Par.1.	Material Transmitted and Purpose – Transmitted with this Manual Letter are changes to Service Chapter 510-05 – Medicaid Eligibility Factors.  

510-05-65-20.   Community Spouse Asset Allowance

Subsection 2 has been UPDATED with the new asset levels for the Community Spouse Asset Allowance.

2.	The community spouse asset allowance is determined by first establishing a spousal share.  The spousal share is an amount equal to one half of the total value of all countable assets owned (individually or jointly) by the institutionalized, HCBS, or community spouse.

Example:
If the couple’s countable assets are:	The community spouse share is:
	
$25,000	$12,500	
$90,000	$45,000	
$200,000	$100,000	

From the spousal share, the community spouse asset allowance is established, and is an amount that is equal to the community spouse share, but not less than $18,552  $19,020, and not more than $92,760  95,100, effective January 2004  2005 ($18,132 18,552 and $90,660  92,760 effective July 2003 January 2004).

Example:
If the spousal
share is:	The community spouse asset allowance is:	
$12,500	$18,552 (at least the minimum) $19,020	
$45,000	$45,000	
$100,000	$92,760 95,100 (one-half is more than the maximum allowed, so the community spouse gets the maximum)	

The community spouse asset allowance may be adjusted by any additional amount transferred under a court order or established through a fair hearing.  Adjustments in the minimum and maximum allowed for a community spouse may also adjust the community spouse asset allowance.

	Par 2.	Effective Date – January 1, 2005