South Dakota runs its long-term care Medicaid program on an income-cap basis rather than a straightforward spend-down. For the 2026 cycle, DSS lists a $2,982 monthly income ceiling for the nursing-facility and waiver eligibility groups — a figure set at 300% of the SSI standard benefit — alongside a $2,000 resource limit for a single applicant.
A DSS guide aimed at spousal cases explains that someone in a medical facility whose income tops three times the SSI benefit can still qualify, but only by routing that income through an approved income trust. That's the central point for an income-cap state: simply spending money down doesn't substitute for setting up a valid trust once the cap applies.
Older state training material — the most recent version DSS provides publicly — describes a $3,000 combined resource limit for the month both spouses are receiving long-term care at the same time. Since that couple's figure doesn't appear next to the 2026 individual number on the current consumer-facing page, anyone relying on it should confirm the household-specific limit directly with DSS before filing.