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a. Eligibility criteria. To qualify for this eligibility pathway, a person must be: (1) At least eighteen (18) years of age; (2) Living with a disabling impairment that began prior to the age of twenty-two (22); (3) An SSI recipient based on blindness or a disabling impairment; and (4) No longer be qualified for SSI due to income resulting only from either the RSDI benefits associated with the retirement, death or disability of a parent or an SSDI benefit paid to an adult child with disabilities. b. Determination process. RSDI or SSDI benefits paid to the beneficiary are disregarded when calculating countable income. SSI rules for the treatment of income otherwise apply. Protected eligibility is granted if the RSDI or the SSDI benefit is the ONLY source of additional income. c. Continuing eligibility. Protected status as a result of the RSDI or SSDI disregard continues to apply as long as the beneficiary meets the disability/blindness criteria, there are no additional sources of increased countable income, and resources remain within the applicable limits. d. Agency responsibilities. SSA notifies the State when a recipient loses SSI on this basis and qualifies for the disregards for eligibility through this pathway. The EOHHS is responsible for determining whether other relevant criteria for continuation of protected status and application of the disregard is warranted. Beneficiaries who lose protected status must be evaluated for alternate forms of Medicaid eligibility before their coverage is terminated. 8. Divorced or Surviving Spouses with Disabilities – This coverage group consists of surviving and divorced spouses who have been determined disabled and lose SSI and/or SSP due to receipt of the RSDI Disabled Widow Benefits (DWB). For Medicaid purposes, these persons are deemed to be SSI recipients until they are entitled to receive Medicare. The SSA is responsible for informing the State of persons who are eligible for continuing eligibility on this basis. 9. State Supplemental Recipients, 12/73 – This coverage group consists of Medicaid beneficiaries eligible under the Medicaid State Plan on the basis of SSI in December 1973 and their spouses who continue to live with them and are essential to their well-being. Medicaid eligibility of the spouse