0805.000.00 Eligibility

IM-127 September 22, 2022; IM-47 April 27, 2021; IM-04 January 26, 2021; IM-133 August 27, 2020; IM-35 April 29, 2020; IM-33 April 17, 2020; IM-162 October 10, 2019; IM-81 May 17, 2019; IM-11 January 28, 2019; IM-02 January 17, 2019; IM-79 June 30, 2017; IM-96 October 26, 2015; IM-30 April 9, 2010; IM-15 March 9, 2010; IM-55 July 21, 2009; IM-69 July 26, 2007; IM-137 October 24, 2003; IM-122 December 31, 1992; IM-54 March 15, 2001; IM-81 April 26, 2001

Exclude, as income, any of the following:

1. Department of Mental Health Funds
2. Compensation received under the Federal Older Americans Volunteer Program – Section 611 of Title VI of Public Law 93-29 dated May 3, 1973, (also called the “Foster Grandparent” and Older Americans Community Service Program) excludes any income received under this program by the individual volunteers, age 60 or over, from being considered on the budget.
3. Any payments for supportive services or reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses made to individual volunteers, grandparents, senior health aides, or senior companions, and to persons serving in the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) and Active Corps of Executives (ACE) and any other programs under Title II and III of the Domestic Volunteer Services Act of 1973 (Public Law 93-113).
4. Vocational Rehabilitation Payments – Payments made for maintenance, transportation, tuition, fees, etc., in connection with a claimant participating in training or school attendance subsidized by the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.
5. Loans or grants to an undergraduate student for educational purposes made or insured under any program administered by the Commissioner of Education. This includes the Basic Educational Opportunity Grants Program (BEOG), Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), National Direct Student Loans (NDSL) and Guaranteed Student Loans and PELL grants.
6. Veterans Education Assistance – Exclude as income that portion of a Veterans Educational Assistance payment that is for the “student” and that is actually used for items such as tuition, books, fees, equipment, transportation for school purposes, child care services necessary for school attendance, etc.
7. Low-Income Home Energy Assistance payments made under the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 are not considered as income.
8. Certain Home Energy Assistance payments made on or after October 1, 1983, by energy suppliers or private nonprofit organizations are excluded. “Home energy assistance” is defined as any assistance that is related to home energy, except food or clothing.

Exclude the payment as income if it is made in cash or in-kind by:

• • a supplier of home heating gas or oil
  • a municipal utility providing home energy

9. If the payment is made in-kind by a private nonprofit organization, exclude the payment as income. Consider cash payments made by private nonprofit organizations as income.
10. Agent Orange – payments made as a result of the class action lawsuit In Re: Agent Orange product liability litigation, M.D.L. No. 381 (E.D.N.Y).  This settlement fund was closed in 1997.

• • Disability payments received from the Veterans Administration (VA) due to service-related disabilities resulting from exposure to Agent Orange should be treated in the same manner as other VA payments.

11. Missouri Family Trust Fund – Exclude payments from the Missouri Family Trust Fund made on behalf of a beneficiary who is an applicant/recipient of MO HealthNet.
12. Temporary Assistance cash grant
13. Blind Pension cash grant
14. Bona Fide Loans – Refer to 1025.015.14 Proceeds From a Bona Fide Loan of the December 1973 Eligibility Requirements manual.
15. Ricky Ray Hemophilia Fund – Refer to 1025.015.08 Ricky Ray Hemophilia Fund and Susan Walker v. Bayer Corporation Class Action Settlement Payments of the December 1973 Eligibility Requirements manual.
16. PASS Account – Money SSI recipients set aside under an approved Plan for Achieving Self-Support (PASS). SSA must approve the written plan.
17. The allowance provided to children of Vietnam veterans (including adult children) who were born with the congenital defect, spina bifida
18. Any income earned by individuals eligible for certified extended employment at a sheltered workshop. This includes income earned from employment at a sheltered workshop and from other employers.
19. Supportive service payments, stipends (a payment received while participating in a training program), and needs related payments from Workforce Investment Act (WIA) program(s)
20. WIA work experience payments
21. Any portion of a veteran’s pension designated for Aid and Attendance.  Aid and Attendance provides income for veterans and surviving spouses who require the assistance of another person to perform daily living activities such as bathing and dressing. Use verification from the Veterans Administration to determine what portion of the payment is designated as Aid and Attendance.
22. Any benefits designated for a veteran’s dependent.  Dependents of veterans are considered when determining a veteran’s or a surviving spouse’s eligibility for pension and can result in an increased pension. Use verification from the Veterans Administration to determine what portion of the payment is designated as dependent income.
23. Any portion of a veteran’s pension paid for Unusual Medical Expenses, also known as unreimbursed medical expenses. The Veterans Administration uses a formula to compare medical expenses to the monthly income in the veteran’s household which can result in a higher pension payment. Use verification from the Veterans Administration to determine what portion of the payment is designated as Unusual Medical Expenses
24. VA Housebound Allowances, also known as Home Bound, may increase a monthly pension when the veteran is confined to their home due to a permanent disability. Use verification from the Veterans Administration to determine what portion of the payment is designated as VA Housebound Allowances.
25. Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) account. Third-party contributions to and interest, dividends, or other distributed earnings in an ABLE account. Also exclude from income payments made from an ABLE account for qualified disability expenses. Refer to manual section 1025.015.17 for more information regarding ABLE accounts.
26. Any payment received from a State or Federal government emergency disaster relief assistance program. Examples include: National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 (NFIP), Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (P.L. 100-707), because of a presidentially declared major disaster, comparable assistance received from a State or local government or from a disaster assistance organization. Refer to 1025.015.01.01 Cash Remaining From Any State or Federal Assistance Check of the December 1973 Eligibility Requirements manual for more information regarding State or Federal government emergency assistance payments. NOTE: Interest earned on any unspent State or Federal government emergency disaster or relief assistance payments is excluded from income. However, any interest earned on such payments that is retained into the month following the month of receipt, is a countable resource.
27. Any payment received from Economic Impact Payments, also known as COVID-19 Stimulus, approved as part of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act signed into law on March 27, 2020, Consolidated Appropriations Act, December 27, 2020, and the American Rescue Plan Act, March 11, 2021. These payments were made automatically to qualifying individuals.  Payment is excluded as a resource for the first 12 months of receipt.
28. Certain Native American (Indian) incomes including:
    • Any funds distributed per capita to or held in trust for members of any tribe under Public Law 92-254, Section 7 of Public Law 93-134, Public Law 94-540, Section 4 of Public Law 97-458, or Section 2 of Public Law 98-64.
    •  Pursuant to Section 15 of Public Law 100-241, any of the following distributions from a Native Corporation established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (Public Law 92-203).
      • Cash (including cash dividends on stock received from a Native Corporation) not exceeding $2000 per individual per year.
      • Stock (including stock issued or distributed by a Native Corporation as a dividend or distribution on stock).
      • A partnership interest in land, land, or an interest in land received from a Native Corporation as a dividend or distribution on stock.
      • An interest in a settlement trust.
    • Payments received by any member of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation, or the Houlton Band of Maliseet Native Americans pursuant to the Maine Indian Claims Act of 1980 (Public Law 96-420).
    • Payments received by any member of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs pursuant to the Aroostook Band of Micmacs Settlement Act (Public Law 102-171).

NOTE:  Payments issued outside of a trust to individual members of a tribe on a per capita basis, such as casino profits, are countable income in the month received.  These payments become a resource if retained into the following month.