Special Medical is a group of categories that allow clients to continue receiving medical assistance despite their income when specified increases in income are received. All the categories require client to have received the State Supplemental Payment (SSP) at a specified point but are no longer receiving it because their income has increased. Keep in mind that only the income from the categories below is disregarded. The individual must meet the individual resource standard of $2,000. If the individual starts receiving any other income, it must be counted in re-determining eligibility. There are several categories in which individuals considered Special Medical can be placed in. This article is specific to the Pickle Amendment

• Pickle Amendment – an individual who is currently receiving RSDI, received RSDI and SSP together in at least one month since April 1977, lost eligibility for SSP since April 1977, and if COLA increases were disregarded, they would be eligible for SSP, and meets all other factors of eligibility.
  • IMS Indicator: B.70=P

Scenario:

Garth Autry has been receiving a $2 SSP and $810 RSDI for the last year. The annual COLA raises his RSDI to $825 which is over the new SSP standard. He received the SSP for at least one month since 1977 and he is over the SSP standard due only to the Social Security COLA/ He is now eligible for Special Medical under the Pickle Amendment.