New Medicaid and VA Figures for 2017 #2017Medicaidnumbers

                It’s time to update the numbers for many of the government programs that affect our clients’ lives and that we work with so often.  I am talking about cost of living adjustments for the new  year.

For 2017, the Social Security Administration announced that Social Security recipients will receive a small .3% increase, after receiving no increase last year.  Because Medicaid and the VA Aid and Attendance program adjustments are tied to the same percentage increase, this means that those benefits will also increase by .3%.  So here are the numbers you need to know for 2017.

                The Medicaid income cap will go up slightly to $2206 per month.  This number is the limit on income per month needed to qualify for most Medicaid programs.  For Medicaid recipients whose income exceeds this limit a Qualified Income Trust (commonly known as a Miller Trust) must be used to achieve and maintain eligibility.

                 The Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) will  increase to $120,900.  That is the maximum amount a healthy spouse may keep in countable assets (provided the married couple have at least that amount times 2 at the time the “snapshot of assets” is taken).   The minimum CSRA is $24,180, meaning the healthy spouse can keep at least $24,180 in assets.

                VA Aid and Attendance pension benefits will also increase by .3% in 2017.  This means that a single veteran can receive a maximum of $1794 per month, a married veteran can receive as much as $2127 per month and the widowed spouse of a veteran tops out at $1153 per month in VA Aid and Attendance benefits.