Medicaid Informational Bulletin on update to 2020 Supplement Security Income (SSI) ..

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Medicaid Informational Bulletin on update 
to 2020 Supplement Security Income (SSI) 
and Spousal Impoverishment Standards



06/24/2020 02:10 PM EDT

Today, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
released a Medicaid Informational Bulletin with the updated
2020 Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and
Spousal Impoverishment Standards.


Informational Bulletin: Updated 2020 SSI and 
Spousal Impoverishment Standard 



The expense of nursing home care — which ranges from $5,000 to $8,000
a month or more — can rapidly deplete the lifetime savings of elderly couples.
In 1988, Congress enacted provisions to prevent what has come to be
called "spousal impoverishment," leaving the spouse who is still living at
home in the community with little or no income or resources. These
provisions help ensure that this situation will not occur and that community
spouses are able to live out their lives with independence and dignity.

Under the Medicaid spousal impoverishment provisions, a certain amount
of the couple's combined resources is protected for the spouse living in
the community. Depending on how much of his or her own income the
community spouse actually has, a certain amount of income belonging
to the spouse in the institution can also be set aside for the community
spouse's use.

Following is the minimum and maximum amount of resources and
income that can be protected for a spouse in the community in 2020:

2020 Spousal Impoverishment Standard (PDF, 34.3 KB)

Post-Eligibility Treatment of Income
The post eligibility calculation is made to determine how much
an individual in an institution (usually a nursing home) is able
to contribute to cost of his/her own care. It applies only to
individuals who are institutionalized (most commonly to those
in nursing facilities) and to certain individuals receiving home
and community-based waiver services. The process only applies
to those with income and only after their Medicaid eligibility
has been established.

The contribution is determined by first calculating the individual's
total income and then deducting certain amounts from that income.
Specifically, the individual's contribution is his or her total income
less the following deductions
(often referred to as "protected amounts"):


A personal needs allowance of at least $30;

If there is a community spouse and the spousal impoverishment
rules discussed above apply, a community spouse's monthly income
allowance (at least $2,002.50 but not exceeding $2,980 for 2016),
as long as the income is actually made available to the
community spouse;

A family monthly income allowance, if there are other family
members living in the household;

An amount for medical expenses incurred by the spouse who is
in the medical facility.


Once the above items are deducted from the institutionalized
individual's income, any remaining income is contributed toward
the cost of his or her care in the institution.