Virginia Law

A couple's income shall be determined as follows, without regard to state laws governing community property or division of marital property:

1. Income from nontrust property. Unless a department hearing officer determines that the institutionalized spouse has proven to the contrary by a preponderance of the evidence:

a. Income paid to one spouse belongs to that spouse;

b. Each spouse owns one-half of all income paid to both spouses jointly;

c. Each spouse owns one-half of any income which has no instrument establishing ownership;

d. Income paid in the name of either spouse, or both spouses and at least one other party, shall be considered available to each spouse in a proportionate share. When income is paid to both spouses and each spouse's individual interest is not specified, one-half of their joint interest in the income shall be considered as available to each spouse.

2. Income from trust property. Ownership of trust property shall be determined pursuant to the State Plan, except as follows:

a. Each member of a couple owns the income from trust property in accordance with the trust's specific terms.

b. If a trust instrument is not specific as to the ownership interest in income, ownership shall be determined as follows:

(1) Income paid to one spouse belongs to that spouse;

(2) One-half income paid to both spouses shall be considered available to each spouse;

(3) Income from a trust paid in the name of either spouse, or both spouses and at least one other party, shall be considered available to each spouse in a proportionate share. When income from a trust is paid to both spouses and each spouse's individual interest is not specified, consider one-half of their joint interest in the income as available to each spouse.