How much of his or her income can an ALTCS/Medicaid recipient retain?
As previously noted, ALTCS requires the recipient to contribute to his or her own cost of care. The amount contributed is called the “share of cost,” and calculating it is usually simple for a single person on ALTCS. The recipient is entitled to retain a monthly “personal needs allowance” amount fixed at 15% of the maximum federal SSI benefit (that means he or she keeps a little more than $100 per month), and all remaining income must be paid to the facility. If a recipient remains at home, there is no share of cost unless a Miller Trust is in place. The share of cost calculation does not consider the ALTCS beneficiarys other bills, even including child support, spousal maintenance or other court-ordered amounts.
