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Aged, Blind and Disabled Manual Policy Manual Number: 120.025 Section: Medicare Savings Programs Chapter: Qualified Disabled Working Individuals

May 1, 2025 Division of TennCare 3 b. Income Limit The income limit for receiving benefits in this category is up to 200% FPL for an individual or couple. c. Resource Limit The resource limit for receiving benefits in this category is: i. $4,000 for an individual; or ii. $6,000 for a couple. d. Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Deduction The SSA is responsible for applying COLA to its benefit programs, including Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI), Railroad Retirement Benefits (RRB) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). If the SSA applies a COLA for a given year, it is applied on January 1st of that year. However, the annual update for FPLs is not typically released until mid-January. This can cause individuals who were previously QDWI eligible to become income-ineligible due to their increased Social Security income in the period between the COLA adjustment and the FPL increase. To address the discrepancy caused by the timing of the COLA and FPL adjustments, QDWI enrollees who become income-ineligible in January are provided with a COLA deduction for the months of January through the month following when the FPLs are released. The COLA deduction is equal to the amount of the monthly COLA increase. e. Budget Mr. Davis is 60 years old, has been determined a DWI by SSA, but is no longer entitled to premium free Medicare Part A. Mr. Davis receives $1,300 in earned income per month, and $200 in unearned income per month. Mr. Davis is not married. Mr. Davis’s total countable income, $797.50, is less than 200% FPL, $2,010, so he is income eligible for the QDWI category. Income Budget Calculation

Unearned Income

$ 200.00 Irregular Unearned Income Disregard + $ 0.00 In-Kind Support and Maintenance + $ 0.00 Ineligible Spouse’s Deemed Unearned Income + $ 0.00