N.M. Admin. Code § 8.250.500.15
All social security and railroad retirement beneficiaries receive cost of living adjustments (COLAs) in January of each year. The ISD caseworker must disregard the COLA from January through March when determining or re-determining QI1s eligibility. For re-determinations made in January, February and March and for new QI1 applications registered in January, February or March, the ISD caseworker uses the December social security and railroad retirement benefit amounts. For QI1 applications registered from April through December, total gross income including the new COLA figures are used to determine income and compared to the new April federal poverty levels. This exclusion does not apply to other types of income.
N.M. Admin. Code § 8.250.500.15