When a client has new or increased income, DHS uses the current month’s income and resources to determine the current month’s benefit. SSI, on the other hand, uses income and resources received 2-3 months ago to determine the current month’s benefit. Due to this difference, policy [317:35-5-42(c)(2)] allows DHS employees to calculate what the anticipated SSI benefit will be and use this anticipated amount in determining the current month’s eligibility.

When determining eligibility for the SSP, anticipated SSI can only be used on open cases. For new SSP applications, the actual income will have to be used. The client should be advised to come back and reapply for the SSP after SSI adjusts the client’s SSI benefit.

If a case is closed due to an incomplete review but the client provides all required documentation before the end of the month of closure, the case should be treated as open and the anticipated SSI calculated to determine eligibility if there is new or increased income.

When determining eligibility for QMBP under SSI-criteria policy, anticipated income is used when there is new or increased income with both new applications and open cases. An SSI recipient should almost always be eligible for Medicaid.

How to calculate the amount of the anticipated SSI

Make sure the client has reported the income to SSI. The worker is authorized to report the income to SSI. [317:35-5-42(c)(2)]

All deductions should be used to determine countable income per DHS policy. This means when determining eligibility for the SSP, the $20 general income deduction can only be used on earned income. [317:35-5-42(d)(1)]

Countable income is then subtracted from the applicable SSI standard (individual or couple). The current SSI standard can be found on the Appendix C-1 Schedule VIII.C under “Deeming Income to blind or disabled minor children”. The couple standard is used even if the spouse is ineligible.

When adjusting SSI amount, if the person is receiving the full SSI amount; then the divert box will equal the newly added income.

Examples:

#1 Georgina began receiving $650 in RSDI this month. She was already receiving $967 of SSI.

• The amount of RSDI is not enough to end her SSI, so it will take 2-3 months for the SSI benefit to be changed.
• The anticipated SSI is calculated like this: $967 (individual SSI standard) – $650 (RSDI) = $317.

The countable income is still under the SSP standard so Georgina stays on the SSP.

Georgina will be coded in FACS like this:

• $967 (actual SSI being received) goes in the SSI block
• $650 in the RSDI block. Don’t forget to enter claim number in the SSN Claim Number block so you don’t get an edit.
• $650 [$967 [current SSI] – $317 (adjusted SSI benefit)] is coded in the Diverted income block. This will allow any other benefits Georgina receives to count the actual income while allowing ABD-related benefits to count the anticipated SSI.

It is important to remember to delete the amount in the Diverted Income block when SSI changes the benefit and FACS is updated with the new amount.

#2 Yuki is a disabled child who has been receiving SSI of $967. No income is deemed from his parents. He has started to receive $538 child support.

• SSI is notified of the child support.
• [According to 317:35-5-42(b)(5), only 2/3 of the child support is considered as income so 1/3 is exempt.] $538/3=$179.33×2=$358.67 is the countable child support.
• $967 (Individual SSI standard – $358.67 (countable child support) = $608.33 which is rounded to $608 adjusted SSI

The income is still under the SSP standard so Yuki stays on the SSP.

Yuki’s case will be coded in FACS like this:

• $538 goes in the Child Support block
• $967 goes into the SSI block
• Put $538 in the Diverted Income block.
  • $359 ($967 – $608 for the adjusted SSI)
  • 359 + 179 (1/3 of child support) = $538

Note: When SSI adjust to counting the Child Support the divert income block will need to be updated to $179 (1/3 deduction of the child support). This should happen when we receive a G1DX for the SSI adjustment.

It is important to remember to delete the amount in the Diverted Income block when SSI changes the benefit and FACS is updated with the new amount.

#3 Terrance

Terrance is on SSI and currently receiving $450. His wife, Kim, is not disabled and has started a new job where she will earn a gross salary of $3500 a month. They have two children who are not disabled and have no income.

Kim’s new job is reported to SSI.

• $3500 (Kim’s gross earned) – $484 (ineligible child allocation for child) – ($484 (ineligible child allocation for other child) = $2532
• $2532 – $20 (general income deduction) = $2512
• ABD Earned Income is applied: $2532 – $65 = $2447/2 = $1223.50 round to $1224.
• Anticipated SSI calculation: $1450 (SSI couple standard) – $1224 = $226

Terrance’s case is coded in FACS like this:

Kim’s income

• $3500 in the Earned Income block
• $20 in the General Income Deduction block
• $1300 ($1223 [countable earned income with the cents dropped] + $65) goes in the Non-TANF Work Exp. Block
• $968 (ineligible child allocation for two children) in the Diverted Income block

Terrance’s income

• $450 (the SSI benefit currently being received) in the SSI block
• $224 ($450 [actual SSI] – $226 [adjusted SSI]) in the Diverted Income block.

It is important to remember to delete the amount in the Diverted Income block for Terrance when SSI changes the benefit and FACS is updated with the new amount.