Page 13

14

a. DO NOT disregard the RSDI income. This person is ineligible under Early Widow(er)’s Pass-along.

b. If ineligible, count the current RSDI income and document in NC FAST.

c. Evaluate under other Pass-along groups and all Medicaid programs.

d. The SA level of care the person was in when they lost their SA will determine the maintenance amount for Medicaid pass-along (SA Basic or SCU). EXAMPLE: (Early Widow(er)’s Pass-along) The applicant is 58 years old, lives at home alone and has assets worth less than $2,000.

The applicant receives countable RSDI widow’s benefits of $1280 ($1300 minus $20 disregard) a month in 2024, which is over the Categorically Needy income limit for Medicaid. They also received SSI disability benefits beginning in 2019 until their spouse died in 2022, and the applicant became eligible for widow’s benefits. The individual doesn’t receive Medicare.

Disregarding the applicant’s entire Social Security payment would make them eligible for SSI under current rules.

$1280 (widow(er)’s benefit) -$1280 (disregard total Widow’s benefit) 0

-$20 (disregard) 0 (countable income is under the current SSI limit)

The applicant is eligible for CN MAD under the Widow(er)’s Pass-along.

F. Recertifications At subsequent recertifications, determine if the individual still qualifies as Pass-along. Evaluate the income of the beneficiary. If the individual would be ineligible for SSI or SA after disregarding the RSDI income, the individual is no longer eligible as Early Widow(er)’s Pass-along. Evaluate under other Pass-along groups and all Medicaid programs.

V. DISABLED WIDOW(ER)’S PASS-ALONG (INCLUDING SOME UNMARRIED, DIVORCED SPOUSES) WHO LOST SSI IN 1984 A. Eligibility Requirements 1. Be disabled (or were determined disabled by SSA until age 65).

2. Have received SSI or SA benefits in December 1983 but lost eligibility in January 1984 due to a statutory elimination of an additional benefit reduction factor for