Allowance For Spouse Application In Maryland
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A community spouse can keep half of the couple's countable assets, up to their state's maximum resource standard. If the community spouse's share is under the maximum resource standard, which in most states is $157,920, this is the amount of their CSRA.
The Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) is $109,560 and the Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA) is $2,739. The resource limits and income provisions work in the following way for a married couple when one spouse is in a nursing home and the other spouse is still at home or in the community.
Non-Countable Assets Non-Countable (exempt) assets are not counted towards Medicaid's asset limit. Exempt assets include one's primary home, given certain conditions are met. The home is automatically exempt if a non-applicant spouse lives in it.
Income spend down applies if your income exceeds Medicaid's monthly limit. You can allocate excess income to medical bills, including doctor visits, prescription medications and health insurance premiums. Once your medical expenses exceed your excess income, you can qualify for Medicaid for the remainder of the month.
Medicaid considers all assets of a married couple to be jointly owned. So, for a married couple with both spouses applying for Medicaid Long Term Care, all of their countable assets would be counted against their asset limit for both applicants.
Spousal Impoverishment Rules, however, permit the non-applicant spouse of a Nursing Home Medicaid or Waiver applicant a Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA). In 2025, the community spouse (the non-applicant spouse) can retain 50% of the couple's assets, up to a maximum of $157,920.
Under current law, the family allowance for a surviving spouse or surviving registered domestic partner is $10,000.
The Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) is $109,560 and the Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA) is $2,739.
There are also two state exceptions when it comes to the Look-Back Period – California and New York. There is no Look-Back Period for HCBS Waivers in California, and it's 30 months (2.5 years) for Nursing Home Medicaid, although that will be phased out by July 2026, leaving California with no Look-Back Period.
