It’s simply a part of the Medicaid application process. In terms of assets, the so-called “community” spouse will be limited to $150,000, the community spouse resource allowance, or CSRA. On the income side, the Medicaid agency does the calculations to determine how much of the nursing home spouse’s income may be retained by the community spouse. The applicant does not have to do any calculations.
Harry S. Margolis practices elder law, estate, and special needs planning in Boston and Wellesley, Massachusetts. He is the founder of ElderLawAnswers.com and answers consumer questions about estate planning issues here and at AskHarry.info.
