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Aged, Blind and Disabled Manual; Section: Categories of Eligibility; Policy Manual Number: 115.020; Chapter: PICKLE PASSALONG

Legal Authority: 42 CFR 435.135; Tenn. Comp. R. & Regs. 1200-13-20-.08(3)

1. Overview The Pickle Passalong Medicaid category is named in honor of U.S. Congressman J.J. Pickle and was established in 1977. To be eligible in the Pickle Passalong category, an individual must have been receiving both Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security benefits. The individual must have then lost SSI eligibility but would remain SSI-eligible if the Social Security Cost of Living Adjustments (COLAs) received since the SSI payments ended were disregarded. 2. Policy Statement TennCare Medicaid benefits are available to individuals who would be eligible for SSI payments if increases in Social Security benefits due to COLAs were disregarded. An individual who meets all other non-financial and financial eligibility requirements remains eligible for TennCare Medicaid if he:

a. Is currently receiving Social Security benefits (Old Age, Survivors, or Disability Insurance (OASDI)); b. Is not currently receiving SSI; c. Was entitled to both OASDI and SSI benefits in the same month after April 1977; and d. Has countable income (including in-kind income) equal to or less than the current SSI-Federal Benefit Rate (FBR) after deducting all OASDI COLAs received since the last month in which the individual was eligible for both OASDI and SSI. 3. Non-Financial Eligibility Requirements a. Age Individuals must have attained at least age 65 or meet the Social Security Administration (SSA) requirements of blindness or disability. Individuals are not required to provide documentary evidence of age if they are entitled to or enrolled in any part of Medicare. b. Citizenship Individuals must be U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals or eligible non-citizens. Individuals are not required to provide documentary evidence of citizenship or national status if they are entitled to or enrolled in any part of Medicare and/or receiving Social Security disability benefits.