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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 4

West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 70 Chapter 4 Income

disabilities such as epilepsy, paraplegia, etc. When the supervisor is unable to determine whether or not an animal meets the applicable criteria or an animal-related expense is an appropriate deduction, he must contact the Division of Family Assistance (DFA) Economic Services Policy Unit for clarification. • Prescription eyeglasses • Reasonable cost of transportation and lodging to obtain medical treatment or services. If a client can verify that a charge was made for transportation, but the transportation provider will not state the amount, the current state mileage rate is allowed as a medical deduction. • Maintaining an attendant, homemaker, home health aide, housekeeper, or childcare services necessary due to age, infirmity, or illness. If the AG provides the majority of the attendant’s meals, an amount equal to the maximum monthly SNAP allotment for one person is also used as a medical deduction. • Any cost-sharing or spenddown expense incurred by Medicaid clients. ➢ Timing Considerations Related to Medical Bills The client is only required to report medical expenses at the time of application and redetermination. He may choose to report changes in expenses during the certification period, and such changes must be acted on. Medical bills that are overdue when reported cannot be considered. The date the expense is incurred is not the deciding factor, but rather, the date the expense is billed or otherwise due. The AG may elect to have one-time only costs deducted in a lump sum or prorated over the certification period. If, at application or redetermination, a client anticipates and verifies that he will incur an expense during the certification period, it may be prorated over the entire certification period. If he reports an expense during the certification period, it may be prorated over the remainder of the certification period. When the medical bill or expense is paid by a credit card, it must be treated as a one-time only cost. The medical bill or expense may be deducted in a lump sum or prorated over the NOTE: When attendant care costs qualify for both Dependent Care Deduction and medical deduction, it must be considered a medical expense. NOTE: Special diets and dietary supplements are not allowable medical expenses.