*** The Health Care Programs Manual (HCPM) has been replaced by the Minnesota Health Care Programs Eligibility Policy Manual (EPM) as of June 1, 2016. Please refer to the EPM for current health care program policy information. ***

Chapter 21 - Income Calculation (Community)

Effective:  December 1, 2014

21.50.40 - Blind or Disabled Student Child Disregard

Archived:  June 1, 2016 (Previous Versions)

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 or SMRT.

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.

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.

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Disregard Limits

Limits for the Blind/Disabled Student Child Disregard:

Year

Maximum Per Month

Maximum Per Calendar Year

2015

$1,780

$7,180

2014

$1,750

$7,060

2013

$1,730

$6,960

2012

$1,700

$6,840

2011

$1,640

$6,600

2010

$1,640

$6,600

2009

$1,640

$6,600

2008

$1,550

$6,240

2007

$1,510

$6,100

2006

$1,460

$5,910

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