New Mexico Administrative Code › Title 8 - SOCIAL SERVICES › Chapter 215 - MEDICAID ELIGIBILITY - SUPPLEMENT SECURITY INCOME (SSI) METHODOLOGY › Part 500 - INCOME AND RESOURCE STANDARDS › Section 8.215.500.22 - DISREGARDS

Current through Register Vol. 35, No. 13, July 16, 2024
Income disregards are allowed as described below when
				  applicable.
A.
Child support
				payments:
One-third of the amount of child support payments made to a
				child applicant/recipient is disregarded. The remainder is considered unearned
				income, subject to the appropriate disregards.
B.
Twenty dollar disregard:
The
				first twenty dollars ($20) of unearned or earned income received in a month is
				disregarded. This disregard is applied first to unearned income, then to earned
				income if the unearned income is less than twenty dollars ($20). If there is no
				unearned income, the entire twenty dollars ($20) is applied to the gross earned
				income. This disregard is not applicable to payments made to an
				applicant/recipient through a state or other government assistance program, or
				by a private charitable organization, where such payments are based on the
				applicant/recipient's need.
C.
Additional earned income disregard:
After disregarding the first
				twenty dollars ($20) as specified in Subsection B of Section 8.215.500.22 NMAC
				above, if appropriate, earned income of sixty-five ($65) per month plus
				one-half of the remainder is disregarded.
D.
Work-related expenses of the blind
				or disabled:
Work-related expenses of an employed applicant/recipient or
				couple who is/are legally blind or disabled are disregarded. This disregard is
				for earned income only. The dollar amount of expenses which may be disregarded
				must be items or services directly related to enabling a person to work and
				which are necessarily incurred by that individual because of a physical or
				mental disability or blindness. Such costs incurred must be reasonable.
				Expenses are disregarded when paid and must be verified.
(1) This disregard does not apply to an
				applicant/recipient who is blind and is 65 years of age or older, unless he/she
				was receiving SSI payments due to blindness or disability in the month before
				turning 65 or received payments under a state aid to the blind or disabled
				program.
(2) Types of work-related
				expenses which may be disregarded include:
(a)
				federal, state, and local income taxes;
(b) social security contributions;
(c) union dues;
(d) transportation costs, including actual
				cost of bus/taxi cab fare, or 15 cents per mile for private
				automobile;
(e) lunches;
(f) child care costs, if not otherwise
				provided;
(g) uniforms, tools, and
				other necessary equipment;
(h)
				special vehicle modifications to enable transportation to and from work, but
				not the cost of the vehicle itself;
(i) attendants who may be hired for the
				purpose of taking applicant/recipient to and from work, and getting ready for
				work;
(j) durable medical equipment
				that is medically related and generally not useful in absence of the blindness
				or disability yet are necessary to attend and perform tasks in the work
				place;
(k) expenses for work
				related equipment which is impairment related and necessary for the individual
				to perform his/her tasks;
(l)
				prostheses necessary to perform work related tasks;
(m) design modifications related to blindness
				or disability that enable the applicant/recipient to leave home in order to
				attend work, or design modifications made to the work area of the home in the
				case where the applicant/recipient engages in a home based business;
				and
(n) special expenses necessary
				to enable an applicant/recipient who is blind or disabled to engage in
				employment, such as a seeing-eye dog, braille instructions, or instructions on
				using special equipment.
(3) If items or services above are purchased
				through an installment contract, the payments are disregarded. Should the item
				or service be a one time purchase, the purchase may be pro-rated over a 12
				month period, or over the life of the contract.
(4) For items which are leased, the monthly
				payment would be disregarded.