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combined incomes of the customer and eligible or ineligible spouse when using the member of a couple with an eligible or ineligible spouse column. a. Determine unearned income. b. Subtract the general income exclusion of $20 to arrive at the remaining unearned income. c. Determine total gross earned income. d. Subtract any balance of the general exclusion not offset by unearned income. e. Subtract the work expense exclusion of $65. f. Impairment–related work expenses (IRWE). This exclusion is applied to earned income of disabled (but not blind) individuals under age 65. The expense must be reasonable; for items/services which are directly related to enabling an impaired individual to work, and which are necessarily incurred by the individual because of a physical or mental impairment. IRWEs are excluded when the cost is paid by the disabled individual and is not reimbursable from another source. g. Subtract 1/2 of the remaining earned income after the above deductions. h. Determine the total countable income by adding Items B–1–b and B–2–e. i. Compare the total countable income (Item B–3) to the appropriate SSI payment amount (SPA). If the amount is equal to or greater than the SPA in the member of a couple with ineligible spouse or individual columns, the customer is ineligible for Medicaid. If ineligible in the member of a couple with eligible spouse column, proceed to the member of a couple with ineligible spouse column to complete the eligibility determination. E-225 INCOME DISREGARDS BY PUBLIC LAW E-225.1 Pickle Amendment – Public Law 94–566 Exclude from countable income the RSDI cost–of–living increases received after the customer was last eligible for and received SSI and entitled to RSDI in the same month. If the customer resides with his/her spouse and spousal deeming applies, deduct the RSDI cost–of–living increases from the spouse's RSDI income which were received after the customer last received SSI. The last RSDI amount received when the customer was entitled to can be obtained through the Social Security Administration using Form 2022-EM, Pickle Amendment Certification, the annual Pickle Report or by using the RSDI Computation Worksheet Form 2654-EE. Verification used to support "Pickle" status must be uploaded to DIS. E-220.1.5 Division of Welfare and Supportive Services MAABD INCOME AND BUDGETING Medical Assistance Manual SSI Eligibility Determination MTL 09/24 NOV 24