UPM 5030.15 - Unearned Income Disregards

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICESPRIVATE UNIFORM POLICY MANUAL ______________________________________________________________________________ Date: 01-01-07 Transmittal: UP-07-20 5030.15 ______________________________________________________________________________ Section: Type: Treatment of Income POLICY ______________________________________________________________________________ Chapter: Program: AABD Income Disregards MAABD _______________________________________________________________ Subject: Unearned Income Disregards ______________________________________________________________________________

5030.15 A. Income From Which the Disregards is Subtracted

Except as provided in section 5030.15 D., unearned income disregards are subtracted from the unit member's total gross monthly unearned income.

B. Amount and Duration of the Disregards

1. The Department uses the following unearned income disregards, as appropriate under the circumstances described:

a. Standard Disregard

The disregard is $227.00 for those individuals who reside in their own homes in the community or who live as roomers in the homes of others and those who reside in long term care facilities, shelters for the homeless or battered women shelters. Effective January 1, 2008, and each January 1st thereafter, this disregard shall be increased to reflect the annual cost of living adjustment used by the Social Security Administration.

b. Boarding Home Disregard

The disregard is $134.70 for those individuals who pay for room and board in licensed boarding homes or adult family living homes. Effective January 1, 2008, and each January 1st thereafter, this disregard shall be increased to reflect the annual cost of living adjustment used by the Social Security Administration.

c. Special Disregard

The disregard is $294.90 for those individuals who share non-rated housing with at least one person who is not related to them as parent, spouse or child. This does not apply to individuals who reside in shelters for battered women or shelters for the homeless. Effective January 1, 2008, and each January 1st thereafter, this disregard shall be increased to reflect the annual cost of living adjustment used by the Social Security Administration.

QMB Disregard

The disregard is the amount of additional benefits received from Social Security each year which result from the annual Cost of Living Allowance (COLA). CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES UNIFORM POLICY MANUAL ______________________________________________________________________________ Date: 10-1-00 Transmittal: UP-00-22 5030.15 page 2 ______________________________________________________________________________ Section: Type: Treatment of Income POLICY ______________________________________________________________________________ Chapter: Program: AABD Income Disregards MAABD _______________________________________________________________ Subject: Unearned Income Disregards ______________________________________________________________________________

5030.15 B. Amount and Duration of the Disregards (continued)

e. In-Kind Income Disregard

In-kind income not otherwise excluded under chapter 5015 is counted in the gross income eligibility test, but is disregarded in calculating applied income in AABD with respect to the determination of eligibility and benefit amount.

2. There is no durational limit to the use of unearned income disregards, except that used for the QMB coverage group.

3. The QMB disregard is used only in the months of January, February, and March of each year.

C. When the Disregard is Used

1. AABD

Except for determining AABD eligibility and benefit levels for assistance units residing in long term care facilities, all of the unearned income disregards, except for the QMB disregard, are used to determine eligibility and to calculate benefits for AABD.

Total gross monthly unearned income is counted in full in determining AABD eligibility and benefit levels for assistance units residing in long term care facilities.

2. MAABD

a. All of the disregards used in the AABD programs are used to determine eligibility for MAABD.

b. The QMB disregard is used to determine eligibility only for the QMB Medicaid coverage group.

D. Working Individuals with Disabilities

There are no unearned income disregards for persons applying for or receiving Medicaid under the coverage group for Working Individuals with Disabilities. Instead, there is a general income disregard of $20.00 per month, as described at 5030.16 (Cross Reference: 2540.85).