HI, I’m Jeff Bellomo with Bellomo & Associates. We are your estate planning and elder law firm. This video today, we are going to talk a little bit about community spousal allowance. So, we are in the Medicaid context. We are in a situation where there is a married couple, and the community spouse, the well spouse, or the person who is living in the community is going to be allowed to keep a portion of the I.S., or the institutionalized spouse’s income. If their income is below, we call it the triple M.N.A, or the minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance, which in Pennsylvania is currently, in 2020 at $2114.00 a month. So, what that means is if the community spouse’s income is not at $2114.00 a month, they will be allowed to keep a portion of the institutionalized spouse’s income to be able to go into their pocket so that they can keep it. Now, the maximum triple M.N.A. in Pennsylvania currently is $3216.00 a month. So, when we get in the window between $2114.00 and $3216.00, we in the law firm will guide you if the out of pocket expenses for the housing and those types of things are high enough to get us up there but at a minimum, we are going to be able to get you to $2114.00 of income and that may mean that we will have to keep a portion of the institutionalized spouse’s income to get us up to that minimum. Well I hope that helped. I hope today’s video in regards to the community spousal allowance and the triple M.N.A or the minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance or the maximum monthly needs allowance made some sense. Hope this video helped. Have a great day!…(read more)

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The Community Spousal Allowance (CSA) is a program that provides financial assistance to married couples who have a spouse in a nursing home or receiving Medicaid home care. The program was established in 1988 as part of the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act.

The CSA is not a separate program, but rather a provision within the Medicaid program. The program is designed to prevent the impoverishment of a non-institutionalized spouse when the other spouse requires long-term care. The non-institutionalized spouse is allowed to keep a certain amount of the couple’s resources and income, even if the institutionalized spouse is eligible for Medicaid.

The amount of the Community Spousal Allowance varies depending on the couple’s income and assets, as well as the cost of living in the state they reside in. In some states, the Community Spousal Allowance is equal to the federal minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance (MMMNA), which is currently set at $2,155. The MMMNA is adjusted annually for inflation.

The Community Spousal Allowance is important because it ensures that the non-institutionalized spouse has enough income and resources to maintain their standard of living. Without the program, the institutionalized spouse’s medical expenses could drain the couple’s savings and income, leaving the non-institutionalized spouse with little or no income to support themselves.

To qualify for the Community Spousal Allowance, the couple must meet certain criteria. The institutionalized spouse must be eligible for Medicaid, and the non-institutionalized spouse must meet the eligibility requirements for the program. The non-institutionalized spouse must also provide proof of financial need, including income and asset information.

In addition to the Community Spousal Allowance, many states also offer other Medicaid programs that provide assistance to spouses of nursing home residents. These programs may provide additional resources, such as help with medical bills or prescription medication costs.

Overall, the Community Spousal Allowance is an important program for married couples who are facing the high costs of long-term care. By providing financial assistance to the non-institutionalized spouse, the program helps to protect the couple’s financial stability and maintain their quality of life. If you or a loved one are considering long-term care, it is important to understand your eligibility for the Community Spousal Allowance and other Medicaid programs that may be available.