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West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Chapter 5
West Virginia Income Maintenance Manual Page 47 Chapter 5 Assets
SSI Medicaid Groups: Only one dwelling is established as the client's principal place of residence, and only the principal place of residence is excluded. See Section 5.1 for the definition of principal place of residence. When an individual leaves his principle place of residence for any reason, but intends to return to it, the home is excluded. The exclusion is based solely on the individual’s intent to return, even if the home is vacant or rented. The individual need not have the ability to return to the home but must simply have the intent. If an individual leaves the principal place of residence with no intent to return due to domestic abuse, the home continues to be excluded until the individual establishes a new principal place of residence or otherwise takes action rendering the home no longer excludable. When an individual is institutionalized, his home remains his principal place of residence, regardless of his intent to return, as long as a spouse or dependent relative lives in the home. For purposes of the homestead exclusion only, a dependent relative is one who is dependent financially, medically, or as otherwise determined, upon the institutionalized person. The following are considered relatives of the institutionalized person: child, stepchild, or grandchild; parent, stepparent, or grandparent; aunt, uncle, niece, or nephew; brother or sister, including relations of step or half; cousin or in-law. When the client has only a life estate interest in his principal place of residence, the value of the life estate interest is excluded. For more information, see below. Temporary absences from the home for trips, visits, hospitalizations, or institutionalization do not affect the homestead exclusion. 5.5.39.B Non-Homestead Property Treatment of non-homestead property as an asset depends on its use. SNAP WVW, AFDC-Related SSI Groups NOTE: Property being purchased with a land sale contract is considered homestead property if the buyer lives on the property. See Section 5.5.26 above for the equity value of land sale contracts.