Medicaid long-term care income guidelines vary depending on whether the recipient needs home care (community)Medicaid or Nursing Home (chronic) Medicaid. A nursing home resident can keep $50.00 per month with the rest going toward the nursing home cost. If married, the "well spouse" can $3,435 (more under spousal refusal provisions). If contemplating aging in place utilizing Community Medicaid, excess income over the allowable $954.00 can be retained to pay the Medicaid recipient’s bills by using a Pooled Income Trust.