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Aged, Blind and Disabled Manual Policy Manual Number: 110.050 Section: Financial Eligibility Requirements Chapter: ABD Countable and Excluded Resources

September 1, 2026 Division of TennCare 21 The home equity limit can be waived if an undue hardship is requested, and a determination is made that undue hardship exists. Undue hardship is considered to exist if the application of the home equity limit would deprive the individual of medical care, such that the individual’s health or life would be endangered, or would deprive the individual of food, clothing, shelter, or other necessities of life.

2. Exclusion Based on Intent to Return

The value of the home and surrounding land will not be counted as a resource during the individual’s absence from an unoccupied home when she intends to return to the property.

• Absence from the Home

An absence from the home can be necessary to accomplish a specific purpose such as hospitalization, confinement in a nursing home or receipt of services, such as nursing or personal care services not available to the individual in her home.

• Development of Intent to Return

When the individual is absent from her homestead, and it is not occupied by a spouse or dependent relative, verify the individual’s intent to return home at each redetermination of eligibility.

• When the Exemption Period Ends

An intent to return home is nullified by any efforts to sell or dispose of the property during the exemption period. The exemption based on the intent to return ends the first day of the month after the month efforts are made to sell or dispose of the homestead property.

Rental of a homestead which has been excluded because of intent to return does not nullify the exclusion. The homestead retains the exclusion as long as there is a clear, non-contradictory intent to return, and no efforts are made to sell or dispose of the