A user equipment (UE) transmits, to a base station, an indication of a capability for physical downlink control channel (PDCCH) monitoring. The UE receives, from the base station, a configuration of a plurality of search space set groups based on the capability. The apparatus then monitors PDCCH candidates for a PDCCH from the base station based on a search space set group and the configuration. A base station receives, from a UE, an indication of a capability for PDCCH monitoring and transmits, to the UE, a configuration of a plurality of search space set groups based on the capability. The apparatus transmits a PDCCH to the UE based on the search space set group and the configuration associated with the search space set group.