The CAO will not count certain income when determining eligibility for MA.
The CAO will verify and record why certain income is excluded. The CAO may also need to verify the amount of the excluded income.
The following income is excluded for TANF-related, GA-related, and SSI-related categories of MA:
Income tax refunds. 55 Pa. Code § 181.81(2) 55 Pa. Code § 178.4(g)
Income tax refunds received after December 31, 2009 are excluded as income or a resource for 12 months.
This includes the entire refund – refundable credit, Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) and excess withholding.
If any part of the refund remains after the 12 months period, it must be counted as a resource.
MA copayment refunds. 55 Pa. Code § 181.81(8) 55 Pa. Code § 181.263(2)
DPW pays recipients back for excess copayments for MA services made by a recipient in a six-month period. The CAO will not count these refunds as income.
WIA supportive services. 55 Pa. Code § 181.121(8) 55 Pa. Code § 181.264(8)
The CAO will not count money that an individual receives from the WIA Agency (formerly the Job Training Partnership Act) for specific needs or support services, such as child care, transportation, or meals.
Relocation assistance and real property acquisitions. 55 Pa. Code § 181.121(7) 55 Pa. Code § 181.264(7)
The CAO will not count money that an individual receives under Title II of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970.
Senior Citizen Rebate and Assistance Act payments. 55 Pa. Code § 181.123(13) 55 Pa. Code § 181.264(13)
The CAO will not count money that an individual receives under the Senior Citizen Rebate and Assistance Act, such as property tax refunds and rent rebates.
Foster care and adoption subsidy payments. 55 Pa. Code § 181.123(9) 55 Pa. Code § 181.264(15)
The CAO will not count money paid by a public or private placement or child care agency to the individual for providing foster care for a child. Money that an individual receives through Title IV-E of the Social Security Act or Article VII of the Public Welfare Code is restricted to meet the needs of the foster child.
The CAO will not count maintenance subsidies that an individual receives under the Adoption Opportunities Act.
Food assistance and free school lunches. 55 Pa. Code § 181.121(3) 55 Pa. Code § 181.264(3)
The CAO will not count the value of supplemental food assistance that an individual receives from the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program or the National School Lunch Act.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 55 Pa. Code § 181.121(1) 55 Pa. Code § 181.264(1)
The CAO will not count the value of SNAP benefits that an individual receives.
USDA surplus food donations. 55 Pa. Code § 181.121(2) 55 Pa. Code § 181.264(2)
The CAO will not count the value of food donated by the United States Department of Agriculture.
Home produce. 55 Pa. Code § 181.123(3) 55 Pa. Code § 181.263(9)
The CAO will not count the value of fruits or vegetables grown at home if an applicant/recipient group eats it themselves.
Housing subsidies. 55 Pa. Code § 181.121(6) 55 Pa. Code § 181.264(6)
The CAO will not count Section 8 housing or utility subsidies, rehabilitation grants, or other federal housing subsidies that an individual receives under the U.S. Housing Act of 1937, the National Housing Act, Section 101 of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1965, Title V of the Housing Act of 1949, or the Housing and Community Development Act of 1974.
Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). 55 Pa. Code § 181.121(5) 55 Pa. Code § 181.264(4)
The CAO will not count benefits that an individual receives for home energy assistance under LIHEAP.
Weatherization. 55 Pa. Code § 181.81(7) 55 Pa. Code § 181.264(17)
The CAO will not count weatherization services or assistance payments.
Home energy assistance benefits. 55 Pa. Code § 181.123(11) 55 Pa. Code § 181.264(17)
The CAO will not count home energy assistance (HEA) benefits. These benefits are provided in-kind by a private, nonprofit organization or as cash or in-kind assistance by:
A certified supplier of home heating oil or gas.
A certified agency that provides home energy, receives its revenues on a rate-of-return basis, and is regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission.
A certified public utility that provides home energy.
HEA benefits may include payments for heating or cooling, storm doors, weatherization services, blankets, and the like. HEA benefits do not include food or clothing.
Note: If the CAO cannot determine whether a vendor is certified or an agency is registered with the DPW, they will contact the area manager. If the vendor or agency is not registered, the CAO will count the HEA benefit as unearned income.
Support or maintenance assistance (SMA) benefits. 55 Pa. Code § 181.123(11) 55 Pa. Code § 181.264(18)
The CAO will not count in-kind support or maintenance assistance benefits provided by a private, nonprofit agency. SMA benefits include food, clothing, temporary emergency shelter, furniture, appliances, and the like.
Payments made to volunteers. 55 Pa. Code § 181.121(15) 55 Pa. Code § 181.264(11)
The CAO will not count payments made:
For support services.
To pay back out-of-pocket expenses to volunteers serving as foster grandparents, senior health aides, or senior companions.
For any other volunteer programs created under Subchapters I and II of the Domestic Volunteer Services Act of 1973, including Americorps VISTA, service learning programs, and special volunteer programs.
Note: Money from an AmeriCorps State and National program or the AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) program must be counted.
Borrowed money. 55 Pa. Code § 181.81(10) 55 Pa. Code § 181.263(8)
The CAO will not count money that an individual borrows.
Exception: For TANF/GA-related categories, money loaned by an LRR must be counted as support.
Note: Reverse mortgage payments (whether lump sum, monthly installment, or a combination of both) are considered loans in the month they are received. There is no exclusion for the resource if money from the loan is kept after the month in which the individual receives it.
Receipts from conversion of a resource. 55 Pa. Code § 181.81(1) 55 Pa. Code § 178.1(i)
The CAO will not count money that an individual receives from converting a resource to cash. This includes any cash or in-kind item that is given to replace or repair an item that was lost, damaged, or stolen. The money will be counted as a resource.
Payments from the Family Caregiver Support Program. 55 Pa. Code § 181.81(12) 55 Pa. Code § 181.263(6)
The CAO will not count payments made under the Department of Aging's Family Caregiver Support Program. These payments are made to pay the individual back for the following:
Ongoing caregiver expenses.
Devices installed and changes made in the home that make it safer and easier for an individual to get around.
Japanese-American and Aleut restitution payments. 55 Pa. Code § 181.121(18) 55 Pa. Code § 181.264(19)
The CAO will not count payments made under Title I of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 or Title II of the Aleutian and Pribilof Island Act enacted August 10, 1988, including payments made to survivors of Japanese Americans.
This exclusion continues as long as the payments are kept separate and identifiable. If the payment is used to purchase real property or personal property, the CAO will count the new resource, unless it is excluded. Interest on the payments is counted unless it is excluded under another rule.
Agent Orange payments. 55 Pa. Code § 181.121(19) 55 Pa. Code § 181.264(20)
The CAO will not count payments made from the Agent Orange Settlement Fund or any other fund set up under Agent Orange product liability lawsuits.
Settlement payments for hemophiliacs.
The CAO will not count payments from settlements against companies making blood products in Walker v. Bayer or In re FACTOR VIII or IX Concentrate Blood Products Litigation or from the Ricky Ray Hemophilia Relief Fund. (If the payment comes from a different settlement, then the CAO should contact the Policy Clarification Unit for instruction on how to verify that the payment falls under an exempt hemophiliac class action settlement payment.) Any interest earned on these accounts will be counted as income.
Difficulty-of-care payments.
The CAO will not count income paid to an individual as a difficulty-of-care payment. A difficulty of care payment is money paid to a non relative or parent who is under contract with a public or private agency to give care to a person with a mental disability in his or her home. These payments come under other program titles, including the following:
Child or Adult Foster Care.
Supplemental Payment to a Domiciliary Care Provider.
Parent of a intellectually disabled Child.
Adult and Family Living Services.
NOTE: A Family Living Services payment may come as one payment or as two payments (one for services and one for room and board).
Payments to victims of Nazi persecution.
Passed on August 1, 1994, the Nazi Persecution Victims Eligibility Act (P.L. 103-286) excludes from income and resources any payments made to persons who were victims of Nazi persecution. This original provision supersedes previous provisions for the exclusion of certain payments made by the governments of Germany, Austria, and The Netherlands insofar as they are made to victims of Nazi persecution (New one indicates that only payments made by those three countries are excluded). Any interest earned on these accounts will be counted as income.
SEED (Saving For Education, Entrepreneurship, and Down payment) accounts.
All funds in SEED accounts, including interest, are excluded as income and resources. SEED accounts are accounts set up for children born on or after January 1, 2006. These accounts are currently only active in the Philadelphia area. SEED accounts:
Are savings accounts held at PfP (People for People) Credit Union.
Have restricted access (PfP must approve withdrawals).
Are meant to be used for postsecondary education or career-specific training, to start a small business or to purchase a home.
Earned income from temporary employment with the U.S. Census Bureau.
In addition to the income listed in Section 350.61, the following income is excluded for TANF-related categories only:
Funds subject to repayment to the DPW.
The CAO will not count any money an individual receives from signing a DPW reimbursement form. 55 Pa. Code § 181.263(1)
Retroactive cash assistance payments. 55 Pa. Code § 181.263(3)
The CAO will not count any money an individual receives to correct underpayments in the month when the individual receives it or in the next month.
Note: Any money left over from the payment will be considered a resource in later months.
Corrective assistance payments. 55 Pa. Code § 181.263(4)
The CAO will not count any retroactive assistance payments an individual receives as a result of a pre hearing conference, fair hearing decision, or court order.
Note: A retroactive payment is excluded only for the month in which the individual receives it and the following month. Any money left after the second month is treated as a resource. The individual must show proof of how and when the money is used.
Refund of assigned support payments. 55 Pa. Code § 181.263(5)
The CAO will not count support payments refunded to the individual when the monthly cash assistance payment is suspended for one month because of:
An assigned court order.
A voluntary support payment being collected by the Commonwealth.
Support. 55 Pa. Code § 181.264(16)
For TANF-related MA, the CAO will give one support disregard. The disregard is one of:
Actual amount of support up to $50 for spousal support.
Actual amount of support up to $100 if there is one countable child in the budget group.
Actual amount of support up to $200 if there is more than one countable child in the budget group.
The budget group receives only one support disregard. If the budget group receives both spousal and child support, the CAO will apply the support disregard that will most benefit the budget group.
Note: Disregard does not apply to past-due support payments. Money paid to cover past-due support payments is considered a lump sum payment. (See Chapter 357, Lump Sum).
Donations from public or private agencies. 55 Pa. Code § 181.263(6)
The CAO will not count money, goods or services an individual receives from a public or private agency.
Donations from individuals. 55 Pa. Code § 181.263(7)
The CAO will not count in-kind goods or services given by an individual to an applicant/recipient group or third-party payments made to a vendor for the applicant/recipient group.
Meals shared with other individuals. 55 Pa. Code § 181.264(12)
The CAO will not count benefits that an individual receives under Part C of the Congregate Nutrition Service of the Older Americans Act of 1965.
Day care payments. 55 Pa. Code § 181.263(10)
The CAO will not count money that an individual receives from providing day care for children in an approved family day care home.
An approved family day care home is one in which child care is given at the same time to four, five, or six children who are not related to the operator. The home must have a certificate of registration issued by the DPW’s regional office of child day care stating that the home is an approved day care home.
Exception: This exemption does not apply to employees of the approved family day care home.
Alaska native claims. 55 Pa. Code § 181.264(9)
The CAO will not count money that an individual receives under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.
Payments to Indian tribes. 55 Pa. Code § 181.264(10)
The CAO will not count the following payments to Indian tribes:
Funds given to or held in trust for members of any Indian tribe under the act of March 18, 1972 (Pub L. 92-254) or the act of October 17, 1973.
(Pub L. 93-134)
Funds given to members of certain Indian tribes listed in 25 U.S.C.A. Section 459d (effective October 17, 1975).
Interest and investment income on Indian Judgment funds held in trust under the Per Capita Act of January 12, 1983.
Gifts, loans, and borrowed money. 55 Pa. Code § 181.263(8)
The CAO will not count loans, such as, but not limited to, car loans or personal loans, from individuals who are not LRRs. Gifts of $50 or less for each individual in a calendar quarter will not be counted, no matter whether the giver is or is not an LRR.
A gift that a member of an applicant/recipient group receives may be divided among all the members in the group if the gift is meant for the whole group.
If gifts add up to more than $50 for each individual in a calendar quarter, the amount of the gifts over $50 for each individual will be treated as a resource in the month it was received.
Educational assistance. 55 Pa. Code § 181.262
The CAO will not count student financial assistance from loans, grants, scholarships, or work-study.
Disaster unemployment assistance. 42 U.S.C. Section 5515(d)
The CAO will not count disaster unemployment assistance as income or a resource. 62 P.S. 432.12
In addition to the income listed in Section 350.61, the following income is excluded for SSI-related categories only:
Payments to Alaskan natives. 55 Pa. Code § 181.121(11)
The CAO will not count tax-exempt payments that an individual receives under Section 21(a) of the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.
The CAO will not count money that an individual receives under a program set up before July 1, 1973, that provides payments on the sole basis of how long someone has lived in Alaska and that individual has reached age 65. The Alaska Longevity Bonus is excluded under Section 1612(b)(2)(B) of the Social Security Act. 55 Pa. Code § 181.121(12)
Payments to Indian tribes.
The CAO will not count the following: 55 Pa. Code § 181.121(13)
Payments to the Blackfeet and Gros Ventre Tribes under the act of March 19, 1972. Pub L. 92-254
Payments to the Grand River Band of Ottawa Indians under the act of October 18, 1976. Pub L. 94-540
Payments to the Yakima Indian Nation or the Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation under Section 2 of the act of October 10, 1978. Pub L. 95-433
Payments to tribes or groups under Section 7 of the act of October 9, 1973. Pub L. 93-134
Receipts from land held in trust by the federal government and given out to members of certain Indian tribes under Section 6 of the act of October 17, 1975. Pub L. 94-114 55 Pa. Code § 181.121(14)
Older Americans Act benefits. 55 Pa. Code § 181.121(16)
The CAO will not count any money, other than wages, that an individual receives under the Older Americans Act of 1965.
Retroactive SSI and RSDI payments. 55 Pa. Code § 181.121(17)
The CAO will not count retroactive SSI or RSDI payment for six calendar months after the month when the individual received the payment.
Note: If part of the payment remains after the end of the six-month period, it is counted as a resource.
Earned income less than $10. 55 Pa. Code § 181.122
The CAO will not count earned income that is:
Less than $10 a month.
From a single source.
Received once in a quarter.
Received too rarely to be expected on a regular basis.
Example: Mrs. Nguyen does housecleaning on a regular basis and earns $80 a week. On November 20, a customer pays her $10 for some extra cleaning. On December 22, the same customer asks for extra cleaning and pays her $10. The CAO does not count the $10 Mrs. Nguyen received on November 20. They count the $10 she received on December 22, because she received the earned income more than once in a quarter.
Disaster relief assistance. 55 Pa. Code § 181.123(4)
The CAO will not count, for 18 months, money that an individual receives because of a situation that is declared a major disaster by the President under the Disaster Relief Act of 1974 or another federal law. All of the following conditions must be met:
The individual was living in their own home at the time of the disaster but was forced to leave because of the disaster.
The individual began receiving the disaster assistance within 30 days after the last day of the disaster.
The individual received the disaster assistance while living in a residential facility, including another individual’s private home.
The income exclusion begins on the date the individual received the disaster assistance and ends on the last day of the18th full month after that.
The CAO will take the following actions:
Confirm the amount and the date the individual received it.
Exclude any money that an individual receives for a period of 18 full calendar months, beginning with the month in which they received the first payment.
Create an alert for the 17th month to review the applicant/recipient group’s situation.
If any unused cash is still left after the 19th month, count the cash as a resource.
Example: Because of a flood on September 10, 2009, which was declared a disaster by the President, Mr. Burke receives unemployment compensation under the Disaster Relief Act of 1974. He receives $60 a week, starting on October 1. The CAO excludes the income from October 1, 2009 through March 31, 2011.
Interest on disaster relief assistance. 55 Pa. Code § 181.123(5)
The CAO will not count interest earned on disaster relief assistance from the time the individual received it through the last day of the ninth full month after that.
The CAO will extend this period to 18 full months if the individual shows good cause for not repairing or replacing the property for which the disaster relief was given. Good cause includes any situation beyond the individual’s control that prevents the repair or replacement of a home or other property within the nine-month period.
The individual must show proof from at least two contractors that they made a reasonable effort to have the damaged property repaired or replaced within the first nine-month period. If the disaster resulted in a lot of work needed in the area, the CAO may contact area contractors to determine the minimum time needed to complete the work. An extension is granted only if the individual says that they still plan to make the repairs. The CAO will keep all written documentation in the record and record any information received during person-to-person contact.
The CAO will take the following actions:
Extend the period for an extra nine calendar months if good cause is shown.
Create an alert for the 17th month to review the applicant/recipient group’s situation.
If the individual changes his or her plan to make the repairs or replacement during the extended period, count any money still held for repairs, replacement, or contracting as income in the month the individual reports the change of plan.
If any unused funds, including interest, are still left after the 19th month, count the cash as a resource.
Unearned income less than $20. 55 Pa. Code § 181.123(7)
The CAO will not count unearned income that is less than $20 a month and is received too rarely to be expected on a regular basis. If the amount is more than $20 or is received more than once in a calendar quarter, the full amount will be counted as income.
Example: Mrs. Arnold wins $18.50 in the lottery on February 10, $20 on March 15, and $19.30 on May 20. The CAO excludes the February 10 winnings, because the total was less than $20. The CAO counts the March 15 payment, because Mrs. Arnold received money from the lottery more than once in a quarter. The CAO excludes the May 20 payment because it was less than $20.
Payments based on age and residence. 55 Pa. Code § 181.123(8)
The CAO will not count periodic payments made by a state on the sole basis of how long someone has lived in the state and that individual has reached age 65, under a program established before July 1, 1973.
Interest on burial funds. 55 Pa. Code § 181.123(10)
The CAO will not count interest earned on a burial fund that has been excluded as a resource, if the interest builds up as part of the burial fund. (See Chapter 340, Resources.)
Note: If the interest is withdrawn, the CAO will count it as income.
Reduced unearned income to pay back an overpayment. 55 Pa. Code § 181.123(14)
If unearned income is reduced to pay back an overpayment, the CAO will count the individual’s net income if the overpaid amount was counted when determining the individual’s eligibility for cash assistance or MA when the overpayment occurred.
The CAO will take the following actions:
Verify the monthly amount of the overpayment and the dates it occurred.
Verify the amount being deducted as repayment from the current benefit.
Determine the total amount of the overpayments for the months the individual was receiving cash assistance or MA.
To determine how many months the deduction can be excluded, divide the total amount of the overpayment by the amount of the current reduction in benefits.
Create an alert to count the full benefit, including the reduction, when the total overpayment is paid back.
Advance payments against expenses of obtaining income. 55 Pa. Code § 181.123(15)
The CAO will not count a lump sum advance payment made to cover money spent to get income.
Wages, allowances, or transportation reimbursement under Title VI of the Rehabilitation Act. 55 Pa. Code § 181.121(10)
The CAO will not count money that an eligible disabled individual receives for wages, allowances, or reimbursement for transportation and attendant care costs, unless there is an exception. The individual must be employed in a project under Title VI of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.
Payments by credit life or disability insurance policies. 55 Pa. Code § 181.81(3)
The CAO will not count payments made under a credit life or disability insurance policy issued to, or on behalf of, borrowers to cover payments on loans or installment purchases if an individual dies or becomes disabled. These payments are made directly to the loan or mortgage company and are not available to the individual.
Repayment of a loan. 55 Pa. Code § 181.81(4)
The CAO will not count money that an individual receives from another person as repayment of a loan.
Note: Interest learned on the money loaned will be counted as income.
Bills paid by a third party. 55 Pa. Code § 181.81(5)
The CAO will not count any payment on a bill made for an individual by a third party.
Replacement income. 55 Pa. Code § 181.81(6)
The CAO will not count money that an individual receives to replace income that was lost, stolen, or destroyed.
Example: An individual’s paycheck is stolen before they are able to cash it, and the employer issues a replacement check. The CAO counts the original paycheck as earned income in the month of receipt and excludes the replacement check.
Veterans Administration (VA) Aid and Attendance or Housebound allowance. 55 Pa. Code § 181.81(9)
The CAO will not count the portion of the VA benefit that is an Aid and Attendance or Housebound allowance. (For information on verifying Aid and Attendance benefits, see Chapter 378, Verification, Appendix B.)
Note: Any part of the Aid and Attendance benefit that is left after the month the individual received it is counted as a resource.
Social services. 55 Pa. Code § 181.81(12)
The CAO will not count any of the following:
Cash or in-kind income given to an individual under a federal, state, or local government program that provides social services, including vocational rehabilitation.
In-kind assistance given under a nongovernmental program that provides social services.
Money provided by a nongovernmental social services program to be used to repay approved services already paid by the individual or to pay for such services in the future. Examples of these services include, but are not limited to, homemaker services, attendant care, and chore services.
Assistance for the homeless. 55 Pa. Code § 181.81(14)
The CAO will not count money given as assistance to a homeless individual.
Assistance to prevent fuel cutoffs. 55 Pa. Code § 181.121(4)
The CAO will not count money that an individual receives under the Energy Emergency Crisis Assistance Program or the Emergency Energy Conservation Services program under Section 222(a)(5) of the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964.
Real property tax refund. 55 Pa. Code § 181.123(1)
The CAO will not count money that an individual receives from a public agency as a refund of taxes paid on real property.
Medical care and services. 55 Pa. Code § 181.81(11)
The CAO will not count medical care and services that are:
Free or paid for by another individual directly to the provider.
Room and board received during a period of confinement.
Provided as cash or in-kind income (including food, clothing, and shelter) under a federal, state, or local program that provides medical care or services, including vocational rehabilitation.
Money provided by a nongovernmental social services program to be used to repay approved services already paid by the individual or to pay for such services in the future.
Example: The CAO will not count money paid to an individual from an insurance company to pay the individual back for payments for prescription drugs.
Direct payment of medical insurance premiums by any other individual for the individual.
Repayment from a health insurance policy for medical expenses that the individual paid for.
In-kind assistance provided by a nongovernmental program that provides medical care or medical services.
Receipt of certain noncash items. 55 Pa. Code § 181.81(13)
The CAO will not count noncash items that are excluded as MA resources.
Guardian fees. 55 Pa. Code § 181.134
The CAO will not count the amount spent by the individual on court-ordered guardian fees if having a guardian is a condition of receiving the income.
Interest from certain burial space arrangements. 55 Pa. Code § 140.271(20)
The CAO will not count interest earned on agreements for the purchase of excluded burial spaces if the interest is left to build up. Interest not left to build up is counted as income.
Dedicated financial institution accounts.
The CAO will not count income from an account in a financial institution that is set up only to receive and maintain SSI past-due benefits. Any interest or other earnings on such an account is excluded from resources.
Interest or other earnings from a dedicated financial institution account.
The CAO will not count payments from interest or other earnings from a dedicated financial institution account that is excluded from resources.
Social Security Administration (SSA) authorized representative payee fee.
The CAO will not count the monthly fee paid to an agency that is approved by the SSA to receive the individual’s monthly RSDI or SSI benefit or state supplementary payment. The excluded amount must be 10% of the monthly benefit or $37 a month, whichever is less. If the individual has been determined by SSA to have a drug and alcohol condition, the excluded amount must be 10% of the monthly benefit, or $72 a month, whichever is less.
Note: If the individual is in an institution, a fee may not be withheld from benefits that must be set aside for the individual’s personal needs.
Radiation exposure compensation trust fund payment.
The CAO will not count a one-time lump sum payment to an individual exposed to doses of radiation and found to have certain diseases after the exposure. Payment is made by the Federal Department of Justice to the individual or the individual’s survivors. Interest earned on the unspent payment is counted as income.
Hostile fire pay.
The CAO will not count payments made by any of the uniformed services under 37 U.S.C. 310.
Corporation for National and Community Services (CNCS), (formerly ACTION).
The CAO will not count payments made to individuals in these volunteer services programs, including: Americorps VISTA, University Year of Action, Special and Demonstration Volunteer programs, the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), the Foster Grandparent Program, and the Senior Companion Program.
Department of Defense (DOD) payments.
The CAO will not count payments made to individuals who were captured and imprisoned or confined by North Vietnam.
Vietnam veterans’ children with spina bifida.
The CAO must will not count payments made to Vietnam veterans’ children who have spina bifida.
Victims compensation payments.
Effective May 1, 1991, the CAO will not count payments that an individual receives from a state-run victims compensation fund to cover expenses incurred or losses suffered as the result of a crime. Any money left after the calendar month when the individual receives the payment must also be excluded as a resource for nine more calendar months.
State and local relocation assistance.
The CAO will not count a relocation assistance payment made by a state or local government in the month when the individual receives it. Any money left after the calendar month when the individual receives the payment is excluded as a resource for nine more calendar months.
Educational assistance. 55 Pa. Code § 181.121(9) 55 Pa. Code § 181.123(2)
The CAO will not count any financial assistance for educational expenses from scholarships, grants, and loans received by a child who is either under age 18 or under age 19 and a full-time student in secondary school or at the same level in a vocational or technical school. Any part of the financial assistance that is to be used only for basic living needs, such as housing and food, is not excluded.
Note: For information about children age 19 to 21 who receive educational assistance, see Chapter 314, Students.
In addition to the income listed in Section 350.61, the following income is excluded for GA-related categories:
Funds subject to repayment to DPW. 55 Pa. Code § 181.263(1)
The CAO will not count any money an individual receives from signing a DPW reimbursement form.
Retroactive cash assistance payments. 55 Pa. Code § 181.263(3)
The CAO will not count any money an individual receives to correct underpayments in the month when the individual receives it or in the next month.
Note: Any money left over from the payment is considered a resource in later months.
Corrective assistance payments. 55 Pa. Code § 181.263(4)
The CAO will not count any retroactive assistance payments an individual receives as a result of a prehearing conference, fair hearing decision, or court order.
Note: A retroactive payment is excluded only for the month in which the individual receives it and the following month. Any money left after the second month is treated as a resource. The individual must show proof of how and when the money is used.
Refund of assigned support payments. 55 Pa. Code § 181.263(5)
The CAO will not count support payments refunded to the individual when the monthly cash assistance payment is suspended for one month because of:
An assigned court order.
A voluntary support payment being collected by the Commonwealth.
Donations from public or private agencies. 55 Pa. Code § 181.263(6)
The CAO will not count money, goods, or services an individual receives from a public or private agency.
Donations from individuals. 55 Pa. Code § 181.263(7)
The CAO will not count in-kind goods or services given by an individual to an applicant/recipient group or third-party payments made to a vendor for the applicant/recipient group.
Meals shared with other individuals. 55 Pa. Code § 181.264(12)
The CAO will not count benefits that an individual receives under Part C of the Congregate Nutrition Service of the Older Americans Act of 1965.
Day care payments. 55 Pa. Code § 181.263(10)
The CAO will not count money that an individual receives from providing day care for children in an approved family day care home.
Note: An approved family day care home is one in which child care is given at the same time to four, five, or six children who are not related to the operator. The home must have a certificate of registration issued by the DPW’s regional office of child day care stating that the home is an approved day care home.
Exception: This exemption does not apply to employees of the approved family day care home.
Alaska native claims. 55 Pa. Code § 181.264(9)
The CAO will not count money that an individual receives under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act.
Payments to Indian tribes. 55 Pa. Code § 181.264(10)
The CAO will not count the following payments to Indian tribes:
Funds given to or held in trust for members of any Indian tribe under the act of March 18, 1972 (Pub L. 92-254) or the act of October 17, 1973.
(Pub L. 93-134)
Funds given to members of certain Indian tribes listed in 25 U.S.C.A Section 459d (effective October 17, 1975).
Interest and investment income on Indian Judgment funds held in trust under the Per Capita Act of January 12, 1983.
Gifts, loans and borrowed money.
The CAO will not count loans, such as car loans or personal loans, from individuals who are not LRRs. Gifts of $50 or less for each individual in a calendar quarter will not be counted, no matter if the giver is or is not an LRR.
A gift that a member of an applicant/recipient group receives may be divided among all the members in the group if the gift is meant for the whole group.
If gifts add up to more than $50 for each individual in a calendar quarter, the amount of the gifts over $50 for each individual is treated as a resource in the month it was received.
Educational assistance. 55 Pa. Code § 181.262
The CAO will not count student financial assistance from loans, grants, scholarships, or work-study.
Disaster unemployment assistance. 42 U.S.C. Section 5515(d)
The CAO will not count disaster unemployment assistance as income or a resource. 62 P.S. 432.12
Updated February 14, 2012, Replacing July 2, 2008