CSRA Medicaid 2026 Community Spouse Resource Calculator

The Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA) is the amount of countable assets a non-institutionalized spouse (the community spouse) may retain when their partner applies for long-term care Medicaid. Established by the Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988 and codified at 42 U.S.C. §1396r-5, CSRA prevents impoverishment of the at-home spouse. The 2026 federal maximum is $157,920 and the federal minimum is $31,584. States may set higher minimums but cannot exceed the federal cap unless authorized by waiver.

How CSRA Is Calculated

State rules fall into two categories. 50% (half-loaf) states grant the community spouse half of the couple's countable assets at the snapshot date (date of institutionalization), subject to the federal minimum and maximum. Maximum CSRA states (California, Illinois, Minnesota, New York, and others) grant the federal maximum regardless of asset total, as long as the couple has at least $157,920 in countable assets. The institutionalized spouse keeps an additional $2,000 reserve. Anything above CSRA + $2,000 must be spent down before Medicaid eligibility starts. The "snapshot" of assets is taken on the first day of the first continuous 30-day period of institutional care.

Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA)

The MMMNA protects the community spouse's monthly income at $3,948/month in 2026 (effective July 2025 through June 2026). If the community spouse's own income falls below this floor, the institutionalized spouse may divert their income to the community spouse rather than pay it to the nursing facility. The MMMNA can be increased by an excess shelter allowance — if shelter costs (rent or mortgage + property tax + insurance + utility standard) exceed 30% of MMMNA ($1,184 in 2026), the difference is added to the MMMNA, up to the maximum monthly maintenance needs allowance of $3,948 federally (states may grant higher via fair hearing).

Spend-Down Strategies and Exempt Assets

Spend-down is required only on countable assets above CSRA + $2,000. Exempt assets not subject to spend-down include: primary residence (up to $730,000 equity in 2026, $1,097,000 if state elects higher), one vehicle, household goods, personal effects, prepaid burial space, irrevocable burial trust up to state limit, and term life insurance with no cash value. Legal spend-down options include paying off mortgage on the residence (converts countable cash to exempt home equity), home improvements (new roof, accessibility ramp, HVAC), buying a new exempt vehicle, prepaying funeral expenses, and converting cash to a Medicaid-compliant single-premium immediate annuity that names the state as remainder beneficiary.

Common CSRA Mistakes

(1) Wrong snapshot date. The asset snapshot is the first day of the first continuous 30-day institutional stay, not the application date. Couples who continue spending after the snapshot inadvertently include reduced assets. (2) Spending down the wrong spouse's assets. Spend-down should reduce the institutionalized spouse's portion first; the community spouse should not be impoverishing themselves. (3) Missing the fair hearing. If MMMNA + standard CSRA leaves the community spouse without enough income, they can request a fair hearing to increase CSRA above the cap. Filing the request late forfeits the increase. (4) Confusing snapshot vs application assets. Asset transfers after snapshot but before application may trigger look-back review even if total assets are now below the limit. (5) Ignoring the home equity cap. Home equity above $730,000 (2026 federal floor, state may elect higher up to $1,097,000) is countable, making expensive coastal homes a Medicaid disqualifier.

Last updated May 2026. Sources: 42 U.S.C. §1396r-5, Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act of 1988, CMS State Medicaid Manual, 2026 spousal impoverishment standards released by CMS. CSRA, MMMNA, and home equity limits update annually each July. Engage a state-licensed elder law attorney before applying for Medicaid LTC.