Code of Maine Rules › 10 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES › 144 - DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES - GENERAL › Chapter 332 - MAINECARE ELIGIBILITY MANUAL › Part 7 - SSI - RELATED MEDICAID BUDGETING › Section 144-332-7-2 - SSI - RELATED INCOME BUDGETING PROCESS

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
This section describes the method used to budget income of
					 household members when eligibility is being determined for SSI - Related
					 Medicaid (see also Part 17 - Income).
Section
				  2.1
: Disregards
The following are deducted from the individual's or
					 couple's gross non-excluded income in this order:
Section 2.1.1
: Federal
				  Disregard
Twenty dollars a month from earned or unearned
					 income.
Note
: The $20.00 disregard is not applied to
					 income based on need. This means there is no $20.00 exclusion of a VA Pension
					 or Veteran's Financial Assistance (which is based on need). The $20.00
					 disregard does apply to VA Compensation (which is not based on need).
Section 2.1.2
: Impairment -
				  Related Work Expenses (IRWE)
Impairment - Related Work Expenses (IRWE) are to be
					 deducted from a SSI - Related disabled individual's gross earnings. IRWE
					 allowable deductions and limits are outlined in Appendix B.
Section 2.1.3
: Earned Income
				  Disregard
$65.00 is deducted from earned income. One half of the
					 remaining earnings is also disregarded. This does not pertain to Sheltered
					 Workshop Income (See Section 2.1.5 of this Part).
Section 2.1.4
: State Disregard
The State of Maine also allows an added deduction of $55.00
					 for an individual and $80.00 for a couple.
Note
: There is no $55.00 state disregard of
					 income when determining eligibility for State Supplement for individuals
					 residing in residential care living arrangements defined in Part 12, Section
					 1.
Section 2.1.5
: Special Group
				  Disregards
I.
Pickle
				  Disregard
Individuals or couples covered under the Pickle Amendment
					 (see Appendix C) have all Cost of Living Adjustment's (COLA's) to Social
					 Security benefits received since the closure of concurrent entitlement for SSI
					 or State Supplement and Social Security disregarded. This disregard applies
					 also to COLA increases of the spouse even if the spouse is not eligible as a
					 Pickle.
II.
Disabled
				  Adult Children Disregard
Individuals or couples receiving Social Security benefits
					 as Disabled Adult Children have a portion of their Social Security benefits
					 disregarded. The amount of the disregard equals the amount of either the
					 increase in, or the initial receipt of, DAC benefits that resulted in SSI
					 ineligibility..
The individual or couple loses this disregard when they
					 marry, unless they marry another DAC.
III.
Disabled Widow(er) (DWB) Benefit
				  Disregard
The amount of the disregard as a Disabled Widow(er) is the
					 amount of the Social Security benefits that caused the loss of SSI or State
					 Supplement benefits. Disabled Widow(er)s maintain this status when they marry
					 as long as they are still disabled.
IV.
Shelter Workshop Disregard
Subtract $20 Federal disregard, if not previously
					 deducted
Subtract $50 from remaining sheltered workshop
					 income
Subtract 1/2 of remaining sheltered workshop income