N.J. Admin. Code § 10:71-4.5

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 10:71-4.5 - Resource eligibility standards

(a) For eligibility in the Medicaid Only Program, total countable resources are subject to the following limits. (See 10:71-4.1(b) regarding definition of resources, 10:71-4.2 regarding countable resources, and 10:71-4.8 regarding resources of a couple when one member is applying for Medicaid for institutional services.)

1. Resource eligibility is determined as of the first moment of the first day of the month. Changes in the amount of countable resources subsequent to the first moment of the first day of the month shall not affect eligibility.

2. In the case of checking accounts, the balance as of the first moment of the first day of the month shall be reduced by the amount of any checks which have been drawn on the account but which have not yet cleared the financial institution.

(b) Resource maximum for a couple: Participation in the program shall be denied or terminated if the total value of a couple's countable resources exceeds $ 3,000.

1. Definition of a couple: A couple shall be defined as a man and a woman who are legally married, or who have been determined to be a couple by the Social Security Administration for receipt of RSDI benefits, or who are living together in the same household and presenting themselves to the community in which they live as husband and wife.

(c) Resource maximum for an individual: participation in the program shall be denied or terminated if the total value of an individual's resources exceeds $ 2,000.

(d) Resource maximum (institutionalized individuals): The resource maximum for an individual in (c) above applies equally to individuals institutionalized in a Title XIX approved facility. Countable resources held in the institution (for example, trust funds, personal needs accounts) together with those held outside the institution, are to be applied toward the resource maximum. If the resource maximum is exceeded, Medicaid eligibility will cease. (See also 10:71-4.8 regarding resource eligibility for institutionalized individuals.)

(e) The grandfather clause: An individual who satisfied the following criteria may have his/her resource eligibility determined in accordance with procedures formerly used in New Jersey's OAA, AB, and DA programs if it is more advantageous to the individual (see Financial Assistance Manual, Chapter 300, for regulations in effect prior to January 1, 1974):

1. The individual was participating in the Medicaid program during December 1973 under one of New Jersey's Federal programs for the aged, blind, or disabled;

2. The individual has, since December 1973, continuously resided in New Jersey;

3. The individual has, since December 31, 1973, continuously been an eligible individual, an eligible spouse, or an essential person participating in the Medicaid program.

i. Essential person status (refers to spouse only): A spouse who received Medicaid coverage in December 1973 because of his/her status as a person "essential" to the existence of an eligible person is also considered eligible for receipt of Medicaid Only benefits under the provision of the grandfather clause. Such spouse must continue to reside with the eligible individual alone in order to retain his/her essential person status.

ii. Once an individual's essential person status is terminated, he/she must again apply for benefits and be determined eligible or ineligible on the basis of criteria used for other newly applying aged, blind, or disabled individuals.

(f) 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.

1. In order for the cash reward to continue to be excluded, the funds shall be separately identifiable (that is, not commingled with other funds or assets), but held in a separate account. Any increase in the value of the excluded cash reward shall also be excluded.

N.J. Admin. Code § 10:71-4.5

Amended by R.1991 d.32, effective 1/22/1991.
See: 22 N.J.R. 7(a), 23 N.J.R. 215(b).
Added text to reference N.J.A.C. 10:71-4.8 to (a) and (d).
Amended by R.2000 d.415, effective 10/16/2000.
See: 32 N.J.R. 2565(a), 32 N.J.R. 3844(a).
In (b), rewrote introductory paragraph; rewrote (c).
Amended by R.2002 d.124, effective 4/15/2002.
See: 33 N.J.R. 4188(a), 34 N.J.R. 1546(a).
Added (f).