Special Assistance SA-3200 RESOURCES

Re-Issued 05/01/11

I. INTRODUCTION

This section outlines the resource requirements used in determining eligibility. Resources are all financial assets that an a/r owns or has the right, authority, or power to convert to cash, and are legally available for the a/r’s support and maintenance, including month of entry into an eligible licensed facility. The resource limit is $2000 for an applicant/recipient. The budget unit is always one.

Follow the steps below for SSI and Non-SSI recipients.

A. SSI Recipients

1. SSI recipients automatically meet the resource requirements for SA.

2. Verify and document on the DAAS-8190-S, Workbook for SSI Recipients, that the a/r is an SSI recipient. Do not evaluate the a/r's resources.

3. If you have specific knowledge of resources that could impact SSI eligibility, notify your local Social Security Administration by the DMA-5049, Referral to Local Social Security Office. SA eligibility continues unless the SSA changes their determination of eligibility for SSI.

B. Non-SSI Recipients

At each application and redetermination, document the a/r’s statement and verification of all resources on the DAAS-8190-NS, SA Workbook for Non-SSI Recipients. Also complete the DMA-5030, Reserve History Sheet.

For reported changes in resources, verify and document continued resource eligibility. Review all available records and verify whether resources are countable. Use the DMA-5030, Reserve History Sheet, to reflect changes in resources.

1. Solely owned resources

The availability of all solely owned resources must be verified, documented, and evaluated using the procedures outlined in this section.

2. Jointly held resources

The availability of resources owned jointly by the a/r and another person must be verified, documented, and may be counted:

a. If the other person is a recipient of another public assistance program (Work First, Medicaid, Special Assistance, or SSI):

(1) Count one-half of the value of the jointly owned resource, or

Note: If more than two owners, then divide the value equally among the owners.

(2) If there is a legally binding agreement specifying how the resource is to be divided, count the share specified in the agreement as owned by the a/r.

b. If the other person is not a recipient of another public assistance program, count the value of the a/r's share of resources owned if:

(1) The a/r can dispose of the resource without the consent and participation of the other person(s), or

Note: If the a/r can dispose of the resource without the other’s consent, the entire resource may be countable, such as a bank account held by two people who both have full access to the account.

(2) The other person(s) agrees to and, if necessary, participates in the disposal of the resource.

Verify other owner(s) statement regarding their consent to sell the resource.

(a) If the owner(s) consents to the disposal of the resource, count the a/r's share of the resource.

(b) If the other owner(s) does not respond/cannot be located, do not count a/r's share of the resource.

(c) If the other owner(s) do not consent to the disposal of the resource, do not count the a/r's share of the resource.

3. Unsettled Estates

The availability of resources, whether solely or jointly owned, may be impacted by heir property and inheritances left to the a/r which are not yet settled. Unsettled estates must be verified, documented, and evaluated using the procedures outlined below.

a. Verify if the a/r has the legal right to any heir property or inheritance that is unsettled.

(1) Assets are normally unavailable until the estate is settled (probated).

(2) An estate that has been filed for probate is normally open up to 12 months unless there is a continuation approved by the Clerk of Court.

(3) Liquid assets may be available earlier if the account was joint with a "right to survivorship" held by the a/r. (Contact financial institution for verification).

b. Contact the Clerk of Court to determine availability.

(1) Count any resources acquired by the a/r from a settled estate pursuant to the policies in SA-3200 Resources.

(2) Exclude any resources from an estate to the a/r until verification is received from the Clerk of Court that the heir property or inheritance has gone through probate and is released.

Note: Document the date on which the estate should be probated and flag the record to contact Clerk of Court.

4. Base Period for Resources

a. Applications – The month of application, or, if there are excess resources, the month the resources are reduced.

b. Redeterminations – For eligibility reviews, there is some flexibility as long as the “verification month” is:

(1) No earlier than the month of in which the review process (verifications, appointment letter, etc.) is started, and

(2) No later than the last month of the current payment review period during which the redetermination process is initiated.

(3) Establish the first moment date for verification of resources using the appropriate base from items (1) or (2) above.

(4) Document the established first moment date on the DAAS 8190-NS.

booklet in the section/s provided for liquid resources.

(5) Verify all liquid resources as of the established first moment date.

(6) Clearly document all verified liquid and other resources in the appropriate section/s of the DAAS 8190-NS.

c. Changes In Situation – Verify resources for the month of change. Refer to SA-3310, Changes in Situation for further instructions. Resources (in alphabetic order)

Resource	Count	Do Not Count	Verification
Agent Orange Benefits		X	Refer to Lump Sums Exclusion Chart II.I.5.
Annuities (if principal is available)	X		Refer to II.E. below
Bank Accounts (includes checking, savings, EBT, CDs, and money market accounts)	X		Refer to II.C. below
Boats, boat motors, and boat trailers (if not primary homesite)	X		Refer to II.O. below
Burial Contracts Prepaid Irrevocable (cannot be sold or “cashed-in”)		X	Refer to II.N. below.
Revocable (can be sold or “cashed-in”)	X		Refer to II.N. below.
Burial Insurance	Must evaluate to determine if resource is countable or not countable		See Life Insurance, II.M.
Burial Plots/Spaces and Other Burial Items (Excluding all burial property ended with applications effective December 1, 2009)	Must evaluate to determine if resource is countable or not countable		Refer to IV.B. below.
Business, Discontinued Proceeds (including farm)	X		Refer to II.L. below.
Business Equipment Not used to produce income	X		Refer to II.O. below
Used to produce income		X	Refer to II.O. below
Campers (if not primary homesite)	X		Refer to II.O. below
Cash	X		Refer to II.A. below
Cash and in-kind receipts for repair or replacement of lost, damaged, or stolen excluded resources		X*	Refer to II.I.
Disaster Relief		X	Refer to II.I.
Farm Equipment Not used to produce income or to produce goods for home consumption	X		Refer to II.O.1.i. below
Used to produce income		X	Refer to II.O.1.i. below
Used to produce goods for home consumption (up to $6,000 in total combined equity)		X	Refer to II.O.1.i. below
Heir Property – when part of an unsettled estate		X	Refer to I.B.3. above
Investments (Bonds, Mutual Funds, Stocks/Securities)	X		Refer to II.F. below
Jointly Owned Property Tenancy-in-Common	X		Refer to III.C.5. below
Tenancy-by-the-Entirety	Must evaluate to determine if resource is countable or not countable		Refer to III.C.4. above
Life Estate (Lifetime Right)	X		Refer to III.C.2. below
Life Insurance (that accrues cash value (CV) Total face value (FV) $1,500 or less for the a/r (The excludable FV changed from $10,000 to $1,500 for applications taken on after December 1, 2009).		X	Refer to II.M. below
Total FV over $1,500 for the a/r. (The excludable FV changed from $10,000 to $1,500 for applications taken on after December 1, 2009).	X		Refer to II.M. below
Life insurance (which does not accrue CV)		X	Refer to II.M. below
Liquid assets of a business		X*	Refer to IV.F.
Lump Sum Payment	Must evaluate to determine if resource is countable or not countable		Refer to II.I.
Mobile Home (if not primary homesite)	X		Refer to II.O.1.c. below
Motor Vehicles	Must evaluate to determine if resource is countable or not countable Must evaluate to c		Refer to II.O.4.b.(1)
Motorized Mobile Home (if not primary homesite)	X		Refer to II.O.
Resident Personal Funds Accounts	X		Refer to II.B.
Personal Effects (i.e. Household goods)		X
Proceeds from sale of excluded homesite		X*	Refer to Lump Sums Exclusion Chart, II.I.5.
Promissory Notes Non-Salable		X	Refer to II.J.
Salable	X		Refer to II.J.
Real Property Homesite and contiguous property (unless it meets homesite exclusion- see V.A. below)	X		Refer to III.
Not Homesite	X		Refer to III.
Real Property – during reasonable efforts to see		X	Refer to V. D.
Relocation Assistance from State or local government		X*	Refer to II.I.
Relocation Assistance Payments Received under Title XX of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of 1970		X	Refer to II.I.
Remainder Interest	X		Refer to III.C.3.
Restricted allotted land owned by an enrolled member of an Indian tribe		X	Refer to IV.H.
Resulting Trust / Legally Binding Agreements		X	Refer to IV.E.
Retirement Accounts (401(K), IRA, KEOGH) Accessible	X		Refer to II.D.
Non-accessible		X	Refer to II.D.
Reverse Mortgage Month of Receipt		X	Refer to II.G.
Amount Remaining Month after Receipt	X		Refer to II.G.
Rights of Use (Mineral, Timber, Hunting, Fishing, etc.)	X		Refer to V.C.1.c.(4)
Safe Deposit Box		X	Refer to II.H.
Tobacco Buyout Payments	X		Refer to IV.G.
Trust Funds Revocable	X		Refer to II.K.
Irrevocable		X***	Refer to II.K.
Victim’s Compensation Payments		X**	Refer to Lump Sums Exclusion Chart, II. I. 4.

* Time limited exclusion

** May be time limited or permanently excluded

*** May be time limited exclusion, permanent exclusion, or countable depending on other conditions

of trust

NOTE: All income produced by a countable or excluded resource must be considered when determining eligibility for the a/r.