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How much money can my spouse keep if I go into a nursing home in Texas?

Texas allows a Community Spouse Resource Allowance so the at-home spouse isn't impoverished, reported at $162,660 for 2026. The applicant spouse is li

Quick answer

Texas allows a Community Spouse Resource Allowance so the at-home spouse isn't impoverished, reported at $162,660 for 2026. The applicant spouse is limited to $2,000. Because these figures change annually and the calculation is complex, confirm current amounts with HHSC or a Texas elder law attorney.

HomeQuestionsHow much money can my spouse keep if I go into a nur
Answer

Texas allows a Community Spouse Resource Allowance so the at-home spouse isn't impoverished, reported at $162,660 for 2026. The applicant spouse is limited to $2,000. Because these figures change annually and the calculation is complex, confirm current amounts with HHSC or a Texas elder law attorney.

The detail behind the number

Texas protects the spouse who remains at home through the Community Spouse Resource Allowance, reported at $162,660 for 2026. The applicant spouse remains limited to $2,000. The intent is to avoid impoverishing the well spouse to qualify the other.

Treat that number as a starting point rather than a settled figure. It changes annually, the calculation involves a snapshot date tied to when institutionalisation began, and there are circumstances in which the allowance can be increased. We publish it because families ask, and we flag it because we could not confirm it directly on an HHSC page.

There is also a monthly income allowance for the community spouse, separate from the resource allowance. Confirm both with HHSC or an elder law attorney before relying on either.

Related questions

Questions Austin families ask

How much money can my spouse keep if I go into a nursing home in Texas?

Texas allows a Community Spouse Resource Allowance so the at-home spouse isn't impoverished, reported at $162,660 for 2026. The applicant spouse is limited to $2,000. Because these figures change annually and the calculation is complex, confirm current amounts with HHSC or a Texas elder law attorney.

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