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MISSISSIPPI DIVISION OF MEDICAID Eligibility Policy and Procedures Manual CHAPTER 102 – Non-Financial Requirements Page |68 Effective Month: September 2018 MAGI-Related Programs Children under age 19, pregnant women of any age and parents or needy caretakers, within the specified degree of relationship, are eligible individuals for MAGI-related eligibility if they apply and meet program requirements. Parents may be married or unmarried. Effective 01/01/2014, parents include the biological, adopted or stepparent of a child and siblings include biological, adopted or stepsiblings within a household or budget group. Prior to 01/01/2014, stepparents were not considered legally responsible for a stepchild. A caretaker relative is related by blood, adoption or marriage with whom the dependent child is living, who assumes primary responsibility for the child’s care, as may be indicated by claiming the child as a tax dependent for federal income tax purposes and meets a specified degree of relationship, as specified in 102.11.03. The caretaker relative’s spouse is also covered if living together and otherwise eligible. A dependent child is under the age of 18 and is deprived of parental support by reason of death, absence from the home, physical or mental incapacity, or unemployment (or underemployment) of at least one parent. Deprivation is outlined in 102.11.01 and is relevant to the eligibility of the parent/caretaker and not the child. 102.08.01 VERIFICATION OF AGE The age of an individual must be verified in the following situations: • The applicant is an adult or child applying for benefits which are based on age; • There are ineligible children in an ABD deeming household; • A disabled or blind applicant under age 21 applies for ABD and any of the following conditions exist: o Deeming o Student earned income exclusion o Support from absent parent exclusion