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226 (07/2026) Chapter 2:Eligibility • Section 5: Financial eligibility During the certification and at recertification The income limit is higher during the certification (referred to as the ongoing income limit) and at recertification (referred to as the exit limit). This allows families to maintain child care assistance while experiencing moderate financial gains — helping to reduce the cliff effect — for those receiving ERDC and those reapplying without a break in benefits of more than one calendar month. Self-employment income Income from self-employment for ERDC is compared against the ERDC income limits before deductions, based on filing group size. If the family is below the income limit, they meet the income eligibility; costs for their business can be explored. Click here for Self-employment income. REF To meet eligibility and continue REF benefits, the financial group must meet and maintain the REF income and payment standards. To meet REFM eligibility, the financial group must meet the adjusted income standard during the month of application only — after a 50 percent deduction on all earned income, and deduction of all medical costs incurred during the month of application. Once a refugee has been determined eligible for REFM (and not eligible for Medicaid), that refugee will maintain financial eligibility for the remainder of their eligibility period. MSP Individuals must meet income eligibility at initial application and throughout the benefit period to continue receiving benefits. For QMB, the financial group must have adjusted income at or below the QMB income limits. For SMB and SMF, the financial group must have adjusted income below the SMB and SMF income limits. Protected eligibility from SSA COLAs — Each year, from Jan. 1 until the new program income standards are put into effect (usually in March), all ongoing MSP recipients have protected eligibility from the annual SSA Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA). This includes those requiring a renewal. OSIPM Individuals in a standard living situation and their financial group must have adjusted income below the OSIPM income limits to meet eligibility at initial application and maintain eligibility throughout the benefit period. Those who do not qualify for OSIPM as a standard living situation and are evaluated under the ACS or LTC services rules must have countable income below 300% of the SSI standard or establish an Income Cap Trust to be eligible. Individuals who receive SSI or are deemed eligible for SSI under Section 1619(a) or (b) of the Social Security Act are assumed eligible and automatically meet all financial eligibility factors, including income. Click here for ACS. Click here for EPD. Click here for LTC Services.