Page 42

BAM 600 42 of 50 HEARINGS BPB 2026-014 5-1-2026

BRIDGES ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Community Spouse Income Allowance MA Only The ALJ may raise the total allowance used to calculate the community spouse income allowance to an amount greater than provided for in BEM 546 to provide such additional income as is necessary due to exceptional circumstances resulting in significant financial duress. The fact that a community spouse's expenses for goods and ser- vices purchased for day-to-day living exceed the total allowance provided by policy does not constitute exceptional circumstance. Goods and services purchased for day-to-day living include: • Clothing. • Drugs. • Food. • Shelter (for example, mortgage, taxes, insurance, rent, mainte- nance). • Telephone. • Trash pickup. • Doctor's services. • Entertainment. • Heat. • Utilities. • Taxes. • Transportation (for example, car payments, insurance, mainte- nance, fuel, bus fare). Employment expenses do not constitute exceptional circumstances.

loading…

Page 42

Official source

BAM 600 42 of 50 HEARINGS BPB 2026-014 5-1-2026

BRIDGES ADMINISTRATIVE MANUAL STATE OF MICHIGAN DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVICES

Community Spouse Income Allowance MA Only The ALJ may raise the total allowance used to calculate the community spouse income allowance to an amount greater than provided for in BEM 546 to provide such additional income as is necessary due to exceptional circumstances resulting in significant financial duress. The fact that a community spouse's expenses for goods and ser- vices purchased for day-to-day living exceed the total allowance provided by policy does not constitute exceptional circumstance. Goods and services purchased for day-to-day living include: • Clothing. • Drugs. • Food. • Shelter (for example, mortgage, taxes, insurance, rent, mainte- nance). • Telephone. • Trash pickup. • Doctor's services. • Entertainment. • Heat. • Utilities. • Taxes. • Transportation (for example, car payments, insurance, mainte- nance, fuel, bus fare). Employment expenses do not constitute exceptional circumstances.