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Chapter: 1600 Assets Program: MSSI, SFP 20

If the funds are not clearly designated for burial at the time of the application, the funds may be excluded if the individual:

1. states that the funds are intended for the individual's burial or completes CF-ES 2302, Designation of Resources for Burial Funds 2. submits evidence that the funds have been separately identified and designated for burial within 10 days, if the funds are currently commingled with non-burial funds.

Note: If the evidence is not provided in 10 days, the funds cannot be excluded until the information is provided.

Example: The applicant/recipient has a savings account with $3500 in it and states it is a burial fund, we will exclude $2500 and count $1000. This meets the requirement of not being comingled. If the applicant/recipient states that only $2500 is for burial and the other $1000 is for emergencies, then the $2500 is commingled with non-burial funds and the client would have to open a separate account to receive the $2500 burial exclusion.

Assets may be designated as burial funds for any month, including the three months prior to the month of application. (Burial fund accounts for prior months may be commingled with non-burial funds.)

Any increase in the value of excluded burial funds which was left to accumulate is excluded from assets. Refer to passages 1640.0593 and 1840.1000. 1640.0515 Burial Spaces/Plots (MSSI, SFP) The following are considered burial spaces or plots:

1. conventional grave sites, 2. crypts, 3. mausoleums, and 4. urns. 1640.0516 Burial Spaces (MSSI, SFP) Burial spaces owned by the individual are not considered assets as long as they are intended for the use of the individual, the individual's spouse, or any member of the individual's immediate family. For the purposes of this policy the immediate family includes the individual's:

1. minor and adult children, 2. stepchildren, 3. adopted children, 4. brothers, 5. sisters, 6. parents, 7. adoptive parents, and 8. the spouses of immediate family members.

Dependency and living in the same household are not factors.

Burial space items that are also excludable include:

1. caskets, 2. headstones, and 3. the opening and closing costs of the grave.

Burial spaces are included as an asset if: