The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has issued its Spousal Impoverishment Standards for 2022, confirming the earlier projections of Pennsylvania ElderLawAnswers member Robert Clofine, who based his estimates on the consumer price index for urban consumers for September. The spousal impoverishment thresholds will increase 5.4 percent over 2021's figures.
The official spousal impoverishment allowances for 2022 are as follows (we include Medicaid's home equity limits, which Clofine did not project):
Minimum Community Spouse Resource Allowance: $27,480
Maximum Community Spouse Resource Allowance: $137,400
Maximum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance: $3,435
The minimum monthly maintenance needs allowance for the lower 48 states remains $2,177.50 ($2,721.25 for Alaska and $2,505 for Hawaii) until July 1, 2022.
Income Cap (in applicable states): $2,523
Home Equity Limits:
Minimum: $636,000
Maximum: $955,000
For CMS's complete chart of the 2022 SSI and Spousal Impoverishment Standards, click here.