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 140
January 1, 2006


TO:	MassHealth Staff

FROM:	Beth Waldman, 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).

This emergency regulation was effective October 1, 2005.
 

MANUAL UPKEEP

Insert	Remove	Trans. By

520.026 (1 of 5)	520.026 (1 of 5)	E.L. 134





130 CMR:  DIVISION OF MEDICAL ASSISTANCE

Trans. by E.L. 140

Rev. 10/01/05

MASSHEALTH
FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY

Chapter 520
	520.026
Page (1 of 5)


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

(a)  $1,604 (the federal standard maintenance allowance); and
           
(b)  an excess shelter allowance determined by calculating the difference between the 
standard shelter expense of $482 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 $287.  If 
heat is not included in the rent or condominium fee, this amount is $474.

(2)  The maximum-monthly-maintenance-needs allowance is $2,377.50 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)  MassHealth 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;