---
title: "Community spouse resource allowance: Definition | HomeCare.com"
description: "The community spouse resource allowance is the share of a married couple's resources that the spouse living at home may keep when the other spouse needs..."
url: https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/community-spouse-resource-allowance/
publisher: HomeCare.com
phone: 800-974-3458
start: https://care.homecare.com/?source=homecare.com
---

Paying for care

# Community spouse resource allowance

The community spouse resource allowance is the share of a married couple's resources that the spouse living at home may keep when the other spouse needs Medicaid long-term care. Federal spousal impoverishment rules set a minimum and a maximum. CMS updates the amounts each year.

## Why it matters for your family

Congress created these protections in 1988 so the spouse at home is not left with almost nothing. The couple's resources are generally pooled, and the community spouse keeps an amount within the federal range, set by the state. The rules also protect some income for the spouse at home. A common mistake is to think the couple must spend everything first. They do not. Check the current figures on the CMS spousal impoverishment page, because they change each year. An elder law attorney can explain how your state applies the rules.

Source: [medicaid.gov](https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/eligibility-policy/spousal-impoverishment)

[Read more: Paying for care](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/paying-for-care/)

## Related terms

-   [**Medicaid asset limit**The Medicaid asset limit is the cap on countable assets a person may own and still qualify for Medicaid long-term care.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medicaid-asset-limit/)
-   [**Medicaid eligibility**Medicaid eligibility for long-term care depends on need, income, and assets.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medicaid-eligibility/)
-   [**Medicaid planning**Medicaid planning is the legal arrangement of income and assets so a person can meet Medicaid rules for long-term care.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/medicaid-planning/)
-   [**Spend down**Spend down is a way to qualify for Medicaid when your income is above the state limit.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/spend-down/)
-   [**Look-back period**The look-back period is the time window Medicaid reviews when someone applies for long-term care coverage.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/look-back-period/)
-   [**Elder law attorney**An elder law attorney is a lawyer who focuses on legal issues of older adults.](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/elder-law-attorney/)

[All glossary terms](https://homecare.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/)

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