Ohio Medicaid $1,500 asset limit. Matter of timing?

We are going to apply for Medicaid in a few months for my mother in-law. In spend down mode. At the beginning of the month she gets her Social Security, Pension and VA benefit and the balance in her account will always exceed the asset limit at that time. But in a few months after the pay down, the balance in her account at the end of each month will drop below the asset limit after all the bills are paid.
So, when Medicaid looks at her Assets, do they average the amount in her account during the month or just look at the amount present when you actually apply? If the latter, seems like time of application is very important.