Elder Law - Medicaid Budget Numbers for 2020

  Eligibility Criteria for a "Single" Applicant:  

• Must be a US citizen or a lawfully admitted Alien.
• Must be a Texas Resident.
• Must meet a Medical Necessity assessment.
• Must be in a nursing home (that offers a Medicaid bed) for 30 days.
• Must have income less than $2,349.00.
• Must have Countable Resources less than $2,000.00
• Must be free of all Post-DRA penalties for uncompensated transfers (Penalty Divisor is $213.71).

Eligibility Criteria for a "Couple" both filing (all criteria is the same except): 

• Must have a combined income less than $4,698.00.
• Must have Countable Resources Less than $3,000.00.

Spousal Impoverishment: 

• The applicant must divert all or enough of his or her monthly income to their non-instigutional spouse, so the non-institutional spouse has gross monthly income of $3,216.50.
• The Community Spouse is allowed to retain 50% of the couples combined Countable Resources with a minimum of $25,728.00 Maximum of $128,640.00 in some cases, more resources are allowed.

Exempt Assets: 

• Homestead less than $595,000.
• Personal Property.
• Automobile (unlimited value). A 2nd auto if the spouse works.
• Irrevocable pre-paid funeral contracts. 
• Burial plots.