Elder Law Answers
Will My Mother Lose My Father's Income When He Goes on Medicaid?
My father is very ill and may have to be placed in a residential home or long-term psychiatric facility. Will my mother lo...
Read moreDo I Lose My Husband's Income If He Enters a Nursing Home and Goes on Medicaid?
- September 3rd, 2014
Q
If my husband goes into a nursing home and enrolls in Medicaid, will I lose all of his Social Security check?
A
It depends on your income. Medicaid calculates what you need as monthly income based on a fixed formula (not necessarily what you really need). To the extent your own income is less than the amount they determine, you may keep your husband’s income to make up the difference. The balance of his income, less a small personal needs allowance, must be paid to the facility. If your own income exceeds the allowance set by Medicaid you do not need to pay the difference to the nursing home; you can keep all of your income no matter how high.
For more on Medicaid's income protections for the healthy spouse, click here.