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What You Need to Know About Medicaid’s Personal Needs Allowance

August 18, 2022 By Barry Crimmins

Senior citizen in nursing home in bed reading book.Seniors who rely on Medicaid and live in nursing homes receive a personal needs allowance — a monthly stipend the Medicaid recipient can use to pay for needs that Medicaid does not cover. Medicaid restricts the amount of the allowance and how it is used. If recipients do not use all the money they received in a month, they may risk losing their coverage.

What Can I Buy with My Personal Needs Allowance?

The items a Medicaid recipient can buy with their personal needs allowance are limited to things that Medicaid does not cover. A recipient can buy vitamins, hair care, snacks, clothing, and other personal-use items. However, since the nursing home facility is required to cover toiletries, the personal needs allowance generally cannot be spent on those types of items.

How Much Money Do I Get for My Personal Needs Allowance?

The Medicaid personal needs allowance has not adjusted for inflation for more than 30 years. In the 1980s, the federal government increased the Medicaid personal needs allowance to a minimum of $30 per month, which has not increased since. The monthly amount Medicaid recipients receive for their expenses varies from state to state. For example, in California, Medicaid recipients get $35 per month while senior citizens in Alaska receive $200 per month.

Am I Allowed to Manage My Personal Needs Allowance Funds?

The recipient may manage their funds. Those who are unable to manage their own money can have a guardian or the nursing home take charge of their personal needs allowance.

If the nursing home where the recipient resides manages their personal needs allowance, the facility must provide an accounting for how it spent the money. Medicaid prohibits the nursing home from using the money on anything that Medicaid provides.

Guardians can manage the recipient’s personal needs allowance on their behalf. The guardian is held to the same standards as the nursing home where the recipient resides and so must provide an accounting, usually some itemization of expenses.

What Happens If I Don’t Spend the Entire Allowance in a Month?

A recipient is not required to spend their entire allowance each month. Sometimes the money accumulates. However, recipients should be careful if they regularly do not spend all the money. Any money from the personal needs allowance a recipient does not spend is deemed an asset. Medicaid limits the value of assets that recipients are allowed to have, and if the recipient accumulates more assets than allowed, they may lose Medicaid eligibility. The Medicaid asset limit for 2022 is $2,000 in most states.

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Law Offices of Barry R. Crimmins, PC

BRC Newsletter September

Elder Law News, September 2022

As the generation of Baby Boomers ages, many are finding their adult children aren’t in the financial position to provide support if long-term care is needed.

august newsletter

Elder Law News, August 2022

With healthcare and nursing homes being a hot topic as of late, you may have some questions regarding your care or the care of a loved one. If so…

Elder Law News - May 2022 Thumbnail

Elder Law News, May 2022

With healthcare and nursing homes being a hot topic as of late, you may have some questions regarding your care or the care of a loved one. If so…

Elder Law NEWS - April 2022

Elder Law News, April 2022

In 2022, change remains constant. But, as it applies to eldercare, some shifts are favorable, while others could directly impact the financial stability and level of care your loved one receives. 

Elder Law NEWS - March 2022

Elder Law News, March 2022

If you or a loved one were hospitalized and put under observation status, don’t worry – you have the right to appeal. The CMS (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services) recently announced that beneficiaries could appeal a hospital’s decision to assign observation status.

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