The 2008 table below provides the minimum assets and income each state permits nursing-home residents and their spouses to retain. The federal government sets new minimum and maximum amounts each year. States can set their own minimum requirements at any level between the federal limits.

State

Your asset allowance

Your spouse's minimum asset allowance

Your personal- monthly - needs allowance

Your spouse's monthly - income allowance

Alabama*

$2,000

$25,000

$30

$1,711

Alaska*

$2,000

$104,400

$75

$2,610

Arizona*

$2,000

$20,880

$90.45

$2,610

Arkansas*

$2,000

$20,880

$40

$1,711

California

$2,000

$104,400

$35

$2,610

Colorado*

$2,000

$104,400

$50

$1,711

Connecticut

$1,600

$20,880

$63

$1,711

Delaware*

$2,000

$25,000

$44

$1,711

District of Columbia

$2,600

$104,400

$70

$2,610

Florida*

$2,000

$104,400

$35

$1,711

Georgia

$2,000

$104,400

$30

$2,610

Hawaii

$2,000

$104,400

$30

$2,610

Idaho*

$2,000

$20,880

$40

$1,711

Illinois

$2,000

$104,400

$30

$2,610

Indiana

$1,500

$20,880

$52

$1,711

Iowa*

$2,000

$24,000

$30

$2,610

Kansas

$2,000

$20,880

$50

$1,711

Kentucky

$2,000

$22,000

$40

$1,711

Louisiana*

$2,000

$104,400

$38

$2,610

Maine

$2,000

$104,400

$40

$1,711

Maryland

$2,500

$20,880

$62

$1,711

Massachusetts

$2,000

$20,880

$60

$1,711

Michigan

$2,000

$20,880

$60

$1,711

Minnesota

$3,000

$28,001

$79

$1,711

Mississippi*

$2,000

$104,400

$44

$2,610

Missouri

$1,000

$20,880

$30

$1,711

Montana

$2,000

$20,880

$40

$1,711

Nebraska

$4,000

$20,880

$50

$2,610

Nevada*

$2,000

$20,880

$35

$1,711

New Hampshire

$2,500

$20,880

$50

$1,711

New Jersey

$2,000

$20,880

$35

$1,711

New Mexico*

$2,000

$31,290

$54

$1,711

New York

$4,150

$74,820

$50

$2,610

North Carolina

$2,000

$20,880

$30

$1,711

North Dakota

$3,000

$104,400

$60

$2,610

Ohio

$1,500

$20,880

$40

$1,711

Oklahoma*

$2,000

$25,000

$50

$2,610

Oregon*

$2,000

$20,880

$30

$1,711

Pennsylvania

$2,400

$20,880

$40

$1,711

Rhode Island

$4,000

$20,880

$50

$1,711

South Carolina*

$2,000

$66,480

$30

$2,416

South Dakota*

$2,000

$20,000

$60

$1,711

Tennessee

$2,000

$20,880

$40

$1,711

Texas*

$2,000

$20,880

$60

$2,610

Utah

$2,000

$20,880

$45

$1,711

Vermont

$2,000

$104,400

$47.66

$1,711

Virginia

$2,000

$20,880

$30

$1,711

Washington

$2,000

$41,493

$41.62

$1,711

West Virginia

$2,000

$20,880

$50

$1,711

Wisconsin

$2,000

$50,000

$45

$2,200

Wyoming*

$2,000

$104,400

$50

$2,610

* These are "income cap" states. If your income is higher than $1,911 a month, you cannot qualify for Medicaid even after spending down all assets, unless you set up a Miller trust.