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Aged, Blind and Disabled Manual Section: Financial Eligibility Requirements Policy Manual Number: 110.030 Chapter: ABD Unearned Income
March 18, 2019 Division of TennCare 5 • SSA, Veterans Affairs (VA) or Railroad retirement lump sum death benefits; • Inheritances in cash or in-kind; and • Cash or in-kind gifts given by relatives, friends or a community group to “help out” with expenses related to the death, etc.
Recurring survivor benefits such as those received under Social Security Title II, private pension programs, etc. are not death benefits.
Death benefits are income to an individual if the total amount exceeds the expense of the deceased person’s last illness and burial paid by the individual to whom the death benefit is issued.
Education Income Not Work Study Excluded.
Income received through Federal Student Aid, such as grants and loans, except for income received through Work Study programs.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Payment Disaster or Emergency Excluded.
FEMA payments issued as a result of a presidentially declared emergency or major disaster are excluded. Payments made by comparable disaster assistance programs by states, local governments and disaster assistance organizations are also excluded.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Payment Non Disaster or Emergency Countable.
FEMA payments made to a household to pay for rent, food and utility assistance when there is NO major disaster or emergency declaration are countable.
Gambling, Prizes and Awards Countable.
The value of a prize or award is unearned income in the month the individual receives it.
A prize is something won in a contest, lottery or game of chance. If the individual is offered a choice between an in-