IM Memo – Page 78 – DSS Manuals

FROM: PATRICK LUEBBERING, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: CLARIFICATION OF TICKET TO WORK HEALTH ASSURANCE PROGRAM (TWHA) PREMIUM PAYMENTSMANUAL REVISION #11
0855.005.45.05

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memorandum is to introduce changes to the MO HealthNet Ticket to Work Health Assurance (TWHA) section of the MO HealthNet Manual. Clarification has been added to section 0855.005.45.05 Premium Collection Process to provide additional information received from the MO HealthNet Division (MHD) regarding participant options for payment of premiums, and coverage dates when premiums are missed.

NECESSARY ACTION:

Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

PL/mc

FROM: PATRICK LUEBBERING, DIRECTORSUBJECT: 2019 INCREASE IN SUBSTANTIAL GAINFUL ACTIVITY (SGA)MANUAL REVISION #10
APPENDIX D

DISCUSSION:

The Social Security Administration announced an increase to the SGA amount.

Effective January 1, 2019, the monthly SGA amount for:

statutorily blind individuals is $2,040.00.
non-blind individuals is $1,220.00.

The Income Maintenance (IM) policy manual section: Appendix D has been updated to reflect this change.

NECESSARY ACTION:

Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

PL/vb

FROM: PATRICK LUEBBERING, DIRECTORSUBJECT: SPEND DOWN NOTICE (IM-29SPDN) AND INSTRUCTIONS NOW AVAILABLE IN SPANISHFORMS MANUAL #4
IM-29SPDN (SPANISH)
IM-29SPDN instructions (SPANISH)

DISCUSSION:

This memorandum is to notify staff of the availability of the Spanish version of the IM-29SPDN and instructions. Both forms are now available in Spanish in the Forms Manual.

NECESSARY ACTION:

Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

PL/vb

FROM: PATRICK LUEBBERING, DIRECTORSUBJECT: REVISED SPEND DOWN NOTICE (IM-29 (SPND))FORMS MANUAL #3
IM-29 SPDN

DISCUSSION:

The Spend Down Notice (IM-29 (SPND)) has been revised.

The revision includes updates to wording and format to make it more easily understood. Changes include:

bold type to draw attention to information concerning whether the spend down has been met, or if more expenses are needed,
addition of the Stakeholder Unit telephone number, and
addition of the Spend Down Unit telephone number

NECESSARY ACTION:

Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.
Begin using the new IM-29 (SPND) with revision date 6/18 immediately.

PL/vb

FROM:PATRICK LUEBBERING, DIRECTORSUBJECT:REVISION OF ACHIEVING BETTER LIFE EXPERIENCE (ABLE) MANUAL SECTIONSMANUAL REVISION #9
1025.015.17
0805.015.10

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memorandum is to announce a revision to the 1025.015.17 Achieving Better Life Experience (ABLE) Account section of the December 1973 Eligibility Requirements Manual and the 0805.015.10 Income Exclusions section of the Medical Assistance for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled manual.

The following information has been updated:

contributions to ABLE accounts
distributions from ABLE accounts
resource values of ABLE accounts

NECESSARY ACTION:

Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

PL/ers

FROM:PATRICK LUEBBERING, DIRECTORSUBJECT:CLARIFICATION OF MO HEALTHNET FOR FAMILIES (MHF) ELIGIBILITYMANUAL REVISION #8
1810.020.00

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memorandum is to share a clarification of eligibility for MO HealthNet for Families (MHF). As previously stated, parents or caretaker relatives receiving SSI cannot receive MHF. It is now clarified that a parent receiving SSI should be included in the household but not receive MHF benefits.

NECESSARY ACTION:

Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

PL/df

FROM: PATRICK LUEBBERING, DIRECTORSUBJECT: REASONABLE COMPATIBILITY WITH MORE THAN ONE INCOME IN THE HOUSEHOLDMANUAL REVISION #7
1805.030.15.10

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memorandum is to clarify policy regarding reasonable compatibility when there is more than one income in a household.

EXAMPLE: Husband and wife apply for their children’s coverage. Mom has one source of income and dad has one source of income.

We have added manual section 1805.030.15.10 Reasonable Compatibility with More Than One Income in the Household to clarify what to do when comparing self-attested combined income and electronically obtained combined income (EOI) and:

One statement of combined income (EOI or self-attested) is below the income guideline and one statement of combined income (EOI or self-attested) is above the guideline; and
the difference between the two (2) statements of income is greater than 10%

NECESSARY ACTION:

Review this memorandum and manual revision with appropriate staff.

PL/df

FROM: PATRICK LUEBBERING, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: MAGI PRE-POPULATED ANNUAL RENEWAL FORM (IM-1U) TIMEFRAMEMANUAL REVISION #6
1880.005.00

DISCUSSION:

This memorandum provides an update to the MAGI Pre-populated Renewal Form 1880.005.00 section in the Annual Renewal policy.

Effective immediately the participant has 30 calendar days to return the pre-populated Annual Renewal form (IM-1U). Previously the participant had 45 days to return the IM-1U.

NECESSARY ACTION:

Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

PL/ks

FROM: PATRICK LUEBBERING, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: FOOD STAMP STUDENT ELIGIBILITY POLICY UPDATE

MANUAL REVISION #5
1135.025.00 – STUDENTS IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION

DISCUSSION:

The purpose of this memo is to inform staff of the update to Food Stamp policy 1135.025.00 STUDENTS IN INSTITUTIONS OF HIGHER EDUCATION to clarify student eligibility.

The updates explain Eligible Student codes on the EDINFO (FMAJ) screen and when it is necessary to verify student status of part-time, half-time and full-time. SkillUp is also clarified.

NECESSARY ACTION:

Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

PL/cs

FROM: PATRICK LUEBBERING, DIRECTOR

SUBJECT: BLIND PENSION MANUAL UPDATE DUE TO HOUSE BILL 2171

MANUAL REVISION #4
0505.025.00
0505.025.05
0505.025.10
0505.050.00
0505.060.00
0505.060.05

DISCUSSION:

House Bill 2171 (2018) revised Sections 209.030 and 209.040 RSMo and updated several eligibility factors for the Blind Pension (BP) program, see IM Memorandum #58 for further details. These changes are effective August 28, 2018. The BP manual has been updated to reflect these changes.

Changes include:

The resource limit has increased from $20,000 to $30,000,
$100,000 contributed to an ABLE account belonging to the blind individual is excluded from the resource calculation,
All contributions made to an ABLE account belonging to the sighted spouse is excluded from resource calculations,
A person who obtains, maintains, or renews a driver license in any state or territory is not eligible for BP,
Applicants for BP must surrender their driver license within 60 days of approval for BP in order to continue to be eligible,
A BP recipient who operates a motor vehicle, with or without a valid driver license is not eligible for BP,
Sighted spouse income of 500% of the federal poverty level or greater will cause ineligibility,
Participants must report changes in circumstances within 10 days of the change,
Visual eligibility must be established in both eyes, the better eye must meet current eligibility requirements of 5/200 or visual field of 5 degrees tested on 5 millimeter target on perimeter, and must have lasted 12 months or be expected to last at least 12 months,
The examining ophthalmologist, physician, or optometrist may indicate that a reexamination should be performed in less than 5 years, if the individual’s vision may reasonably be expected to improve within 5 years,
FSD may require a visual reexamination before the date indicated by the examining ophthalmologist, physician, or optometrist, if there is reason to believe the BP participant is not eligible.

NECESSARY ACTION:

Review this memorandum with appropriate staff.

PL/vb

Category: IM Memo

IM-015 – CLARIFICATION OF TICKET TO WORK HEALTH ASSURANCE PROGRAM (TWHA) PREMIUM PAYMENTS

DISCUSSION:

IM-014 – 2019 INCREASE IN SUBSTANTIAL GAINFUL ACTIVITY (SGA)

DISCUSSION:

IM-013 – SPEND DOWN NOTICE (IM-29SPDN) AND INSTRUCTIONS NOW AVAILABLE IN SPANISH

DISCUSSION:

IM-012 – REVISED SPEND DOWN NOTICE (IM-29 (SPND))

DISCUSSION:

IM-011 – REVISION OF ACHIEVING BETTER LIFE EXPERIENCE (ABLE) MANUAL SECTIONS

DISCUSSION:

IM 010 – CLARIFICATION OF MO HEALTHNET FOR FAMILIES (MHF) ELIGIBILITY

DISCUSSION:

IM-009 – REASONABLE COMPATIBILITY WITH MORE THAN ONE INCOME IN THE HOUSEHOLD

DISCUSSION:

IM-008 – MAGI PRE-POPULATED ANNUAL RENEWAL FORM (IM-1U) TIMEFRAME

DISCUSSION:

IM-007 – FOOD STAMP STUDENT ELIGIBILITY POLICY UPDATE

DISCUSSION:

IM-006 – BLIND PENSION MANUAL UPDATE DUE TO HOUSE BILL 2171

DISCUSSION: