Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Office of Medicaid
600 Washington Street
Boston, MA  02111
www.mass.gov/masshealth

		MassHealth
		Eligibility Letter 173
		January 15, 2008

TO:	MassHealth Staff

FROM:	Tom Dehner, Medicaid Director

RE:	Increase in Standard Deduction for Utility Expenses

This eligibility letter transmits an increase in the standard deductions for 
heating and nonheating utility expenses under the Food Stamp Program. These two 
amounts are used in the calculation of the minimum-monthly-maintenance-needs 
allowance (MMMNA).

These regulations are being issued as emergency regulations, effective October 1, 2007.

	MANUAL UPKEEP

Insert		Remove		Trans. By

520.026 (1 of 5)	520.026 (1 of 5)	E.L. 167


	130 CMR:  DIVISION OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

Trans. by E.L. 173


Rev. 10/01/07

	MASSHEALTH
	FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY

Chapter 520
Page 520.026 (1 of 5)

(1)  The MassHealth agency determines the MMMNA by adding the following amounts:

(a)  $1,712 (the federal standard maintenance allowance); and

(b)  an excess shelter allowance determined by calculating the difference 
between the standard shelter expense of $514 and the shelter expenses for the 
community spouse's principal residence, including:

(i)  the actual expenses for rent, mortgage (including interest and principal), 
property taxes and insurance, and any required maintenance charge for a 
condominium or cooperative; and

(ii)  the applicable standard deduction under the Food Stamp Program for utility 
expenses. If heat is included in the rent or condominium fee, this amount is 
$334. If heat is not included in the rent or condominium fee, this amount is 
$534.

(2)  The maximum-monthly-maintenance-needs allowance is $2,541.00 per month, 
unless it has been increased as the result of a fair-hearing decision based on 
exceptional circumstances in accordance with 130 CMR 520.017(D).  

(3)  If the institutionalized individual is subject to a court order for the 
support of the community spouse, the court-ordered amount of support must be 
used as the spousal-maintenance-needs deduction when it exceeds the spousal-
maintenance-needs deduction calculated according to 130 CMR 520.026(B) or 
resulting from a fair hearing.

(C)  Deductions for Family-Maintenance Needs.

(1)  The MassHealth agency allows a deduction from the income of a long-term-
care resident to provide for the maintenance needs of the following family 
members if they live with the community spouse:

(a)  a minor child — a child under age 21 of either member of the couple;

(b)  a dependent child — a child over age 21 who is claimed as a dependent by 
either spouse for income-tax purposes under the Internal Revenue Code;