Previous Policy (413-1 was previously found in 401 until November 1, 2021)
1. Income is cash (checks, direct deposits, etc.) or in-kind benefits a person receives. Income includes earned income and unearned income. In-kind income is not cash. It is something other than cash that a person receives. For non-institutional ABD category programs (which include Medicare Cost-Sharing programs), in-kind income counts when it is food, shelter, or something that can be used to get food or shelter.
a. Count cash or in-kind benefits as income in the month an individual receives it or when it is made available for the individual's use; or
b. Count benefit income sent as a mass mailing for the month in which it would normally arrive even if it arrives early because of holidays or weekends. (Example: Some Social Security checks arrive on the 3rd of the month. They may arrive on the 30th or 31st of the prior month when the 3rd falls on a weekend or holiday); or
c. When benefits are electronically transferred to an individual's account, decide which month the benefits are intended for, and count them consistently even if they are sometimes transferred early.
d. Count earned income the date it is first made available to the individual even if the individual does not pick up or deposit the check on that day.
2. Any amount of the cash or in-kind benefit remaining at the end of the month is counted as an asset in the month after it is received, unless it is a type of income that has special resource exclusions (521). Anything counted as income in a month is not counted as an asset, except for funds held in certain trusts (512).
3. Workers must identify an individual's total monthly income. Then, the total income is used to determine the individual's countable income for eligibility, and to calculate a spenddown, cost-of-care contribution or Medicaid Work Incentive premium, if applicable.