|
|
|
These benefits are sometimes referred to as Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (RSDI) or Title II. Social security benefits are counted for all MA programs as unearned income. Ongoing benefits are paid monthly.
For back pay received as a lump sum see MA604.D.
For treatment of overpayments taken from the gross benefit see MA604.E.
A person can be entitled to more than one benefit. This is called dual entitlement. When there is dual entitlement, the beneficiary receives the smaller benefit in full plus the difference between the larger and the smaller benefit. For example, a person may be entitled to payments both as a retired worker and as a spouse.
This policy applies to MSP and SSI-MAO only.
In years when there is a COLA increase, Social Security benefits are increased in January. The increase is not counted for SSI-MAO or MSP until the Federal Poverty Level changes are implemented, usually in April. The previous year’s benefit amount is used for the month of January and ongoing until the month the FPL update put into effect.
The SOLQI or WTPY may show a gross benefit that includes cents. Since SSA does not actually issue the cents, the benefit is rounded down to the next whole dollar to get the correct gross benefit.
See the SOLQI interpretive guide for instructions on how to find this information on the SOLQI.
|
Term |
Definition |
|
Social Security Benefits |
Paid to aged and disabled people and surviving spouses and children, based on their own or a family member’s work history and contributions to the Social Security system. |
|
Social Security Disability |
Payments to certain disabled workers under age 65 who are determined disabled by a DDSA determination. |
|
Social Security Retirement |
A payment to a retired worker who has earned a minimum of 40 Social Security work credits (10 years of work). An individual may earn a maximum of 4 credits per year. A qualified worker may retire as early as age 62 and receive a reduced “early retirement” benefit. |
|
Social Security Survivors and Dependents Benefits |
Upon the death or disability of a qualified worker, certain family members including a surviving spouse, unmarried children or a dependent parent may be eligible for benefits. An unmarried disabled son or daughter of a qualified worker may be eligible to receive benefits as a disabled, adult child if the disability began prior to age 22. Payments may begin as early as age 18. |
|
Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) |
An increase intended to ensure that income is adjusted to account for inflation. The COLA amount, if any, is determined annually. |
Income is first obtained through the Federal and State Data Services Hubs. If needed, other proof includes:
Award letters from Social Security;
Collateral contact to Social Security.
This requirement applies to the following programs:
|
Program |
Legal Authorities |
|
ALTCS SSI-MAO Medicare Savings Program |
42 CFR 435.601 R9-22-1503 R9-28-408 |
|
Adult Caretaker Relative Pregnant Woman Child |
42 CFR 435.603 R9-22-1401 |
|
KidsCare |
42 CFR 457.10 R9-31- 304 |