2025 ALTCS Financial Eligibility Limits for Arizona Medicaid
The Arizona Long Term Care System (ALTCS) is Arizona’s long-term care branch of Medicaid. It helps pay for nursing homes, assisted living, and in-home care when an applicant meets both medical and financial criteria. For many families, understanding the income and resource rules is the most confusing part of the process.
This page summarizes the key ALTCS financial eligibility standards for 2023, 2024, and 2025, including income caps, resource allowances, community spouse protections, and related Medicare figures. All amounts are taken from the State of Arizona’s Eligibility Standards Desk Aid and are provided here in a convenient, easy-to-read format.
These numbers are a starting point only. There are exceptions, planning strategies, and special rules for married couples, people with excess income, and those who have already transferred assets. You should speak with an ALTCS planning professional before relying on any single number or rule.
Updated to include 2025 ALTCS financial standards.
Federal Benefit Rates (FBR) and 300% Income Standard
Several ALTCS income tests are tied to the Federal Benefit Rate (FBR), which is the basic federal SSI payment amount. In particular, the maximum gross income for most institutional and home-and-community-based ALTCS applicants is set at 300% of the individual FBR.
| Standard | 2023 (1/1/23–12/31/23) | 2024 (1/1/24–12/31/24) | 2025 (1/1/25–12/31/25) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Individual FBR / Single-parent allocation | $914.00 | $943.00 | $967.00 |
| Couple FBR / Two-parent allocation | $1,371.00 | $1,415.00 | $1,450.00 |
| Institutional FBR | $30.00 | $30.00 | $30.00 |
| 300% of Individual FBR (ALTCS income cap) | $2,742.00 | $2,829.00 | $2,901.00 |
| Child allocation | $457.00 | $472.00 | $483.00 |
| 15% of Individual FBR | $137.10 | $141.45 | $145.05 |
Medicare Part B Premiums & Part D Extra Help Benchmarks
ALTCS and related Medicare Savings Programs rely on current Medicare premium amounts and Part D benchmark figures. These amounts change annually and affect how much help a beneficiary can receive with Medicare costs.
Standard Medicare Part B Premium
| Year | Monthly Premium |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $164.90 |
| 2024 | $174.70 |
| 2025 | $185.00 |
Arizona Part D “Extra Help” Benchmark
| Year | Monthly Benchmark Amount |
|---|---|
| 2023 | $42.60 |
| 2024 | $43.18 |
| 2025 | $30.10 |
Community Spouse Resource & Income Protections
When only one spouse needs long-term care and applies for ALTCS, the other spouse is called the community spouse. Federal and state law allow the community spouse to keep certain resources and income so that they are not left destitute.
| Standard | 2023 (1/1/23–12/31/23) | 2024 (1/1/24–12/31/24) | 2025 (1/1/25–12/31/25) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum Community Spouse Resource Deduction (CSRD) | $29,724.00 | $30,828.00 | $31,584.00 |
| Maximum CSRD | $148,620.00 | $154,140.00 | $157,920.00 |
| Maximum Minimum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance (MMMNA) | $3,715.50 | $3,853.50 | $3,948.00 |
Standard Utility Allowance (SUA)
The Standard Utility Allowance is used when calculating shelter costs for community spouse and dependent allowances.
| Effective Date | Monthly Amount |
|---|---|
| 10/1/2023 | $318.00 |
| 10/1/2024 | $314.00 |
| 10/1/2025 | $329.00 |
Monthly Spousal Need & Dependent Allowances
| Standard | 2023–2024 (7/1/23–6/30/24) | 2024–2025 (7/1/24–6/30/25) | 2025–2026 (7/1/25–6/30/26) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Spousal Need (MSN) | $2,465.00 | $2,555.00 | $2,644.00 |
| 30% of MSN (Excess Shelter threshold) | $740.00 | $767.00 | $793.00 |
| Max family allowance for a dependent with no income | $822.00 | $852.00 | $881.00 |
Average Private Pay Nursing Facility Rates & Home Maintenance
AHCCCS publishes average private-pay nursing facility rates that are used in certain ALTCS calculations, especially when evaluating transfers or penalty periods. These rates vary by region and change over time.
Average Monthly Private Pay Nursing Facility Rates
| Region | 1/1/2024 | 10/1/2024 | 10/1/2025 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Maricopa, Pima, Pinal | $7,867.16 | $8,201.34 | $8,666.72 |
| Balance of State | $7,319.03 | $7,752.73 | $8,132.22 |
Home Maintenance Allowance
In limited situations, an institutionalized member may receive a small home maintenance allowance to help keep a home while they are in a facility.
| Effective Dates | Monthly Amount |
|---|---|
| 1/1/1989–6/30/1993 | $138.00 |
| 7/1/1993–Present | $210.00 |
SSI-MAO, QMB, and SLMB Income Standards
Several Medicaid and Medicare Savings Programs related to ALTCS use income limits based on the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). The figures below show the 100% FPL limits used for SSI-MAO non-cash and QMB, and the income ranges for SLMB (100%–120% FPL). Actual eligibility can be affected by income disregards and special deductions.
SSI-MAO Non-Cash & QMB (100% FPL)
| Household Size | 2023 Eff. 2/1/23 | 2024 Eff. 2/1/24 | 2025 Eff. 2/1/25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,215.00 | $1,255.00 | $1,305.00 |
| 2 | $1,644.00 | $1,704.00 | $1,763.00 |
SLMB (100%–120% FPL)
| Household Size | 2023 Eff. 2/1/23 | 2024 Eff. 2/1/24 | 2025 Eff. 2/1/25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,215.01 – $1,458.00 | $1,255.01 – $1,506.00 | $1,305.01 – $1,565.00 |
| 2 | $1,644.01 – $1,972.00 | $1,704.01 – $2,044.00 | $1,763.01 – $2,115.00 |
Qualified Individual (QI-1) Income Ranges
The Qualified Individual (QI-1) program is another Medicare Savings Program that can help pay the Part B premium for people whose income falls between 120% and 135% of the FPL. The limits below reflect those ranges.
| Household Size | 2023 Eff. 2/1/23 | 2024 Eff. 2/1/24 | 2025 Eff. 2/1/25 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | $1,458.01 – $1,641.00 | $1,506.01 – $1,695.00 | $1,565.01 – $1,761.00 |
| 2 | $1,972.01 – $2,219.00 | $2,044.01 – $2,300.00 | $2,115.01 – $2,380.00 |
Note: These ALTCS and Arizona Medicaid financial limits come from the State of Arizona’s Eligibility Standards Desk Aid. They are subject to change. Individual eligibility depends on a full review of income, resources, medical need, and family circumstances. For personalized guidance with an ALTCS application or Medicaid planning, consider speaking with an experienced professional.
