B How to Complete a Community Spouse Resource Assessment

Program	Manual Section
ALTCS	MA707

Procedure

The instructions in this section provide:

An overview of the steps involved in the Resource Assessment process;
An alternative resource verification process when the first continuous period of institutionalization (FCPI) occurred a number of years in the past and the couple cannot get proof of the value of one or more resources for the month the FCPI began.

1) Resource Assessment Process

Follow these steps to complete a community spouse resource assessment:

Step	Action
1	If the customer is applying for ALTCS, get resource information for the application month to determine if a resource assessment is needed.
2	Subtract the Minimum CSRD (MA707.1) from the resource amount from Step 1: If the remainder is $2,000 or less STOP. A resource assessment is not needed. The customer is resource eligible. If the remainder is more than $2,000, continue to Step 3.
3	Establish the FCPI. See How to Establish the FCPI for instructions.
4	Complete an interview with the customer or the representative to gather information about resources owned by the couple during the FCPI month.
5	Request proof of the value of all resources owned by the customer during the FCPI month. NOTE If the customer is unable to verify a resource for the month in which the FCPI began, follow the steps in section 2, Alternative Resource Verification Process, to verify the resource.
6	Enter the value of couple’s countable resources for the FCPI month in HEAplus.
7	Process the application or CSRA Only. HEAplus will create a letter explaining the result of the resource assessment. See Resource Assessment Notification for details. NOTE A letter is created even when a resource assessment cannot be completed because a FCPI could not be established or the customer did not provide all resource proof needed.

2) Alternative Resource Verification Process

When the FCPI occurred a number of years in the past, the couple may claim that they cannot get proof of the value of one or more resources owned then. When this happens, take the following steps:

Step

Action

Get documentation from the source that the source is unable to provide the resource value for the month in which the FCPI began. Examples of sources include: bank, investment firm, credit union, etc.

Get documentation of the value of the resource for a date that is as close to the resource assessment month as possible.

Get a Statement of Facts (DE-118) from the customer, the community spouse or both:

Declaring the value of the resource for the resource assessment month; and
Explaining any difference between the declared amount and the amount verified by the more recent documentation.

After all documentation is received, use the following table to determine the value of the resource:

If the value declared on the DE-118 is...	Then use...
Less than the verified amount for the later month	The declared amount.
The same as the verified amount for the later month	The verified amount.
More than the verified amount for the later month	The declared amount ONLY when the customer can reasonably explain and provide evidence that accounts for the difference. If the customer is unable to provide evidence to support the declared amount, use the verified value for the later month. Example: The most recent proof available from the bank for an account is for 1/96, which shows a balance of $12,645. The customer claims the balance in 6/95, the month the FCPI began, was about $34,000. The customer says he withdrew $22,000 in 9/95 to buy a new car. As evidence, he provides a bill of sale for the vehicle showing payment of $22,000 by cashier’s check on 9/17/95.

Send all of the documentation received for the alternative resource verification process to your Branch Manager, Regional Manager, Benefits and Eligibility Manager, or their designee to review. The manager or designee will determine if the verified amount for a later month or the amount declared on the DE-118 is the considered value of the resource.