Under Minnesota's Community Spouse Asset Allowance (Minn. Stat. 256B.059), a non-applicant spouse can generally protect between $32,532 and $162,660 in assets (2026 federal figures), plus a Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance of income ranging from about $2,705 to $4,066.50 per month, depending on their own income and housing costs.
The detail behind the program
This spousal impoverishment protection exists specifically so that a healthy spouse remaining in their Woodbury or Eagan home isn't forced into poverty just because their partner needs nursing-facility-level Medicaid-covered care. The exact allowance within that range depends on a calculation involving the couple's combined assets and the community spouse's own income and shelter costs, so it isn't a flat number every couple receives — it requires a case-specific calculation, typically done by the county financial worker processing the Medical Assistance application. Because these figures are updated periodically at the federal level and Minnesota adopts the federal figures, families should confirm the current-year numbers before making financial decisions, and consider consulting a Minnesota elder-law attorney for couples with more complex assets.
Related questions
- What is the Elderly Waiver and what does it cover?
- What is Alternative Care and how is it different from the Elderly Waiver?
- How do I apply for Medical Assistance long-term care or a waiver in the Twin Cities?
- Does Medicaid pay for the full cost of assisted living in Minnesota?
- What are Minnesota's income and asset limits for nursing home Medical Assistance in 2026?
- What is Minnesota's Medical Assistance Estate Recovery Program, and can the state take my parent's house?
- What is Minnesota Senior Health Options (MSHO) and who qualifies?