Page 9
2. Exceeds the income limit for couple computation. 3. Is living in the same household as the client. c. Individual Consider customers as individuals when they are: 1. NOT married. 2. Married but have been separated from their spouse for a specified time frame. The customer will be considered an individual beginning the month after the month they cease living together. E-235.1.2 Medicare Beneficiaries Budget Form 2203-EM a. Member of Couple with Eligible Spouse Any time the spouse appears eligible for SSI or a Medicare beneficiary category, treat them as eligible until determined otherwise. Use the member of a couple with eligible spouse column. 1. If ineligibility results, consider the spouse ineligible and go through the deeming computation, using the member of a couple with ineligible spouse column to determine if deeming applies. b. Member of Couple with Ineligible Spouse 1. Use the member of a couple with ineligible spouse column to determine if deeming applies. Deeming never applies when the ineligible spouse receives TANF, VA pension or other federal or state assistance based on need. 2. If deeming does not apply, proceed to the individual column of the budget. c. Individual Use the individual column when the person meets the definition of an individual. Exceptions: Do not count income of a spouse who is receiving assistance under a Waiver. If a customer is entitled to both Social Security and an additional income source such as long-term disability which offsets the amount of Social Security the customer receives, budget only the resulting Social Security amount and the gross amount of the additional income source. When income of the spouse must be considered, the income will be verified. If impossible to verify the Division of Welfare and Supportive Services E-235.1.1 Medical Assistance Manual MAABD INCOME AND BUDGETING MTL 09/24 NOV 24 Determine whether the Customer is Considered an Individual or a Member of a QMB/SLMB/QI/QDWI Eligible Spouse by Applying the Definitions in This Section