MMMNA (Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance)
Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA) – Quick Facts
Lets the Medicaid applicant spouse transfer income so the at-home spouse meets a protected minimum monthly amount.
Married couples when only one spouse applies for Nursing Home Medicaid or an HCBS Waiver (not Regular/ABD Medicaid).
Minimums: $2,643.75 (most states), $3,040.00 (HI), $3,303.75 (AK). Maximum: $3,948 nationwide.
Min/Max states raise the spouse to the minimum and may add verified shelter + utility costs (never over the max). Some states use a single standard figure.
Shelter baseline $793.13/mo (48 states + DC; often shown as $794) plus your state’s Standard Utility Allowance (SUA).
Yes—request a fair hearing to raise MMMNA for documented exceptional expenses causing financial duress.
What is the MMMNA—and when does it actually apply?
The Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance lets the Medicaid applicant (“institutionalized”) spouse transfer part—or sometimes all—of their income to the non-applicant (“community”) spouse. It applies when only one spouse seeks Nursing Home Medicaid or an HCBS Waiver. It does not apply to Regular/ABD Medicaid.
Which 2025 dollar limits should you remember?
- Minimum MMMNA (7/1/2025–6/30/2026): $2,643.75 (most states), $3,040.00 (HI), $3,303.75 (AK).
- Maximum MMMNA (1/1/2025–12/31/2025): $3,948 nationwide.
Do states use a single “standard” figure—or a min/max range?
How does your state set the allowance?
- Min/Max states: The community spouse is brought up to the minimum. If verified shelter + SUA exceed the baseline, the allowance can increase—capped by the maximum.
- Single “standard” states: One fixed figure (between the federal min and max). Many states (e.g., AK, CA, DC, GA, HI, IL, IA, NV, NY, OK, SC, TX, WY) use a flat $3,948.
How do you compute the MMMNA step by step?
What’s the workflow in a min/max state?
- Start with the community spouse’s own gross monthly income.
- Raise to the minimum: If below the state’s minimum, transfer enough of the applicant spouse’s income to reach it.
- Add housing & utilities: Compute actual shelter (rent/mortgage, taxes, insurance) + your state’s SUA. If this total exceeds the Excess Shelter Allowance baseline ($793.13 in 48 states + DC), increase the allowance dollar-for-dollar—but never above $3,948.
Can we see a real-world example?
State: Florida (Min $2,644, Max $3,948; Shelter baseline $794; SUA $419)
Community spouse income: $967/mo
Shelter: $1,750 (mortgage/tax/insurance) + $419 SUA = $2,169
Excess over baseline: $2,169 − $794 = $1,375
To the minimum: $2,644 − $967 = $1,677
Plus excess shelter: + $1,375 = potential transfer $3,052
Cap check: $967 + $3,052 = $4,019 > $3,948 ⇒ transfer capped so total equals $3,948.
Final allowed transfer: $2,981.
Which housing and utility figures can move the allowance?
- Excess Shelter Allowance baseline: $793.13/mo (48 states + DC; often rounded to $794).
- Standard Utility Allowance (SUA): A state-set average monthly utility cost (updated annually). Add this to shelter when measuring “excess.”
Can you raise MMMNA if you’re still short each month?
Yes. In min/max states, request a fair hearing to increase MMMNA for exceptional expenses causing financial duress (e.g., significant medical bills, pre-care debts, or supporting an immediate family member). Watch the state’s deadline—often 30–90 days from the notice.
How does MMMNA coordinate with asset protections?
MMMNA protects income. The companion asset rule is the Community Spouse Resource Allowance (CSRA), which shields a portion of countable resources for the community spouse and is calculated separately.
Who can help you avoid mistakes and maximize protections?
Because MMMNA, SUA proofs, excess shelter math, and fair-hearing strategy can be technical—especially alongside CSRA planning—consider working with a Certified Medicaid Planner to document costs, optimize transfers, and keep within the rules.
