Pennsylvania actually offers applicants two different ways to qualify financially. DHS publishes a 2026 individual income limit of $2,982 per month for the 300%-of-SSI-federal-benefit-rate institutional pathway.
But that's not the only door in. Pennsylvania also runs a medically needy, or spend-down, pathway — DHS explains that income above the limit can be offset by incurred medical or cost-of-care expenses accumulated over a six-month period.
Put together, this two-path structure means it's inaccurate to describe Pennsylvania as a strict income-cap state across the board — unlike, say, Florida's harder income-cap framework.