Blind or Disabled Student Child Disregard

The Blind and Disabled Student Child Disregard is a limited disregard of earned income. It is available only for MA Method B and the Medicare Savings Programs.

Conditions for Use.

Applying the Disregard.

Disregard Limits.

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Conditions for Use

Allow this disregard when a client meets all of the following conditions:

l  Is under age 22.

l  Is certified as blind or disabled by the SSA Social Security Administration. A federal agency which administers the SSI, RSDI and Medicare programs. or SMRT State Medical Review Team. A unit at DHS that determines disability in consultation with medical professionals appointed by the commissioner..

l  Is a student regularly attending school, meaning the student:

n  takes one or more courses of study and attends classes:

m In a college or university for at least eight hours per week under a semester or quarter system;

m In grades 7 - 12 for at least 12 hours per week;

m In a course of training to prepare for a paying job at least 15 hours per week if the course involves shop practice, or 12 hours per week if it does not involve shop practice; or

m For less than the required time for reasons beyond the student’s control, such as illness, if the circumstances justify the reduced credit load or attendance.

n  is home-schooled and is:

m in grades 7 - 12,

m in school for at least 12 hours per week and

m following the home school law of the state in which he or she resides.

n  is a homebound student and:

m must stay home because of a disability,

m studies a course or courses given by a school (grades 7 -12), college, university, or government agency, and

m has a home visitor or tutor from school who directs the studying or training.

A person who attends classes regularly just before the time classes stop for a school break maintains status as a student while classes are out if he or she intends to resume or does resume attending regularly when school reopens.

Note:  Children attending elementary school (grades K - 6) do not qualify for this exclusion.

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Applying the Disregard

Apply the Blind/Disabled Student Child Disregard only to the blind or disabled student's earned income Money received from employment or self-employment. This includes but is not limited to salaries, wages, tips, commissions, vacation, and sick pay..

Do not do any of the following:

l  Apply it to the income of other people whose income is deemed to the student.

l  Reduce earned income to less than $0.

l  Use earned income disregards to reduce unearned income Income received without being required to perform any labor or service..

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Disregard Limits

Limits for the Blind/Disabled Student Child Disregard:

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