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MISSISSIPPI DIVISION OF MEDICAID Eligibility Policy and Procedures Manual CHAPTER 200A – Income: ABD Categories Page |57 Effective Month: July 2025 The following must be considered in determining countable VA educational income: • Any VA educational benefit payment or portion of such a payment funded by the government that is not part of a program of vocational rehabilitation is unearned income. • Any portion of the VA educational benefit used to pay for tuition, books, fees, tutorial services, or other necessary educational expenses is excluded from income. o For SSI/Medicaid purposes, only the portion of an educational payment that is income to the veteran obtaining the education is subject to the educational expenses exclusion. The augmented portion, which is income to the dependent, is not subject to the educational expenses exclusion. • The $50/$20 general income exclusion applies to countable VA educational assistance and these payments are subject to deeming. 200A.07.09D AUGMENTED BENEFITS As previously indicated, VA often considers the existence of dependents when determining a veteran’s or veteran’s surviving spouse’s eligibility for pension, compensation and educational benefits. If dependents are involved, the amount of the benefit payable may be larger. However, the presence of dependents does not necessarily mean a payment will be augmented. Apportionment Apportionment is direct payment of the dependent’s portion of VA benefits to a dependent spouse or child. On a case-by-case basis, the VA decides whether and how much to pay by apportionment. Apportionment reduces the amount of the augmented benefit payable to the veteran or the veteran’s surviving spouse. The portion of a VA benefit paid by apportionment to a dependent spouse or child is VA income to the dependent spouse or child. It is not a support payment from the designated VA beneficiary.