2023 MassHealth Income Standards and Federal Poverty Guidelines
Additional Resources
Eligibility Figures for Residents of a Long-Term-Care Facility
The figures in this table are used in determining eligibility for a MassHealth member who lives in a long-term-care facility.
All figures are effective January 1, unless otherwise noted.
| Figure Type | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal needs allowance (PNA)/ LTC income standard | $72.80 | $72.80 | $72.80 | $72.80 |
| Maximum home equity limits | $1,033,000 | $955,000 | $906,000 | $893,000 |
| Community spouse minimum resource (assets) standard | $29,724 | $27,480 | $26,076 | $25,728 |
| Community spouse maximum resource (assets) standard | $148,620 | $137,400 | $130,380 | $128,640 |
| Average daily cost of nursing facility services | $433.00 (eff. 11/01/23) $427.00 (before 11/01/23) |
$427.00 (eff. 11/01/22) $410.00 (before 11/01/22) |
$410.00 (eff. 12/01/21) $391.00 (before 12/01/21) |
$391.00 (eff. 11/01/20) $367.21 (before 11/01/20) |
Eligibility Figures for Community Residents Age 65 or Older
The figures in this table are used in determining eligibility for a MassHealth member age 65 or older who lives in the community.
All figures are effective January 1, unless otherwise noted.
| Figure Type | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asset limit | ||||
| Individual | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 | $2,000 |
| Couple | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 | $3,000 |
| Buy-in asset limit | ||||
| Individual | $18,180 | $16,800 | $15,940 | $15,720 |
| Couple | $27,260 | $25,200 | $23,920 | $23,600 |
| Federal benefit rate (300%) | $2,742 | $2,523 | $2,382 | $2,349 |
| Medicare Part B premium (per month) | $164.90 | $170.10 | $148.50 | $144.60 |
Figures Used to Determine Minimum-Monthly-Maintenance-Needs Allowance (MMMNA)
The figures in this table are used to determine the minimum-monthly-maintenance-needs allowance (MMMNA) for the community spouse of a MassHealth member who lives in a long-term-care facility.
| Figure Type | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maximum MMMNA | $3,715.50 (eff. 01/01/23) |
$3,435.00 (eff. 01/01/22) |
$3,259.50 (eff. 01/01/21) |
$3,216.00 (eff. 01/01/20) |
| Minimum MMMNA | $2,465.00 (eff. 07/01/23) $2,288.75 (before 07/01/23) |
$2,288.75 (eff. 07/01/22) $2,177.50 (before 07/01/22) |
$2,177.50 (eff. 07/01/21) $2,155.00 (before 07/01/21) |
$2,155.00 (eff. 07/01/20) $2,113.75 (before 07/01/20) |
| Standard shelter expense | $739.50 (eff. 07/01/23) $686.63 (before 07/01/23) |
$686.63 (eff. 07/01/22) $653.25 (before 07/01/22) |
$653.25 (eff. 07/01/21) $646.50 (before 07/01/21) |
$646.50 (eff. 07/01/20) $634.13 (before 07/01/20) |
| SNAP utility expense Heat expense |
$852.00 (eff. 10/01/23) $860.00 (before 10/01/23) |
$860.00 (eff. 10/01/22) $688.00 (before 10/01/22) |
$688.00 (eff. 10/01/21) $646.00 (before 10/01/21) |
$646.00 (eff. 10/01/19) $643.00 (before 10/01/19) |
| SNAP utility expense No heat expense |
$520.00 (eff. 10/01/23) $525.00 (before 10/01/23) |
$525.00 (eff. 10/01/22) $421.00 (before 10/01/22) |
$421.00 (eff. 10/01/21) $396.00 (before 10/01/21) |
$396.00 (eff. 10/01/19) $396.00 (before 10/01/19) |
Massachusetts Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Payment Standards Effective January 1, 2023
Living Arrangement Category
| Population Type | A Full Cost of Living Expenses |
B Shared Living Expenses |
C Household of Another |
E Licensed Rest Home |
G Assisted Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Individual | |||||
|
Aged |
$969.82 | $880.26 | $665.03 | $1,134.00 | $1,295.00 |
|
Disabled |
$955.39 | $871.40 | $648.25 | $1,134.00 | $1,295.00 |
| Blind | $990.74 | $990.74 | $990.74 | $1,134.00 | $1,295.00 |
| Population Type | A Full Cost of Living Expenses |
B Shared Living Expenses |
C Household of Another |
E Licensed Rest Home |
G Assisted Living |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Member of a Couple | |||||
|
Aged |
$731.36 | $731.36 | $528.24 | $1,134.00 | $971.00 |
|
Disabled |
$720.53 | $720.53 | $517.43 | $1,134.00 | $971.00 |
| Blind | $990.74 | $990.74 | $990.74 | $1,134.00 | $971.00 |
Note: The 2023 SSI federal benefit rate (FBR) for an individual is $914.00.
Note: The personal needs allowance in licensed rest homes, nursing facilities, and chronic-disease hospitals is $72.80.
Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (RSDI) Cost-of-Living Adjustments (COLA)
Historic cost-of-living adjustments to the RSDI rates may be found at www.ssa.gov/oact/cola/SSIamts.html.
| Date published: | September 29, 2023 |
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