Page 69

Louisiana Medicaid Eligibility Manual Eligibility Factors

Reissued June 9, 2026

Page 69 of I-1630 Replacing September 23, 2024

Revised/added text indicated by underscore

Deleted text indicated by “**” Whether a trust is counted as a resource depends on the applicant/beneficiary's role as trust beneficiary, trustee, or settlor, and the specific terms of the trust.

If the trustee has no access to the funds for their personal use, the trust is not a resource to the trustee. However, there are some trusts which allow the trustee access to the funds for their personal use and these trusts are counted as resources to the trustee.

Even though the trust beneficiary does not hold legal title to the trust, under certain circumstances the trust is counted as a resource to them.

When the trust is considered a resource:

• Count the total value of the trust, and

• Count any interest or distributions the month following the month of receipt. Distributions are counted as income in the month of receipt while interest is excluded as income.

Note: Do not count as income any withdrawals made from a trust which is a countable resource, because the funds have already been counted as a resource.

Applicant/Beneficiary as Trustee

Count the trust as a resource, regardless of whose funds were originally deposited into the trust, if the applicant/beneficiary:

• Is the trustee, and

• Has the legal right to:

- Revoke the trust, and

- Use the money for their own benefit.

Applicant/Beneficiary as Trust Beneficiary

Count the trust as a resource if the applicant/beneficiary is trust beneficiary and has unrestricted access to the trust.

Note: The authority for trustee discretion in the use of trust funds