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Louisiana Medicaid Eligibility Manual Eligibility Determinations

Issued Feburary 06, 2023 Page 5 of H-1300 Replacing March 13, 2020 Revised/added text indicated by underscore Deleted text indicated by “**”

Note: When deeming income from an ineligible spouse, the income of the ineligible spouse remaining after allocation for ineligible children is combined with the income of the eligible spouse. The couple is then treated the same as an eligible couple for budgeting purposes.

Step 2. Subtract the $20 SSI general income disregard.

Step 3. The remainder is the couple’s countable unearned income.

Step 4. Determine the total gross earned income by combining the couple’s gross earned income.

Step 5. Subtract any remainder of $20 SSI disregard from gross earnings.

Step 6. Subtract one earned income deduction from the remaining gross earnings of the income unit. The earned income deduction is $65 and one half of the remainder of the earnings.

Step 7. The remainder is the couple’s countable earned income.

Step 8. Combine the remainders in Step 3 and Step 7.

Step 9. Compare the total to 120 percent FPL for one person. Refer to Z-200 Federal Poverty Income Guidelines.

If the income is equal to or greater than the SLMB standard for two persons, the applicant/beneficiary is not eligible.

If the income is less than the SLMB limit for two persons, the applicant/beneficiary is income eligible. Refer to Z-200 Federal Poverty Income Guidelines.

Exception: Couples in a nursing facility or receiving waiver services who are being considered as individuals, are considered individuals for SLMB need/countable income determinations. Refer to MEM 831.4 If one spouse is in a nursing facility or receiving waiver services and the community spouse is not receiving waiver services, determine eligibility for each spouse as an individual. Consider income of each