Medicaid Spend-Down in Georgia
Primary source: Georgia Medicaid (Georgia Dept. of Community Health). Additional reference: American Council on Aging — Medicaid Planning Assistance. Figures are adjusted periodically — confirm current numbers with your state Medicaid agency or an elder law attorney before relying on them.
Georgia follows the standard income-cap structure and federal asset baseline, with a look-back period whose penalty divisor is set and updated by the state each year.
Income limit
The 2026 income limit for a single Nursing Home Medicaid applicant in Georgia is $2,982/month; for married applicants both applying, it's a combined $5,964/month. Applicants over the cap typically need a Qualified Income Trust (Miller Trust) rather than an income spend-down, since Georgia doesn't run a medically-needy program for this population.
Asset limit
The asset limit for a single applicant is $2,000 in countable assets. For married applicants where both spouses are applying, the combined limit is $3,000.
Community Spouse Resource Allowance
When only one spouse applies, the applicant's asset limit stays at $2,000, while the non-applicant community spouse can typically retain up to $162,660 (2026).
What to do if your parent is over the limit
If assets are over $2,000, asset spend-down is the standard path — see countable vs. exempt assets for what actually counts. Georgia's 60-month look-back period uses a penalty divisor the state updates periodically (roughly $11,122/month as of April 2026), which directly affects how long a penalty period lasts for any disqualified transfer — see spend-down vs. the look-back period for how the two rules differ. Our spend-down calculator can give a rough starting estimate using Georgia's current asset limit.
This article is for general education, not medical, legal, or financial advice, and rules vary by state and change over time. Read our full disclaimer.