Page 28

Louisiana Medicaid Eligibility Manual Eligibility Factors

Reissued June 9, 2026

Page 28 of I-1630 Replacing September 23, 2024

Revised/added text indicated by underscore

Deleted text indicated by “**” Count any interest earned on unspent portion as unearned income in the month of receipt and as a resource the following month.

 Crops in Storage

Count the equity value that is not excluded as a business asset (refer to Business Assets).

Legal debts may include storage costs, liens, and chattel mortgages.

**  Death Benefits

If expenses of last illness and burial have been verified but the applicant/beneficiary has not yet paid the expenses:

• Assume that s/he will pay them, and

• Disregard any death benefits (e.g., SSA or VA death benefits) that are less than or equal to the verified expenses.

In the month following the month of receipt, count as a resource only that portion of death benefits that exceeds the verified costs of the last illness and burial.

 Disaster Assistance

Permanently exclude any assistance received because of a catastrophe which is declared to be a major disaster by the President of the United States. Funds should be identifiable as disaster funds. ‘The Road Home’ program money is considered disaster assistance.

Note: Exclude as income and resources any interest earned.

Many types of Pandemic-related assistance under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES ACT), the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA), and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) are considered disaster assistance and will be permanently disregarded for SSI-related income and resources for all individuals involved in computation of benefits. The Pandemic-related assistance meeting criteria for disaster assistance exclusions are: