N.J. Admin. Code § 10:69-10.23

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 24, December 18, 2024

Section 10:69-10.23 - Nonrecurring earned or unearned lump sum income

(a) When a beneficiary receives nonrecurring earned or unearned lump sum income, including retroactive RSDI payments and other monthly benefits, and payments in the nature of a windfall, such as inheritances and lottery winnings or personal injury and worker compensation awards, to the extent it is not earmarked and used for the purpose for which it was paid, for example, moneys for back medical bills resulting from accidents or injury, funeral and burial costs, or replacement or repair of resources, that income will be added together with all other income received that month by the eligible family after application of the disregards in this subchapter and the exemption of income in N.J.A.C. 10:69-10.22. The TANF grant shall not be considered income. No portion of lump sum or other income may be applied toward the resource limit in the month of its receipt. When this total exceeds the standard of need for the eligible family size as set forth at N.J.A.C. 10:69-10.2, the family shall be ineligible for AFDC-related Medicaid program for the number of full months derived by dividing this total income by the standard of need applicable to the eligible family. Any remaining income from this calculation is treated as if it is unearned income received in the first month following the period of ineligibility and is considered available for use at that time. SSI payments and one-time lump sum payments associated with participation in the EEI program shall not be subject to lump sum treatment.

1. For purposes of determining the period of ineligibility, the family includes the AFDC-related Medicaid program eligible unit and any other individual (such as a stepparent) whose lump sum income caused the unit's income to exceed the allowance standard.

2. The period of ineligibility shall begin in the first month subsequent to the month the nonrecurring income is received or, if there is insufficient time for a timely adverse action notice, the following month.

3. In the event the nonrecurring income is not reported timely, the period of ineligibility shall begin at the point the ineligibility would have occurred had the CWA had knowledge of its receipt. The amount of Medicaid overpayment for the period of ineligibility must be established and recovery made.

4. The period of ineligibility applies to each individual in the eligible family at the time of receipt of the lump sum nonrecurring income. Other family members to whom the penalty does not apply, may be eligible as a separate Medicaid eligibility unit.

5. Once established, the period of ineligibility may be reduced only in the circumstances below. It is the responsibility of the former eligible family to provide all necessary information and documentation required to make a determination to shorten the period of ineligibility. The basis for a determination to shorten the period of ineligibility shall be thoroughly documented in the case record.

i. The period of ineligibility may be recalculated when the AFDC standard of need is increased. Upon request of a former AFDC eligible family, the period of ineligibility shall be reduced as follows:

(1) The number of months of ineligibility already elapsed shall be multiplied by the standard of need used to compute the original period of ineligibility;

(2) The result shall be subtracted from the original lump sum amount; and

(3) The remaining amount shall be divided by the new AFDC standard of need for the eligible family size and the result will be the number of months of ineligibility remaining.

ii. The period of ineligibility may be recalculated if the income used to determine such period becomes unavailable to the eligible family for reasons beyond the control of the family members. Acceptable reasons are limited to those below:

(1) The former eligible family shall thoroughly substantiate an allegation of loss or theft of part or all of the lump sum income and shall provide the CWA with evidence that a police report of an incident of theft has been filed. Upon receipt of credible evidence of loss or theft of the income, the CWA shall reduce the amount of the original lump sum by the amount of the loss or theft. Loss of the income, for the purposes of this section, shall include circumstances where a member of the former eligible family has absconded with the funds.

(2) When the former eligible family incurs and pays verifiable expenses due to an emergent situation, including fire, flood, natural disaster or other emergent situation, for which, had the family been eligible, emergency assistance would have been authorized under N.J.A.C. 10:90, those expenses shall reduce the amount of the original lump sum.

iii. The period of ineligibility may be reduced if the family incurs, becomes responsible for, and pays medical expenses during the period of ineligibility. In such cases, the original income used to compute the period of ineligibility shall be offset by verified medical expenditures. For this purpose, allowable medical expenses are as follows:

(1) Medical and dental care including psychotherapy and rehabilitation services provided by a licensed practitioner authorized by State law or other qualified health professional;

(2) Hospitalization or outpatient treatment, nursing care, and nursing home care, including payments by the household for an individual who was an eligible family member immediately prior to entering a hospital or nursing home, provided by a facility recognized by the State;

(3) Prescription drugs when prescribed by a licensed practitioner authorized under State law and other over-the-counter medication (including insulin) when approved by a licensed practitioner or other qualified health professional; in addition, costs of medical supplies, sick-room equipment (including rental) or other prescribed equipment;

(4) Health and hospitalization insurance policy premiums;

(5) Medicare premiums related to coverage under Title XVIII of the Social Security Act;

(6) Dentures, hearing aids, and prosthetics;

(7) Securing and maintaining a seeing eye or hearing dog including the cost of dog food and veterinarian bills;

(8) Eye glasses prescribed by a physician skilled in eye diseases or by an optometrist;

(9) The reasonable cost of transportation and lodging to obtain medical treatment or services; and

(10) Maintaining an attendant, homemaker, home health aid, housekeeper, or child care services, necessary because of age, infirmity, or illness.

6. In all instances, where the previously eligible family has been terminated due to receipt of lump sum income, the notice of adverse action shall include:

i. The reason for the family's termination from AFDC-related Medicaid program;

ii. The duration of the period of ineligibility;

iii. The earliest date the ineligible family may apply to reopen their AFDC-related Medicaid program case; and

iv. A statement concerning possible reduction of the ineligibility period (see (a)5ii or iii above).

(b) For the AFDC-related program, lump sum income and the resulting period of ineligibility shall be treated in accordance with the following provisions:

1. Only those individuals actually receiving AFDC-related Medicaid or Medicaid Special are considered to be AFDC-related Medicaid program beneficiaries. Any individual receiving Medicaid Only, New Jersey Care ... Special Medicaid programs, Medicaid Special, NJ FamilyCare -- Children's Program, or any other medical coverage is not considered an AFDC-related Medicaid program beneficiary. Therefore, a period of ineligibility imposed on a beneficiary of Medicaid Only or Medicaid Special benefits due to the receipt of lump sum income cannot be carried over into the AFDC-related Medicaid program, and cannot cause ineligibility for AFDC-related Medicaid program benefits.

(c) This section is not to be construed to limit any policy pertaining to reimbursement in any program but must be applied in conjunction with any repayment agreement.

(d) No portion of a cash reward provided to any individual by the Division for providing information about fraud and/or abuse in any program administered in whole or in part by the Division shall be included in the computation of income for financial eligibility purposes.

N.J. Admin. Code § 10:69-10.23

Amended by 49 N.J.R. 3729(a), effective 12/4/2017