WAC 388-475-0880 Special Income disregards for SSI-related medical programs

Portions of your income the department otherwise counts are disregarded when determining eligibility for SSI-related medical programs. 

1. The department disregards the following for SSI-related medical programs:

   1. The Cost of Living Adjustment(s) (COLA) for a client who:

      1. Is currently receiving a Social Security payment;

      2. Was eligible for and received both SSA and SSI/State Supplement payments (SSP) in the same month for at least one month since April, 1977; and

      3. Would continue to receive SSI/SSP payments but for the COLA increase(s) to their SSA benefits. This is commonly known as the adjustment for “Pickle people”.

   2. Widow(er)’s benefits for a client who:

      1. Was entitled to SSA title II (widow/widower’s) benefits in December 1983;

      2. Was at least 50 years old, but not yet 60 at that time;

      3. Received title II benefits and SSI in January 1984;

      4. Would continue to be eligible for SSI/SSP payments if the title II benefits were disregarded; and

      5. Filed an application for Medicaid with the state by July 1, 1988.

   3. Widow, Widower or Surviving Divorced Spouse (title II) benefits for a client who:

      1. Received SSI/SSP benefits the month prior to receipt of title II benefits;

      2. Would continue to be eligible for SSI/SSP benefits if the title II benefits or the COLA(s) to those benefits were disregarded;

      3. Is not eligible for Medicare Part A. This client is considered an SSI recipient until becoming entitled to Medicare Part A.

2. A Disabled Adult Child (DAC) who is ineligible for SSI/SSP solely due to receipt of either Social Security benefits as a disabled adult child of a person with a Social Security account or due to receipt of a COLA to the DAC benefits, may be income eligible for CN medical if disregarding the SSA DAC benefits and COLA brings countable income below the CN standards, and the client:

   1. Is 18 years of age or older;

   2. Remains related to the SSI program through disability or blindness;

   3. Lost SSI eligibility on or after July 1, 1988 due solely to the receipt of DAC benefits from SSA or a COLA to those benefits; and

   4. Meets the other SSI-related CN medical requirements.

3. Clients who stop receiving an SSI cash payment due to earnings, but still meet all of the other SSI eligibility rules and have income below the higher limit established by the Social Security Act’s Section 1619 (b) are eligible for continued CN Medicaid.

4. TANF income methodology is used to determine counable income for children and pregnant women applying for MN unless the SSI methodology would be more beneficial to the client. For cases using TANF methodology, follow the Family Medical rules and allow the:

   1. Fifty percent earned income disregard;

   2. Child care and dependent care expenses related to employment; and

   3. Child support actually paid.