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COMBINED MANUAL

ISSUE DATE 10/2021

HOW TO CALCULATE BENEFIT LEVEL - SNAP/MSA/GRH

0022.12.01

Follow the procedures below to determine the benefit level.

FOR SSI RECIPIENTS 1. Subtract $20 dollars from the client's SSI FBR. For information about the SSI Federal Benefit Rate (FBR), see 0029.06.03 (Supplemental Security Income Program). Do NOT allow the $20 disregard for residents of a long term care facility for which MA pays their cost of care. Do not make any adjustments due to other income the client may have (SSA has already adjusted the SSI payment).

2. Locate the appropriate standard in 0020.21 (MSA Assistance Standards). Add any special need items the client is eligible for. See 0023 (Special Needs Payments).

3. Subtract the result of Step 1 from the result of Step 2. The difference is the MSA benefit for the month. In the case of a married couple where BOTH partners have a basis of eligibility, divide the total by 2 to determine the benefit amount for each partner.

4. Determine if there is a recoupable amount. If there is, subtract the recoupment. See 0025.21.15 (Recoupment).

FOR NON-SSI RECIPIENTS 1. Locate the appropriate assistance standard in 0020.21 (MSA Assistance Standards). Add any special need items the client is eligible for in 0023 (Special Needs Payments).

2. Subtract the client's net income from the result of Step 1. See 0018 (Determining Net Income). The difference is the benefit for that month. In the case of an eligible married couple where BOTH partners are on MSA, divide the difference by 2 to determine the benefit amount for each partner.

3. Determine if there is a recoupable amount. If there is, subtract the recoupment. See 0025.21.15 (Recoupment).

GRH: Subtract net income in the budget month from the assistance standard for the corresponding payment month. NOTE: For the month the client enters the GRH setting, subtract ONLY the income that is actually available for that month. See 0018 (Determining Net Income).

The assistance standard for a GRH client is the GRH rate specified on the MAXIS MONY/VND2 panel plus the difficulty of care amount specified on the MAXIS STAT/FACI panel for clients in adult foster homes without other service funding. See 0020.22 (GRH Assistance Standards).