Vetadmin: Can you explain the '5 percent' rule?

[magnumpi28]

If surviving spouse makes 1,000 dollars a month does the "5 percent rule" that someone on here mentioned mean that the first 5 percent the clamient is responsable for thus  mean that she would need 1,050 in medical expenses to get the full benifit?
  I had always though if she has a 1,000 dollars in income a month and has 1,000 dollar in medical expenses that would equal income of zero and she would recieve full benifits.
   Can you explain this to me please using 1,000 in income as an example?
Thanks agian,
Paul