2025 Public Benefits Eligibility – Quick Reference Guide for Resources and Income
Medicare
Basic Part B Premium: $185.00/month (was $174.40 in 2024) Note: individuals with annual income > $106,000.00 or married couples with annual income over $212,000.00 will be charged a higher premium
Part B Deductible: $257.00 per year
Part A Deductible: $1,676.00 per benefit period
Co-pay for hospital stay, days 61-90: $419.00/day
Co-pay for hospital stay, days 91-150: $838.00/day (Medicare covers 90 days per benefit period; days 91 – 150 are only covered to the extent that Lifetime Reserve Days are available)
Co-pay for care in skilled nursing or skilled rehab, days 21 – 100: $209.50/day
Note: Medigap or Medicare Supplement Policies may cover all or part of the hospital and/or skilled care co-pays
ALTCS (Arizona Medicaid for Long Term Care)
Resources (the value of assets that can be owned and still be eligible for ALTCS):
Maximum Amount of Countable Assets for the ALTCS applicant: $2,000
Maximum Amount that the Spouse of the Applicant, living in the Community, can continue to own: Half of the couple’s Countable Assets, up to a maximum of $157.993.
Minimum Community Spouse Resource Allowance (This is the amount of Countable Assets that the Community spouse can retain even if it is more than half of the couple’s Countable Assets): $31,598.00
Home Equity Limit (This is the net equity value of the applicant’s primary residence that is excluded as a countable resource): $713,000.00
Income:
Monthly Income Limit for Individual: $2901.00
Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance for Spouse (This is the minimum amount that the community spouse is assumed to need on a monthly basis to pay for his or her own living expenses; if the community spouse’s income is less than this amount, he or she can retain a portion of the applicant’s income before the applicant’s share of the cost of his or her care is calculated): $2,618.
Maximum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance for Spouse (This is the maximum amount that the community spouse can retain each month, if he or she can document certain expenses) $3,948.00
Individual Personal Needs Allowance (This is the amount of the ALTCS applicant’s income that the applicant is allowed to retain for personal needs, before the share of the cost is calculated): $145.05
VA Aid and Attendance Benefits for Veterans and their Surviving Spouses
Veterans over age 65 who served during specified periods of war, and who were not dishonorably discharged, may be eligible for pension benefits to supplement low income, and to assist with the cost of aid and attendance that is necessary to help them with their activities of daily living.
Monthly Maximum Benefit Amounts for 2023:
- Single Veteran $2,358.00 per month
- Married Veteran $2,795.00 per month
- Additional benefit for additional dependent $240 per dependent per month
- Surviving Spouse of Veteran $1,515.00 per month
- Two Veterans Married To Each Other $3,740.00 per month
Income:
The benefit available to the veteran or surviving spouse is the amount necessary to make up the difference between the applicant’s Income for VA Purposes (“IAVP”) and the maximum benefit amount.
IAVP is calculated by totaling the applicant’s gross income, including all dividends and interest income, as well as the income of the spouse if the veteran is married, and subtracting the unreimbursed cost of care and other medical expenses that exceed 5% of gross income. Allowable expenses include Medicare and Supplemental Insurance Premiums, deductibles and co-pays for prescriptions that will continue to be incurred in the future, therapy and medical care at home that is not covered by health insurance, including dental and vision care, non-medical home care intended to assist with activities of daily living, and the cost of a residential facility such as a group home, assisted living or memory care facility.
EXAMPLE: Veteran’s monthly income is $1,866 Social Security and $1,000 Pension. Spouse’s monthly income is $833 Social Security. Veteran is in a memory care facility that costs $5,600 per month. 5% of the gross income is $185, so the portion of the expenses in excess of that amount is $5,412. IAVP = $1,866 + $1000 + $833 = $3699 – $5412 = ($1713). Since this Veteran’s IAVP is less than O, he would be eligible for the maximum benefit amount.
Resources:
In 2018, the VA added a resource limit, as well as an income limit, to the eligibility requirements for Aid and Attendance. In 2025, the maximum value of countable assets that a Veteran (whether married or single) may own is $159,240; this figure includes the veteran’s and/or spouse’s annual income .
EXAMPLE: The annual income of the Veteran described above is $3,699 x 12 = $44,388. If the value of his countable assets is $120,000, he would be over-resourced, because $44,388 + $120,000 = $164,388, which is over the resource limit.
As with ALTCS, the applicant’s and/or spouse’s primary residence (unless it is located on over 2-1/2 acres), personal and household goods and one vehicle are not counted as resources.
Also in 2018, the VA began assessing a transfer penalty if the veteran had transferred countable assets to another person or an irrevocable Trust, or had purchased an irrevocable annuity, within the 3 years prior to applying for benefits.