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NOTE: The April 1 date assumes that the Federal Poverty Guidelines are published as usual in February. If, in any given year the poverty guidelines are published in a month other than February, DFR will be notified of the transition months.

3455.05.05.15 PLAN FOR ACHIEVING SELF-SUPPORT (PASS) (MED 1, 4) The policies explained in this section apply only to the MA B, MA D, MA G, MA L, MA J, and MA I categories of assistance. There are two kinds of Plans for Achieving Self-Support (PASS). One is an SSI PASS which is approved by the Social Security Administration for SSI eligibility purposes. The other is a Medicaid PASS which is approved by Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning, Medicaid Eligibility Unit, Central Office, for Medicaid eligibility purposes. A PASS can be developed for an individual who needs to set aside a part of his income for a specified period necessary to achieve an occupational objective. The income could be used for current expenditures or saved for a later planned expenditure to achieve a work-related goal such as education, vocational training, starting a business, or purchasing work-related equipment. For individuals in the MA B category (SSI recipients and non-SSI recipients) as well as non-SSI recipients in the MA L, MA G, MA J, MA I, and MA K categories, a PASS must be approved by the Office of Medicaid Policy and Planning (OMPP).11 In order for a PASS to be approved, the DFR must submit a letter to the Central Office containing the following: • The description and objectives of the plan as discussed with the applicant/recipient. • The source and amount of all income and resources and what amounts of each are to be used in the plan. • The length of time the plan is to operate; and • Any other pertinent information including documentation from the Social Security Administration of an SSI recipient's approved PASS. This letter is to be prepared in triplicate, with two copies sent to the Central Office, OMPP, Medicaid Eligibility Unit, and one retained in the case record. The Central Office will forward a copy to the Blind and Visually Impaired Section of the Division of Aging and Rehabilitative Services for their recommendation. The Central Office will then review the self-support plan and recommendation from the Blind and Visually Impaired Section of the Division of Aging and Rehabilitative Services and notify the DFR by letter of approval or disapproval. The DFR will then notify the applicant/recipient. If the plan is approved, the amount of income and resources disregarded and time periods for the disregard must be documented in the case record. A Medicaid approved PASS is coded in IEDSS (Indiana Eligibility Determination Services System) as PM.