Are you aware that in CT spouses are offered protection of a portion of the couple’s combined assets, if one of them needs to apply for Medicaid to help pay for nursing care? The provision is referred to as the Community Spouse Protection Allowance. In earlier times a couple had to spend all of their combined assets on approved expenses before they could apply for Medicaid. This left the spouse still living in the community in poverty, without any resources to cover his/her future medical and living costs. Many people incorrectly believe that this is still the case, but it is not.
In addition to assets, in previous years, the spouse requiring nursing care was required to turnover his/her pension and Social Security check to pay a portion of the care received, leaving the community dwelling spouse with insufficient funds to maintain the family home. This too is no longer required.
In Connecticut (CT) for 2025, spousal impoverishment rules let the community spouse keep half of combined assets up to a $157,920 maximum, with a $50,000 minimum, plus one car, the home (with high equity limits), and a monthly income allowance up to about $3,948
If your spouse needs more care than you can safely provide at home and are reluctant to seek care outside the home because of fear you’ll deplete all of your assets as a couple, there is help. Seek out information from legal services about the Minimum Spousal Protection available in CT.