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COMAR 10.09.24.01-.16 1637 State of Maryland Medical Assistance Manual Revised July 2012

(d) The category selected is presumed to continue at each redetermination unless the recipient requests a change.

N. Required Application for Income Benefits.

(1) Eligibility may not be established until applicants, and recipients furnish proof that they have applied for and taken all other necessary steps to obtain and accept all income benefits to which there may be entitlement, except as specified in §N(3) of this regulation.

(2) Income benefits include, but are not limited to, Social Security, Unemployment Compensation, Railroad Retirement, Veterans' Administration, Civil Service annuities, federal, state, or local government and private pensions, and Workers' Compensation.

(3) Applicants and recipients determined by the Department or its designee to be unable to perform the required activity because of the applicant's or recipient's physical or mental condition and for whom there is no other individual to perform the activity are not required to apply for income benefits.

(4) Determination of initial eligibility may not be delayed pending the results of the application filed for income benefits.

(5) At the time of redetermination or reapplication, eligibility will be determined on the basis of the applicant's or recipient's documented reasonable and continuous efforts to establish entitlement to income benefits.

O. An applicant who is 65 years old or older, or blind or disabled, is not eligible until he furnishes proof that he has applied for or is receiving Part "A" Medicare. Eligibility determination may not be delayed pending the results of the application filed for Part "A" Medicare. Periodic reviews of eligibility are necessary for those blind or disabled persons initially determined ineligible for Medicare because of the required waiting period.

P. Social Security Number.

(1) Eligibility may not be established until the applicant or recipient furnishes or applies for a Social Security number for each member of an assistance unit, and any person whose income and resources are considered in determining the financial eligibility of an assistance unit.

(2) Assistance may not be denied, delayed, or discontinued pending the issuance or verification of the number if the applicant or recipient complies with §P(1) of this regulation.

(3) An individual may not be added to an assistance unit until an application is completed for a Social Security number.

(4) If an applicant or recipient is physically or mentally incapable of acting for himself or herself or lacks the resources to meet the requirements, the Department or its designee shall assist the applicant or recipient in obtaining the necessary evidentiary documents required for application for a Social Security number, and any costs incurred by the local department shall be paid out of administrative funds.