. Automatic Deductions: Medicare Part B premiums are automatically taken directly from Social Security checks before you or your loved one receive them.
2. Part B Premium Hike: The standard Part B premium is rising from $185 to $202.90 in 2026, a substantial jump that consumes a large chunk of the COLA.
3. Net Benefit Shrinks: An average $56 monthly COLA increase might shrink to around $39-$40 after the $18 Part B deduction, leaving less actual money in your pocket.

VA Pension – Aid and Attendance

The VA Aid and Attendance (A&A) program is an enhanced monthly pension for veterans and surviving spouses who need help with daily activities or are bedridden, blind, or severely disabled. Eligibility hinges on wartime service and medical need. A&A supplements the basic pension to help cover care costs for veterans who need assistance with activities of daily living

For 2026, the maximum VA Aid and Attendance benefit is $2,873 monthly, adjusted annually by COLA. A 2.8% COLA increase was effective December 1, 2025, though the actual payout depends countable income and unreimbursed medical expenses. The resource (asset) limit to be eligible for Veterans Pension benefits is $163,699. (not including the principal residence and one vehicle, which are non-countable for VA purposes).

Here’s a more detailed look at the VA Aid & Attendance benefit rates that went into effect on December 1, 2025:

Type	Monthly	Annually
Veteran with One Dependent Basic Housebound Aid & Attendance	$1,903 $2,225 $2,874	$22,836 $26,709 $34,488
Single Veterans Basic Housebound Aid & Attendance	$1,453 $1,776 $2,424	$17,440 $21,312 $29,091
Surviving Spouse Basic Housebound Aid & Attendance	$974 $1,191 $1,558	$11,699 $14,296 $18,696
Healthy Veteran with Ill Spouse	$1,903	$22,838
Two Married Veterans (both A&A)	$3,845	$46,143
Each Additional Dependent	$247	$2,983

Medicaid

The Medicaid Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) protects a portion of the resources available to the “community spouse,” (the spouse not in a nursing home) when the spouse who is applying for Medicaid enters long-term care. The CSRA helps ensure that the healthy spouse has resources to live on while ensuring the financially needy spouse receives care.

The Medicaid Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA) is a federal standard that allows a “community spouse” to keep a portion of their institutionalized spouse’s income, preventing them from becoming impoverished while the other qualifies for Medicaid long-term care. If the community spouse’s income falls below the MMMNA, they receive the difference from the institutionalized spouse’s income, plus potentially more for excess shelter costs like rent or mortgage.

While the rules governing CSRA and MMMNA are federal, each state implements them through its own procedures and policies. Both Kansas and Missouri follow federal framework. Below is a state-specific overview of how these CSRA and MMMNA are changing in 2026.

Kansas – KanCare

Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA)

• In 2025, when only one spouse applied for long-term-care Medicaid, the “community spouse” could generally keep up to $157,920 in countable assets, while the applicant was limited to $2,000.
• For 2026, federal spousal-impoverishment standards raise the CSRA range to $32,532–$162,660. Kansas follows the 50% rule, so the community spouse may retain half of the couple’s countable assets, but not less than $32,532 or more than $162,660.

Community Spouse Income / MMMNA

• In 2025, Kansas allowed a Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance of at least $2,555, up to $3,948, for the community spouse.
• For 2026, Kansas follows the new federal range: roughly $2,643.75–$4,066.50. If the community spouse’s own income is below this, some of the nursing-home spouse’s income can be shifted over.

Missouri – MO HealthNet

Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA)

• For 2025, Missouri allowed a community spouse to keep $31,584–$157,920 in countable resources, with the exact number based on the couple’s “snapshot” assets.
• In 2026, Missouri applies the 50% methodology subject to federal min/max CSRA limits, so the CSRA range increases to about $32,532–$162,660, giving community spouses a higher ceiling.

Community Spouse Income / MMMNA

• In 2025, Missouri’s MMMNA generally ranged from about $2,643.75 up to $3,948 per month.

Plan Now for 2026 Benefit Updates

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