STATE OF CONNECTICUT
STATE OF CONNECTICUT
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES
UNIFORM POLICY MANUAL
___________________________________ January 1, 2004
Claudette J. Beaulieu, Deputy Commissioner Effective Date
POLICY TRANSMITTAL NO.: UP-04-02
SUBJECT: 1. Cost of Living Allowance (COLA) Increase in SSI (Supplemental
Security Income), OASDI (Social Security) and Railroad Retirement Benefits (RRB).
2. Other Increases
Cost of Living Adjustments
The Social Security Administration announced a 2.1% cost-of-living increase effective January 1, 2004 for all OASDI and Railroad Retirement beneficiaries. The SSI benefit amount for individuals living independently will be increased to $564.00, or $584.00 for an individual receiving a combination of SSI/SSA benefits. A couple living independently will receive an SSI benefit amount of $846.00, or $866.00 if they receive a combination of SSI/SSA benefits. The cost of Medicare Part B coverage will be $66.60 per month.
The increased SSI benefit amount of those living in the home of another will be $376.00 for an individual and $564.00 for a couple. The increased SSI/SSA combination benefit will be $396.00 for an individual and $584.00 for a couple.
The Department will pass along $1.00 of the Social Security increase only to married individuals under the State Supplement program. This will be done by increasing the personal needs standard for a married individual living with his or her spouse in non-rated housing to $165.10 per month. We are doing this to meet Federal Maintenance of Effort requirements.
EMS Treatment of Increase
The Eligibility Management System (EMS) will update the unearned income field(s) for all assistance units that have SSA or SSI income, as a result of the SDX/BENDEX interfaces between DSS and the Social Security Administration.
An Equal Opportunity / Affirmative Action Employer
Printed on Recycled or Recovered Paper
1. Active Assistance Units
EMS will recalculate the benefit amount to reflect the change in SSA/SSI for active cases. EMS will generate notices to affected clients informing them of the change in their applied income or benefit amount, as appropriate. Because of the volume of updates, informational alerts will not be generated from the COLA update.
Cases in which the increased income exceeds the standard of need will be discontinued effective December 31, 2003, as eligibility will no longer exist. Cash assistance or categorically needy assistance units should sprout and/or trickle to a medically needy coverage group.
2. Applications
EMS will update the unearned income effective January 1, 2004, as long as the client is accreted to the BENDEX file. It is advisable to double-check all applications since they may not be included on the BENDEX tape.
The worker should follow normal prospective/retrospective budgeting rules when entering the new SSA/SSI amounts.
Other Increases
1. The Community Spouse Protected Amount (CSPA) for institutionalized applicants applying for Medicaid as a MCCA spouse will be increased due to a change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) to a minimum of $18,552.00 and a maximum of $92,760.00.
2. The maximum Minimum Monthly Needs Allowance (MMNA) for institutionalized individuals with a spouse living in the community will be increased due to a change in the CPI to $2,319.00.
3. The special Categorically Needy Income Limit (CNIL) for institutionalized applicants/recipients will be increased to $1,692.00 per month for an assistance unit of one and $3,384.00 per month for an assistance unit of two. The special Categorically Needy Income Limit (CNIL) for Connecticut Home Care (CHC) applicants/recipients will be increased to $1,692.00.
4. The asset limit for an individual in the State-funded portion of the Connecticut Home Care Program for Elders will be increased to $18,552.00 for a single individual and to $27,828.00 for a married individual due to the increase in the CSPA.
INSTRUCTIONS FOR UPDATING THE UPM:
Remove and Recycle Insert
P-2540.60 P-2540.60
P-2540.88 P-2540.88
4022.05 page 2 4022.05 page 2
4025.67/4025.67 page 2 4025.67/4025.67 page 2
P-4530.10 P-4530.10
5035.30 page 2/5035.35 5035.30 page 2/5035.35
P-5035.10 P-5035.10
P-5050.49 P-5050.49
P-5520.10 P-5520.10
P-5520.15 page 2 P-5520.15 page 2
P-8040 P-8040
DISPOSITION: This policy transmittal may be recycled once the UPM has been updated.
DISTRIBUTION: UPM list
RESPONSIBLE UNIT: Adult Support Unit – Telephone (860) 424-5250
Date Issued: 3/15/04
WNG
-----------------------
[pic]
................
................
In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.
To fulfill the demand for quickly locating and searching documents.
It is intelligent file search solution for home and business.
Related download
- name
- sample of letter to request reasonable accommodation
- church of the united brethren in christ
- pensions taxation lifetime allowance factsheet
- chapter 7 recertification
- economics standard one students will analyze the
- esl conversation lesson on standard of living
- chapter 1 test bank
- state of connecticut
- state of washington
Related searches
- state of connecticut early childhood
- state of connecticut health assessment form
- state of connecticut health assessment
- state of connecticut health forms
- state of connecticut school form
- state of connecticut forms
- dmv state of connecticut forms
- state of connecticut dmv website
- state of connecticut unclaimed property list
- state of connecticut teacher certification
- state of connecticut tax id
- state of connecticut tax payment