Lump sum payments include, but are not limited to, the following types of one-time-only payments: 55 Pa. Code § 181.31
Cash prizes.
Lottery winnings.
Insurance benefits.
NOTE: This does not include insurance payments for medical expenses that were paid by the individual. See the exclusions in Chapter 450.
Money from someone who died. 55 Pa. Code § 181.31
Money from personal injury actions or any other damage awards or settlements.
NOTE: Some of the money from a personal injury award or settlement may go directly to the Department of Public Welfare (DPW). The CAO must count only the amount that goes directly to the individual.
Retroactive benefits, such as Social Security benefits.
NOTE: The CAO must not include retroactive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security benefits for nine months after the individual receives them. If any money is left after nine months, the CAO must count it as a resource. 55 Pa. Code § 181.121(17) 20 CFR § 416.1233
Delayed support, alimony, or benefits such as Unemployment Compensation (UC) or Workers' Compensation (WC). 55 Pa. Code § 181.31
Delayed wages, salaries, tips, commissions, or bonuses.
NOTE: Self-employment income is treated as earned income, not as a lump sum.
Federal, state, or local tax refunds.
Disaster relief assistance 55 Pa. Code § 181.123(4) 20 CFR § 416.1232
The CAO will not count, for 18 months, money received because of an event that was declared a major disaster by the president under the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 or another federal law. However, all of the following conditions must be met:
The individual was living in his or her own home at the time of the event but was forced to leave because of it.
The individual began to receive the money within 30 days after the last day of the event.
The individual received the money while living in any residential facility, including a private household maintained by the individual.
The income exclusion must begin on the date the money is received and end on the last day of the 18th full month.
The CAO will:
Verify the amount of the money and the date it was received.
Exclude any money received for 18 full calendar months after the month the first payment was received.
Create an alert for the 17th month to review the case.
If any money is left from the disaster relief in the 19th month, the CAO will count it as unearned income. If any money is left in the 20th month, the CAO will count it as a resource.
Cash from the sale or transfer of a resource, whether counted or excluded, is not a lump sum. The CAO must treat the cash as a resource.
Updated April 12, 2013, Replacing March 12, 2012