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Division of Welfare and Supportive Services F-315.1 Medical Assistance Manual LONG TERM CARE SERVICES 24 Sep MTL 05/24 INCOME CONSIDERATION - INDIVIDUAL MEDICAID MEDICAID MEDICAID MEDICAID MEDICAID MEDICAID MEDICAID When the client is considered an individual, only the client's income is counted. Additionally, when the client is considered a member of a couple, the spouse's income is counted for a specified time period. Spouses separated temporarily, for economic (employment) or emergency reasons (hospitalization), vacations or visits are NOT considered "separated" (ceased living together) for purposes of income consideration. The separation must be expected to continue. A temporary absence is one where the individual leaves and returns to the household in the same month or the following month. When income of the spouse must be considered, the income will be verified. If impossible to verify the spouse's income, document the circumstances and accept the client's statement. F-315.2 SSI Budget Form 2646–EE – General Instructions

F-315.2.1 Member of Couple with Eligible Spouse Any time the spouse appears potentially SSI eligible, treat as an eligible spouse until determined ineligible. Use the member of a couple, with eligible spouse column. a. If ineligibility results, consider the spouse ineligible and go through the deeming computation by using the member of a couple, with ineligible spouse column, to determine if deeming applies. b. If deeming doesn't apply, proceed to Part B using the individual column. c. If deeming does apply, proceed with the budget under the member of a couple with ineligible spouse column. If this process also results in ineligibility, the client is ineligible for Medicaid. F-315.2.2 Member of Couple with Ineligible Spouse Use the member of a couple, with ineligible spouse column, items A–1 through 3 to determine if deeming applies. a. If deeming doesn't apply, proceed to the individual column of the budget. b. Deeming never applies when the SSI ineligible spouse receives Medicaid, TANF, VA pension or other federal or state assistance based on need. F-315.2.3 Individual Use the individual column, when the person meets the definition of an individual.