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MISSISSIPPI DIVISION OF MEDICAID Eligibility Policy and Procedures Manual CHAPTER 200A – Income: ABD Categories Page |85 Effective Month: July 2025 • The President declared the catastrophe a major disaster for purposes of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (formerly the Disaster Relief Act of 1974); and • The individual stopped living in his home because of the catastrophe and began to receive support and maintenance within 30 days after the catastrophe; and • The individual receives support and maintenance while living in a residential facility maintained by another person. A residential facility is to be interpreted broadly, including a private household, a shelter, or any other temporary housing arrangement resorted to because of the disaster. Assistance (other than support and maintenance) received under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act or any other Federal statute because of a catastrophe which the President declares to be a major disaster is excluded from countable income. This includes assistance to repair or replace the individual's own home or other property and disaster unemployment assistance. Interest earned on the assistance is excluded from income and resources. If excluded from income, any unspent assistance is permanently excluded from resources. 200A.07.33 FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY (FEMA) EMERGENCY FOOD DISTRIBUTION AND SHELTER PROGRAMS Through a national board chaired by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and local boards, funds are provided to private nonprofit organizations and state and local governmental entities for providing emergency food and shelter to needy individuals. The entity receiving these funds decides how they will be best used such as to buy beds and blankets, stock a soup kitchen or pay an individual’s rent.) The federal funds are not provided to meet ongoing basic needs. Assistance involving FEMA is subject to general rules pertaining to income and income exclusions. It is neither IBON nor ABON. Assistance involving FEMA is most often provided in-kind by private nonprofit organizations and with state certification will qualify for exclusion as Home Energy Assistance and Support and Maintenance Assistance (HEA/SMA).