New Medicaid and VA Figures for 2018 #2018Medicaidnumbers

       The cost of living adjustment for 2018 for many of the government programs that affect our clients’ lives has been announced so let’s go over those numbers.

       For 2018, the Social Security Administration announced that Social Security recipients will receive an increase of 2%, after receiving a small increase of .0.3% 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 2%.  So here are the numbers you need to know for 2018.

       The Medicaid income cap will go up to $2250 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 $123,600.  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 up to $24,720, meaning the healthy spouse can keep at least $24,720 in assets.

       VA Aid and Attendance pension benefits will also increase by 2% in 2018.  This means that a single veteran can receive a maximum of $1830 per month, a married veteran can receive as much as $2169 per month and the widowed spouse of a veteran tops out at $1176 per month in VA Aid and Attendance benefits.