Confused by Medicaid Rules for Married Couples? You’re Not Alone — And You Shouldn’t Navigate This Alone

When one parent needs long-term care, the emotional toll is heavy enough.
Now add Medicaid. Asset limits. Spousal allowances. Shelter deductions. Utility calculations.
Sound complicated? That’s because it is.

And getting it wrong can cost your family thousands a month.

Let’s Make This Simple — And Strategic

As of July 1, 2025, New Jersey has updated the Medicaid rules to raise how much income the community spouse (the one still living at home) can keep. Sounds helpful, right? It is — if you know how to use it correctly.

Let’s say your dad just went into a nursing home. Your mom’s at home. Suddenly, her financial future is in question.
Does she get to keep his income? What about the house? Can she afford the bills?

Here’s the catch: Medicaid has formulas. They look at housing costs. Utility bills. Income. And unless everything’s calculated just right, she may lose support she's entitled to — and fast.

This Isn’t Just Paperwork. It’s Protection.

• The new spousal income limit is now $2,643.75/month
• Shelter costs over $793.13/month can be added
• Utility allowance? $878/month — but only if paid directly
• Additional allowances for dependent family members are possible

And this is just income. There are asset rules. Spend-down rules. Share-of-cost calculations. And let’s not even start on timing.

Why Families Call Us

Because figuring this out on your own is like playing financial Jenga with your parents’ future.

We’ve had adult children call us in tears — after they mistakenly spent down the wrong assets, after Medicaid penalties hit, after a parent’s income disappeared into care costs with no plan to protect the spouse left behind.

We’ve also had families call before the crisis — and they walk away with a strategy, peace of mind, and a plan that legally protects their loved ones.

Thoughts from the Field

“The biggest mistake families make is assuming Medicaid is just paperwork. It’s a financial system with legal landmines — and strategy wins every time.”
— Clelia Pergola, COO, NJ Elder Law Center

Bottom Line

If one of your parents is entering long-term care — or even thinking about it — now is the time to act.

📞 Call us. We’ll walk you through it.
📲 www.njelc.com

Don’t leave your mom’s future in the hands of guesswork.