WAC 182-513-1355 Allocating resources to a community spouse when determining resource eligibility for SSI-related long-term care services

Effective February 25, 2023

The agency or its designee uses this section to calculate the resource allocation from the institutionalized spouse to the community spouse for the determination of the institutionalized spouse's resource eligibility under WAC 182-513-1350 (2)(a)(ii).

If the institutionalized spouse's most recent continuous period of institutionalization (MRCPI) began: Before October 1, 1989, the agency adds together one-half the total amount of countable resources, as determined under WAC 182-513-1350 (4), held in the name of: The institutionalized spouse; and Both spouses. On or after October 1, 1989, the agency or its designee adds together the total amount of countable resources, as determined under WAC 182-513-1350 (4), held in the name of: Either spouse; and Both spouses.

If subsection (2)(b) of this section applies, the agency or its designee determines the amount of resources allocated to the community spouse, before determining the amount of countable resources used to establish eligibility for the institutionalized spouse under WAC 182-513-1350 : If the institutionalized spouse's MRCPI began on or after October 1, 1989, and before August 1, 2003, the agency or its designee allocates the federal spousal resource maximum; If the institutionalized spouse's MRCPI began on or after August 1, 2003, the agency or its designee allocates the greater of: A spousal share equal to one-half of the couple's combined countable resources, up to the federal spousal resource maximum; or The state spousal resource standard.

Countable resources under subsection (3)(b) of this section determined as of the first day of the month in which MRCPI began.

The agency or its designee uses a community spouse evaluation to determine the amount of the spousal share under subsection (3)(b)(i) of this section.

The agency or its designee completes a community spouse resource evaluation: Upon request by the institutionalized spouse, or the institutionalized spouse's community spouse; At any time between the date that the MRCPI began and the date that eligibility for long-term care (LTC) is determined; and Upon receipt of any verification required to establish the amount of the couple's resources in the month of MRCPI.

The community spouse resource evaluation can be completed prior to an application for LTC or as part of the LTC application if: The beginning of the MRCPI was prior to the month of application; and The spousal share exceeds the state spousal resource standard.

The amount of allocated resources under subsection (3) of this section can be increased, but only if: A court has entered an order against the institutionalized spouse for the support of the community spouse or a dependent of either spouse; or A final order is entered under chapter 182-526 WAC, ruling that the institutionalized spouse or community spouse established that the income generated by the resources allocated under subsection (3) of this section is insufficient to raise the community spouse's income to the monthly maintenance needs allowance (MMNA) determined under WAC 182-513-1385 , but only after the application of the income-first rule under 42 U.S.C. 1396r–5(d)(6).

If a final order establishes that the conditions identified in subsection (8)(b) of this section have been met, then an amount of allocated resources under subsection (3) of this section will be substituted by an amount adequate to provide such an MMNA.

The institutionalized spouse has until the end of the month of the first regularly scheduled eligibility review to transfer countable resources in excess of $2000 to the community spouse.

Standards in this section are found at www.hca.wa.gov/free-or-low-cost-health-care/program-administration/program-standard-income-and-resources .

This is a reprint of the official rule as published by the Office of the Code Reviser . If there are previous versions of this rule, they can be found using the Legislative Search page .