Page 8

Louisiana Medicaid Eligibility Manual Eligibility Factors

Reissued August 11, 2025

Page 8 of I-1530 Replacing February 17, 2025

Deleted text indicated by “” Revised/added text indicated by underscore

DEATH BENEFITS

Count as unearned income that portion of the benefit that exceeds expenses.

A death benefit is a benefit other than life insurance received as the result of another individual's death.

Examples of death benefits include:

• Death benefits from labor unions,

• Death benefits from SSA or Railroad Retirement paid to the:

– legal or non-legal spouse who was living with the individual, or

– the spouse or child receiving RSDI or Railroad Retirement benefits from the individual's record.

• Veterans Administration burial benefits, and

• Cash given by relatives, friends, or a community group (e.g., benevolent society) to assist with expenses related to the death.

Exclude that portion of death benefits which is used to pay expenses for the deceased person's last illness and burial.

Note: Recurring survivor benefits (e.g., those received under RSDI or private pension programs) are not death benefits. Therefore, expenses of last illness and burial cannot be deducted from these benefits.

Last illness and burial expenses include:

• Related hospital and medical expenses,

• Funeral, burial plot, and interment expenses, and

• Other related expenses.

Verify all last illness and burial expenses. If an expense has been incurred but not paid, assume that the applicant/beneficiary will pay the