SR 15-24 Dated 11/15

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

INTER-DEPARTMENT COMMUNICATION

SUMMARY

This SR releases updates to the Social Security Administration (SSA) Life Expectancy Tables to reflect the 2011 data provided by the SSA, their most recent updates available. The SSA Life Expectancy Tables are used in the eligibility determination process for the adult categories of financial and medical assistance when determining whether an applicant or recipient’s annuity is actuarially sound and that the expected return on the annuity corresponds with the life expectancy of the individual. This information is then used to:

·      determine if an annuity is countable or excluded in the resource test for the specific program of assistance; and

·      evaluate asset transfers.

Additionally, this SR releases an unrelated policy change to add Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled (APTD) as a category of assistance for which an employment expense disregard (EED) is applied in the cost of care computation for individuals requesting nursing facility care, Home and Community-Based Care Choices for Independence (HCBC-CFI), Home and Community-Based Care for the Developmentally Disabled (HCBC-DD), Home and Community-Based Care for Individuals with an Acquired Brain Disorder (HCBC-ABD), or Home and Community-Based Care for In-Home Supports (HCBC-IHS). Medical Assistance Manual (MAM) 603.03, Employment Expense Disregard (EED), has been updated accordingly to reflect this policy change.

POLICY

The male and female SSA Life Expectancy tables have been updated, in accordance with He-W 620.01(j)(3) and 42 USC 1396p(c)(1)(G)(ii)(II), to reflect the most current information available from the Social Security Administration.

UNRELATED POLICY REVISION

Policy in MAM 603.03, Employment Expense Disregard (EED), allowed an EED “only in the cost of care computation for OAA and ANB individuals requesting nursing facility care, HCBC-CFI, HCBC-DD, HCBC-ABD, or HCBC-HIS.” This SR releases a policy revision to include APTD, pursuant to He-W 654.18, as a category of financial assistance for which individuals requesting nursing facility care, HCB-CFI, HCBC-DD, HCBC-ABD, or HCBC-IHS may have an EED applied in the cost of care computation.

POLICY MANUAL REVISIONS

Revised Adult Assistance Manual Topics

PART 420   RESOURCE TABLES: SSA LIFE EXPECTANCY TABLES: MALE

PART 420   RESOURCE TABLES: SSA LIFE EXPECTANCY TABLES: FEMALE

Revised Medical Assistance Manual Topics

PART 420   RESOURCE TABLES: SSA LIFE EXPECTANCY TABLES: MALE

PART 420   RESOURCE TABLES: SSA LIFE EXPECTANCY TABLES: FEMALE

Section 603.03   Employment Expense Disregard (EED)

IMPLEMENTATION

The policy released in this SR is effective as of November 6, 2015 or upon receipt, whichever is earlier.

CLIENT NOTIFICATION

No client notification is planned or needed.

TRAINING

No special training is planned or needed.

DISPOSITION

This SR may be destroyed or deleted after its contents have been noted and the revised manual topics released by this SR have been posted to the On-line manuals.

DISTRIBUTION

This SR will be distributed according to the electronic distribution list for Division of Family Assistance policy releases. This SR, and revised On-Line Manuals, will be available for agency staff in the On-Line Manual Library, and for public access on the Internet at www.dhhs.nh.gov/DFA/publications.htm, effective November 23, 2015. Additionally, this SR, and printed pages with posting instructions, will be distributed under separate cover to all internal hard copy holders of the Adult Assistance and Medical Assistance Manuals.

DFA/SMC:s