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Home Maintenance Allowance

The next needs allowance to consider, if the person cannot use the SIS-EW maintenance needs allowance, is the home maintenance allowance. This allowance changes in July of each year. This needs allowance allows the person to retain income in order to pay for costs to maintain their home in the community.   

MA-LTC enrollees who reside in an LTCF may use this needs allowance for up to three consecutive calendar months if all of the following criteria are met:

• Discharge from the LTCF is expected within three full calendar months from the date the person is eligible for MA-LTC while residing in an LTCF. Verification.

  Use information provided on the Physician’s Certification Form (DHS-1503) or a physician’s statement to determine if this criterion is met.

• Has expenses to maintain a residence in the community (owned or rented). 

• At the time of admittance to the LTCF, the client was not living with a spouse, a child under age 21, or certain tax dependents.

  Includes children over age 21, parents, or siblings of the person or person’s spouse who are listed as a dependent for state and federal tax purpose.

Only allow this needs allowance to be used by one spouse, when both spouses reside in an LTCF.

More information.

Once the maintenance needs allowance has been used, it cannot be used again until there has been a break of one calendar month or more between LTCF admissions. 

Example:

Will Emily or Andreas use the home maintenance needs allowance?

Emily:

No, Emily cannot use this needs allowance based on her DHS-1503 (under the Admission Information Section), because she is anticipated to remain in the LTCF for over six months.

Andreas:

Yes and no. Andreas is able to use the home maintenance needs allowance for three months because his DHS-1503 (under the Admission Information Section) indicates he is anticipated to have a length of stay of 31 to 90 days.  Andreas is expected to return to his apartment which he rents from his niece and did not live with a spouse, child or other tax dependent prior to his LTCF admission. However, because the full amount of his SSI income is allowed to be deducted, he has no income from which to deduct the allowance.

To Do:  Update Andreas’ LTC income calculation to reflect that he can use this deduction, although there will be no income remaining to from which to deduct it. Also update the "LTC Income Calculation, Needs Allowance" line on Andreas’ MA-LTC Case Checklist (DHS-5590) to indicate which needs allowance he woud be able to use if he had additional income that was not deducted.

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LTC Income Calculation - Needs Allowance

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