The Clinical Guide to Supportive and Palliative Care for HIV/AIDS

A Clinical Guide to Supportive and Palliative Care for HIV/AIDS • Chapter 18: Legal and Financial Issuesincome, minus the $20 set-aside, minus the first $65 in earned income and one-half of theremainder. The calculations are a bit complicated, so here are a few examples:• John is a disabled individual eligible to receive $530 per month in SSI benefits. Johnreceives $25 each month as a gift from his sister and earns $25 in interest from a smallinvestment account he has. John will receive $500 per month in SSI. ($50 in-kindincome - $20 set aside = $30 deducted from his original $530 SSI award = $500.)• Jane is a disabled single individual eligible to receive $530 per month in SSI benefits.She has started a small home business and earns $245 per month. Jane will receive$450 in SSI. ($245 in earned income - $20 set-aside - $65 earned income exclusion =$160. One-half of the $160 =$80 of countable income. The original SSI award of $530– $80 of countable earned income = $450.)A base SSI monthly benefit amount is set by the SSA, and State governments have theoption to increase that amount through a State supplement. Nineteen States provideState supplementary SSI payments increasing the total SSI benefit received. Total SSIbenefits therefore vary from State to State. Benefit levels also depend upon one’s livingarrangements. For example, an individual who lives in someone else’s household willreceive SSI at a lower level than an individual who lives alone. SSI will readjust the levelof payment if an individual’s living arrangements change. The Federal SSA monthly benefitfor SSI is $530 for a single individual, and $398 for a member of a couple, who does notlive in another person’s household.Only the disabled person may receive SSI. There are no benefits available for spouses ordependent children of a disabled person, unless they are also disabled. The disability ofone or more parents may, however, entitle the remaining family members to some otherform of government assistance. (See discussion of TANF below.) It is very important thatindividuals apply for SSI as soon as possible since there are no retroactive SSI benefits.In many States, recipients of SSI are automatically eligible for Medicaid. In other States, an SSIrecipient must independently apply for Medicaid. In those States, Medicaid applications aregenerally successful as most States use the same criteria for determining Medicaid eligibility asthe SSA uses for SSI eligibility.2. Temporary Assistance to Needy Families (TANF)TANF is an income assistance program funded and regulated by both the Federal and Stategovernments. The program provides cash and automatic medical assistance to poor families sothey can provide basic necessities for their children. Because TANF is administered by Statewelfare departments, eligibility, calculation of benefits, work requirements, and exemptionsvary from State to State.Generally, TANF provides assistance to eligible families consisting of a single parent and one ormore minor children. Most States also provide assistance to families with two parents (whereone parent is disabled or unemployed, or income is below a given level), families where a childlives with a relative who is not a parent, and pregnant women. Nearly all States will allow somechildren, exclusive of any parent or guardian, to qualify for assistance.Families are eligible for cash assistance if their income is below the established standard. MostStates also take assets, excluding the family home, into consideration. In some States, receipt368U.S. Department of Health and Human Services • Health Resources and Services Administration • HIV/AIDS Bureau