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MISSISSIPPI DIVISION OF MEDICAID Eligibility Policy and Procedures Manual CHAPTER 200B – Income: MAGI Categories Page |156

Effective Month: July 2025

If Verified Wages Fluctuate, An Average Must Be Determined For example: An hourly employee paid minimum wage works on an “as-needed” basis and provides hours worked for the last 4 weeks. Add wages for all 4 weeks and divide by 4 to get an average. Enter the weekly average in MEDS and document the calculation of the average in the case record. Temporary or Sporadic Work History An individual who is a temporary worker or an individual that works sporadically must provide wage verification from previous jobs to determine what can reasonably be expected to be received in the future. Document the case record with discussions held with the individual and the resulting decision on anticipated income.

Using Year to Date (YTD) Income Verification When there is no other verification readily available, such as paystubs are missing, and the client confirms there are no missing paydays, pay rate changes or bonuses involved, it is permissible to divide wages over the period covered in the YTD figures. For example: a client is paid every Friday and there are 10 paydays represented in the YTD total. Divide the YTD total by 10 and enter the calculated weekly amount in MEDS. Document why the YTD method was used and document contact with the client confirming why paystubs are missing and that the client attests to no bonuses, missing pay days or changes included in the YTD total.

Wages for a New Job Have Not Been Paid or Only a Partial Paycheck Has Been Received If wages for a new job have not been paid or if only a partial paycheck has been received, the full amount of wages anticipated during the upcoming eligibility period must be determined using the verified rate of pay, frequency and expected work hours.

Wages From a Terminated Source of Income Wages from a terminated source are not counted for ongoing eligibility, even if the last paycheck will be paid after the termination date. Terminated wages are not part of “normal” income reasonably expected to be received for the upcoming year. For example: Employment terminates at the end of December and a Medicaid application is filed on January 5th. The final paycheck from the terminated source of income will be received on January 15th. Do not count the terminated wages for January and ongoing. If retroactive Medicaid is requested for October – November, the wages received during the retroactive period counts toward determining retroactive eligibility, but not ongoing eligibility.