Page 410

$ Earned income (see SECTION 15.5 EARNED INCOME) - $65 and ½ earned income deduction (see SECTION 15.7.5 $65 AND ½ EARNED INCOME DEDUCTION) + Unearned income (Social Security income, etc.) (see SECTION 15.4 UNEARNED INCOME) - Special exempt income (see SECTION 15.7.2 SPECIAL EXEMPT INCOME) - $20 standard deduction = Net income used to determine QMB eligibility When counting Social Security income, use the gross Social Security income. Gross Social Security income: 1. Of a self-payer = the Social Security check amount + Medicare premiums he or she has paid. 2. Of someone for whom the state is paying the premiums = the Social Security check amount. The COLA increase is disregarded for the current year until the month after the new federal poverty limits become effective. Example 1 Al is a QMB member. He has income of 99% of the FPL. In January, a COLA increase of $15.00 increases Al's income above 100% of the FPL. The COLA increase is disregarded in any determination of Al's continuing QMB eligibility. On April 1, new QMB income limits are published. Redetermine Al's QMB eligibility in May using the new QMB income limits. At this redetermination, the January COLA increase is applied. This page last updated in Release Number: 23-03 Release Date: 08/14/2023 Effective Date: 01/01/2023 32.3 SLMB 32.3.1 Introduction To be eligible for Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary (SLMB) benefits, the person must: 1. Meet non-financial Medicaid requirements. 2. Be receiving Medicare Part A or Part B Immunosuppressive Drug (Part B-ID). 32.3.2 Income Limit The SLMB income limit is at least 100% of the FPL, but less than 120% (see SECTION 39.5 FPL TABLE). Calculate SLMB net income in the same way as QMB net income. The annual COLA increase is temporarily disregarded until the new income limits take effect (see SECTION 32.2.3 INCOME LIMIT). This page last updated in Release Number: 23-03 Release Date: 08/14/2023 Effective Date: 01/01/2023 32.4 SLMB+ 32.4.1 Introduction To be eligible for Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary Plus (SLMB+) benefits, the person must: 1. Meet nonfinancial Medicaid requirements. 2. Be receiving Medicare Part A or Part B Immunosuppressive Drug (Part B-ID).