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SNAP CERTIFICATION MANUAL – SECTION 5000 5700 Unearned Income 5723 Veteran’s Administration Benefits (VA)

5723 Veteran’s Administration Benefits (VA) SNAP Manual 01/01/03 VA benefits are monthly checks issued to certain individuals who served in a branch of the United States Armed Services. VA checks are also issued to a veteran’s dependents under certain conditions. VA benefits are counted as unearned income. For VA disability pensions, a monthly check and an annual “adjustment” check is sent. At the end of the year (October for most disabilities), the VA sends out a letter asking the household to verify the past year’s income and out of pocket medical and educational expenses for the veteran and his/her spouse. The VA will either establish a claim for any over issuance or make retroactive income payment(s). Monthly amounts in the coming year may also be adjusted. If the household receives an income adjustment lump-sum payment, the payment will be excluded as income. Since this is considered a retroactive income adjustment and not a reimbursement for medical expenses, out-of-pocket expenses may be deducted by the household if the member who incurred the expense is age 60 or older or individual with disability. Some veterans receive an aid and attendance payment. These payments, which are intended to be used by the veteran to pay the cost of a nurse or attendant, are counted as income in the SNAP budget. If the veteran does use the funds to pay for nursing care or an attendant, these costs will be deducted as a medical expense. See SNAP 6500. Educational benefits paid under the Montgomery GI Bill to students enrolled in an institution of post-secondary education are excluded as income. See SNAP 1622.3. 5724 Worker’s Compensation Benefits SNAP Manual 01/01/00 Worker’s compensation payments are insurance payments made as a result of injury or death on a work site. Such payments may be received by the injured individual on a bi-weekly basis or as a lump sum payment. When a death occurs, a lump sum payment will be made to the individual’s survivors. (Lump sum payments are considered a resource – see SNAP 4950.) Worker’s Compensation payments received on a bi-weekly basis are counted as unearned income. Not all work sites are covered by Worker’s Compensation. However, whenever a household claims a job-related injury, or death, the possible receipt of Worker’s Compensation Benefits