Case ID: ad2d_221/html/0997-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

In the Matter of Eileen Golf, as Administratrix of the Estate of Floyd Golf, Deceased, Appellant, v New York State Department of Social Services et al., Respondents.
    [634 NYS2d 581]
   —Judgment unanimously reversed on the law without costs, petition granted and matter remitted to Supreme Court and respondent Monroe County Department of Social Services for further proceedings in accordance with the following Memorandum: Respondent New York State Department of Social Services erred in not raising petitioner’s community spouse resource allowance (CSRA), following a fair hearing, by the amount of resources attributed to petitioner’s decedent once it determined that petitioner’s actual monthly income, including income from the CSRA, fell below the monthly minimum maintenance needs allowance (MMMNA) (see, Social Services Law § 366-c [8] [cj; 18 NYCRR 360-4.10 [c] [7]). The resources of the institutionalized spouse should be attributed first to raise the income of the community spouse to the level of the MMMNA before income from the institutionalized spouse is attributed to the community spouse (see, Gruber v Ohio Dept, of Human Servs., 98 Ohio App 3d 72, 647 NE2d 861, Iv denied 71 Ohio St 3d 1493, 646 NE2d 468; Kimnach v Ohio Dept, of Human Servs., 96 Ohio App 3d 640, 645 NE2d 825, lv denied 71 Ohio St 3d 1447, 644 NE2d 409). We remit this matter to respondent Monroe County Department of Social Services to increase petitioner’s CSRA by the amount of the excess resources attributed to petitioner’s decedent and to redetermine the Medicaid eligibility of petitioner’s decedent. We further conclude that petitioner is entitled to an award of attorney’s fees and we remit the matter to Supreme Court for a determination of the reasonable amount of attorney’s fees (see, Matter of Johnson v Blum, 58 NY2d 454; Matter of Pawlowski v New York State Dept, of Social Servs., 147 AD2d 953, 954; Wiszniewski v New York State Dept, of Social Servs., 140 AD2d 952, 953, lv dismissed 72 NY2d 1003; Matter of Palmer v New York State Dept, of Social Servs., 125 AD2d 977, 978). (Appeal from Judgment of Supreme Court, Monroe County, Stander, J.—CPLR art 78.) Present—Denman, P. J., Green, Fallon, Doerr and Balio, JJ.