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VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATIONS OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND BENEFIT LEVELS
10/24 VOLUME V, PART XIII, PAGE 7
period is February 1 through July 31. The household may choose to take the entire deduction in April, the month the change would be effective, or have the expense averaged over the remainder of the certification period.
Lump Sum Deduction: $325.00 one-time only medical expense - 35.00 $290.00 medical deduction for April
Averaged Deduction: $325.00 ÷ 4 months (April through July) $81.25 -35.00 Monthly Medical deduction
$46.25
For recurring medical expenses for which a bill is not customarily issued, a monthly amount can be determined by averaging costs for a past period that is long enough to include all the expenses. These recurring expenses include prescriptions, transportation costs to obtain medical services or pet food for an attendant animal. The averaged amount will serve as the medical expense.
Example
A client has 4 regular prescriptions. One is refilled every 6 weeks, one is refilled every 2 months, one is refilled every 3 weeks, and one is refilled as needed, usually once every four months. Prescription expenses from the prior 4 months include each of the expenses at least once. The total is $180. $180/4 months = $45 average monthly expense.
c. Expected rate of payment. Many persons make regular payments on large medical bills over a period of months or years. If regular payments on medical bills are arranged before the bill is overdue these may be allowed as medical deductions in the month the installment payment is due.
Example
In January, a new applicant reports an ongoing medical expense of $50.00 per month. This is a payment on a hospital bill of $1,000.00 that was incurred six months earlier. The client arranged the $50 per month installment payment before the bill was considered past due. A balance of $700.00 remains due. The expected rate of pay of $50 per month may be allowed.
d. Anticipated expenses
Allowable medical expenses which the household expects to incur during the certification period may be deducted. Reasonable estimates of the expected expense will be allowed for the certification period. The household is not required to report or
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