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The community spouse’s income and shelter expenses are used to establish the Community Spouse Income Maintenance Allowance. Changes in these values must be reported to the Department within ten (10) days of knowing of the change. · Allow this deduction unless the institutionalized spouse specifically refuses it. · The deduction is not allowed unless the funds are actually transferred to the community spouse. · If the applicant/recipient is determined to be categorically needy and has dependent family members, no community spouse income allowance will be calculated, because there is no remainder (Spend Down) from which to deduct the allowance.

If the community spouse applies for Medicaid coverage (such as MSP or medically needy), the CSIMA is countable income in the eligibility determination.

Shelter Expenses: Allowable shelter expenses (see Spousal Income Maintenance Allowance above) include: 1. Rent or mortgage (including principal and interest) payments; 2. Property taxes and homeowner’s insurance; 3. Condo or co-op maintenance charge or homeowner’s association fees; AND 4. Utilities (if paid separately). When the waiver spouse and non-waiver spouse reside together in the community, one- half of the shelter expenses will be allocated to each spouse for purposes of calculating shelter expenses for the Spousal Income Maintenance Allowance. When a waiver spouse and a non-waiver spouse reside together in an assisted living facility, the non-waiver spouse’s individual expenses (room, board, personal care, etc.) must be itemized by the assisted living facility and only the shelter (‘room’) charges are considered shelter expenses. Board (food), personal assistance, cable TV, etc., are not shelter expenses. Utility Expenses: Allow the SNAP SUA (standard utility allowance) as defined in SNAP 602-4 Shelter Deductions when the community spouse is responsible for major heating/cooling costs.