Page 10 - Florida Long-Term Care Medicaid Post Approval Client Guide

Family First Firm • Florida Medicaid Post-Approval Guide

7. QIT Instructions and Maintaining Financial Eligibility

If your income exceeds Medicaid’s income cap ($2,982/month in 2026), you are required to

have a Qualified Income Trust (QIT), also known as a Miller Trust, to maintain your Medicaid
eligibility.

Monthly QIT Requirements

CRITICAL: The QIT must be properly funded EVERY month to maintain Medicaid eligibility.
Failure to fund the QIT correctly can result in loss of benefits for that month.

Funding Rules

1.Deposit in the Same Month: Income must be deposited into the QIT bank account in the
same month it is received. You cannot deposit for past or future months.
2.Deposit Enough to Get Below the Cap: You must deposit at least enough income so that

your income outside the QIT is below the Medicaid income limit. We recommend depositing
slightly more than the minimum to provide a cushion.
3.Use a Non-Interest-Bearing Account: The QIT bank account should be non-interest bearing,
if possible, though a small service charge or minimal interest will not typically cause
problems.

Disbursing QIT Funds
Funds in the QIT can only be used for specific purposes:
Personal Needs Allowance ($160/month for nursing home residents),

Medicare and health insurance premiums,
Spousal Maintenance Allowance (if applicable),
Patient responsibility payment to the nursing home, and/or

Medical expenses of the Medicaid recipient.

Other Financial Eligibility Reminders
Asset Limit: You must maintain countable assets at or below $2,000 ($3,000 for married

couples where both need care) at least one day out of the calendar month.
Do Not Accept Gifts or Inheritances: Receiving assets could put you over the limit and cause
loss of benefits. If you do receive a gift or inheritance, a Medicaid Reported Change may
be needed and please contact our office immediately. 3
Contact Us Before Making Financial Changes: Before receiving any lump sums of money

from any source, changing bank accounts, or making financial decisions, please contact our
office.

Page 10 of 18 3 See Section 10 for additional information.