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MISSISSIPPI DIVISION OF MEDICAID Eligibility Policy and Procedures Manual CHAPTER 200A – Income: ABD Categories Page |82 Effective Month: July 2025 200A.07.31A ASSISTANCE UNDER TITLE IV OF HEA OR BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS (BIA) All student financial assistance received under HEA or BIA assistance programs is excluded from income and resources, regardless of use. The resource exclusion does not have a time limit, i.e., regardless of how long held, the assistance is excluded from resources. Interest and dividends earned on unspent educational assistance under Title IV HEA and BIA are excluded from income. Examples of HEA Title IV programs include: • PELL grants • State Student Incentives • Academic Achievement Incentive Scholarships • Byrd Scholars • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) • Federal Educational loans (Federal PLUS, Perkins, Stafford, Ford loans) • Upward Bound • GEAR Up (Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs) • LEAP (Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership) • SLEAP (Special Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership) • Work Study programs • State educational assistance programs, including work study, funded by LEAP or SLEAP 200A.07.31B OTHER GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS, FELLOWSHIPS AND GIFTS Any portion of a grant, scholarship, fellowship or gift used for paying tuition, fees, or other necessary educational expenses at any educational institution, including vocational or technical education, is excluded from income. Funds Set Aside Any portion of such educational assistance that is not used for paying current tuition, fees or other necessary educational expenses but will be used for paying this type of educational expense at a future date is excluded from income in the month of receipt. NOTE: This exclusion does not apply to that portion set aside or actually used for food, clothing or shelter.