Resource Assessments

When a married couple apply for Medicaid assistance assets are looked at differently from a single person.  Married couples (well-spouse) can keep up to $119,220 and the applicant $2,000.

In order for these amounts to be allowed a resource assessment needs to be completed by the State workers.  While this seems an easy feat it is not.

A customer does not have to make application for ALTCS/Medicaid benefits to request a resource assessment. However, a first continuous period of institutionalization must be established before a resource assessment can be completed.

This means a medical assessment will have to be completed by the State or if the applicant has been in a community/receiving in home care or other type assistance that can be used to determine what month the State will be looking at to determine how much of the total assets will be assigned to the well-spouse.

Assets owned by either spouse, jointly owned or individually owned will be used to determine the amount to be calculated.

Example:  

The customer and community spouse completed a resource assessment in 3/13. At that time the minimum CSRD was $23,181 and the maximum CSRD was $115,920. Their combined countable resources were $140,000 and the spousal share was $70,000. The couple was notified that they qualified for the CSRD of $70,000. In February 2014 the customer applies for ALTCS, show proof of assets below the $70,000 Community Spouse Resource Deduction and are approved.