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2840.05.05 SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS (MED 3) Social Security benefits include monthly retirement, survivor, and disability benefits. Social security benefits do not include supplemental security income (SSI). Social security benefits can be taxable or tax exempt. However, all social security benefits, whether taxable or tax exempt, received by an individual are included in the calculation of MAGI for determining household income.27

Black Lung benefits made available through the United States Department of Labor under Title IV of the Federal Coal Mine Health and Safety Act of 1969 to the former miner and his dependents or survivors are considered countable income. 2840.10.00 VETERANS’ BENEFITS Veterans' benefits are unearned income in the form of compensation or pension benefits available through the Department of Veterans' Affairs to veterans and their dependents or survivors. Compensation is paid to veterans with service-connected disabilities and is based on the degree of the disability. Pensions are available to certain wartime veterans who are permanently and totally disabled. Additionally, a veteran who is in a nursing home or who needs regular assistance from another person for daily activities may qualify for an Aid and Attendance Allowance or a Housebound Allowance (see also 2840.10.10). A single veteran or a widow of a veteran who is in a Medicaid certified nursing home may be receiving a reduced pension of $90 per month. Any portion of the VA benefit which is allowed for a dependent is considered unearned income of the dependent. Refer to IHCPPM 2890.10.20 concerning verification requirements. For MAGI AGs (MED 3), VA benefits are not taxable income. Therefore, VA benefits are not counted in the calculation of household income. For MED 1, 4, MA F and RMA, VA benefits are counted for eligibility purposes. 2840.10.05 SPINA BIFIDA ALLOWANCE FOR VETERANS' CHILDREN For non-MAGI (MED 1, 2, 4) AGs, allowances paid to children who are born with Spina Bifida and are children of Vietnam veterans will have this allowance excluded from the income and resource determination.28 The monthly payment is to be considered as exempt income. Left over amounts (previous month's payment that is not spent in that previous month) of this allowance from previous months payments and/or lump sum payments of this allowance are to