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Title 5: Centrally Administered Programs Page 61 Iowa Department of Human Services Employees’ Manual Chapter E: Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa (hawk-i) Types of Income Revised July 3, 2009 Reimbursements

Reimbursements 441 IAC 86.2(2)“b”(25)

Exempt reimbursements from the employer for job-related expenses, including travel expenses, food, and uniform allowances.

Exempt as income third-party reimbursements when the payment is to pay or repay the client for an expense that was billed to the client, but owed by the third party. Exempt the payments whether the third-party is living in the home or out of the home.

Examples include reimbursement for long-distance calls made by a friend using the client’s phone and payments on utilities by a person in a shared living arrangement.

Exempt as income payments received from other public and private assistance programs when the payments represent reimbursement for expenses incurred for participating in these programs. Reimbursable expenses may include rent reimbursement, travel, childcare, meals, and lodging.

The purpose of the program must be verified with the source of the payments before applying the exemption. The action taken must be documented in the case record. Representative Payee Income 441 IAC 86.2(2)“b”(44) Exempt any income restricted by law or regulation that is paid to a representative payee living outside the home (other than a parent), unless the representative payee actually makes the income available to the client.

Social Security and other federal benefits are sometimes required by law or regulation to be paid to a representative payee (for example, when the beneficiary is a minor).

The representative payee is to use the funds in the best interest of the beneficiary. The payee may decide to save the money for future use or may make only a part of the funds available for the current needs of the eligible group.