Some Medicaid classes of assistance do not require verification, but most long-term care classes of assistance do. Verification documentation includes financial and non-financial information. Sometimes, tracking documentation down can be problematic. If you’re having trouble getting documentation, especially when a caseworker demands it on an unreasonable time-table, here’s what the manuals say: You are not […]
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How the Phrase “Other Obligations” Made Special Needs Trust Invalid Christopher W. G was denied Supplemental Security Income when his conservator initially filed an application on January 25, 2022. Reconsideration was denied on August 17, 2022. The conservator requested a hearing which was conducted on June 6, 2023. After the hearing, “the ALJ issued an […]
The federal Medicaid statute authorizes the use of individual self-settled special needs trusts for individuals under the age of 65. See 42 U.S.C. § 1396p(d)(4)(A). It also authorizes any applicant, regardless of age, to establish a self-settled pooled special needs trust sub-account. 42 U.S.C. § 1396p(d)(4)(C). An open question not addressed in (d)(4)(C) is whether […]
On March 27, 2024, the Social Security Administration published a final rule in the Federal Register which changes its calculation of In-Kind Support and Maintenance (ISM). Under the prior rule, if food and/or shelter is provided to a recipient of Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the income is deemed to the recipient, reducing his or her […]
Effective January 1, 2024, the federal Supplemental Security Income payment amount will increase by 3.2 percent. The amounts paid to individuals and couples are below: Recipient Unrounded annual amounts for— Monthly amounts for 2024 2023 2024 a Eligible individual $10,970.44 $11,321.49 $943 Eligible couple 16,453.84 16,980.36 1,415 Essential person 5,497.80 5,673.73 472 Impact on Medicaid This […]
In McGee v. State Dep’t of Health Care Servs., 2023 Ca. App. LEXIS 409 (Cal. Ct. App., 3d Dist. 5/24/2023), Diana McGee established a special needs trust under the provisions of 42 U.S.C. § 1396p(d)(4)(A). This followed a malpractice action and settlement. Dianna suffered from short bowel syndrome, which impaired her ability to care for […]
July 18, 2011 Paul A. Kryglik, Director Office of Regulations Social Security Administration 6401 Security Blvd Baltimore, MD 21235 Re: Program Operations Manual System SI 1120.220, cash loans Dear Director Kryglik: I am requesting a ruling from your office on an issue involving Program Operations Manual System (POMS) SI 1120.220, cash loans, with respect to […]
As of this writing, the following pooled trusts are authorized by the Department of Community Health to provide trust services in Georgia: Georgia Community/Trust/Bobby Dodd Institute Anita Gardner Decatur, GA 404.809.2914 Anchor For Special Needs, Inc. Annie Warner Cincinnati, OH 844.526.2467 Advocates and Guardians for the Elderly & Disabled (AGED) Thad A. Joseph Longwood, FL 888-277-1826 The Center […]
The Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2013 (S. 313/H.R.647) was introduced in the 113th Congress by a bipartisan group of Congressional Champions that included Sens. Robert Casey, Jr. (D-PA) and Richard Burr (R-NC), and Reps. Ander Crenshaw (R-FL), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) and Pete Sessions (R-TX). The ABLE […]
The Medicaid Spousal Impoverishment allowances are updated annually. Below are some of the annual allowance figures we’ve saved. The most current figures are usually posted here. 2026 2025 2024 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013 2012 1998 – 2011
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released the 2023 SSI and Spousal Impoverishment Standards. Among the highlights are the following: Community Spouse Resource Allowance: $148,620 Maximum Monthly Maintenance Needs Allowance: $3,715.50 Income Cap: $2,742 (used to deterine whether a QIT is needed) Individual SSI rate: $914
In States where Medicaid disability determinations are performed by the Social Security Administration, the eligibility rules cannot be more restrictive than the SSI eligibility Rules. Section 1902(r)(2) [42 U.S.C. § 1396a] indicates a State’s Medicaid eligibility criteria can be no more restrictive than the SSI program. Specifically it states: (2) (A) The methodology to be employed […]
42 U.S. Code § 1382c(a)(2) states: An individual shall be considered to be blind for purposes of this subchapter if he has central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the use of a correcting lens. An eye which is accompanied by a limitation in the fields of vision such that […]
The Rule 42 U.S. Code § 1382c(a)(3)(A) states: “an individual shall be considered to be disabled for purposes of this subchapter if he is unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or […]
Many States provide SSP benefits with State-only dollars on a monthly basis. These payments are intended to cover such items as food, shelter, clothing, utilities, and other daily necessities. The amount of the benefit is determined by the individual States. States may provide supplemental payments to all persons who receive SSI, and/or to individuals who […]
With one important exception, States are required to provide Medicaid coverage to recipients of SSI. SSI, authorized under Title XVI of the Social Security Act, is a means-tested cash assistance program for aged, blind, and disabled individuals whose income falls below the Federal maximum monthly SSI benefit and whose resources are limited. To qualify for […]
We regularly scour the internet looking for information relating to elder care, special needs and elder law. Although we review a number of sources collecting information, many of the articles listed here were found using Google Scholar Alerts. If a link you need has gone missing, try pasting the link into the Wayback Machine (Internet […]
Walter alleged that he had bipolar disorder, depression, bulging discs, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and that he had been disabled sine January 1, 2012. He applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) on May 4, 2018. He was denied eligibility by SSI and then by an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) and that decision was affirmed […]
We regularly post links to news articles and other resources that might be of interest to our viewers. We focus on general news, health and healthcare news, special needs news, events, government sources, financial and retirement news and legal news. Only headlines are listed so you can use this page like a newspaper, reading only […]
