0720.000.00 SP-ONLY CASES

SP-Only recipients are those persons:

  1. who received a cash OAA, PTD, or AB grant in December 1973;
  2. who could not be converted to SSI in January 1974 because they were not income eligible for SSI AND continue to remain ineligible for SSI; and
  3. whose December 1973 EIL would not be met unless they received an additional payment.

The State of Missouri, through legislation, elected to make this additional payment. Because of this, FSD is mandated to provide a Supplemental Payments Only program (SP-Only) for non-SSI recipients.

EXAMPLE: A PTD claimant received a $40 grant in December 1973. He also had unearned income of $270. He was not eligible for SSI because of income ($270 - $20 = $250, which exceeds the 1973 SSI maximum of $140.) The claimant's December 1973 EIL was $310. In order to maintain the claimant's December 1973 EIL, the claimant was converted to SP and continued to receive a $40 SP grant.

Additional legislation was passed in July 1975 which excluded Social Security cost of living adjustments from July 1975 forward in the determination of the SP amount.

SP-Only recipients have the following guarantee (conversion right): the December 1973 EIL is maintained as long as the claimant continues to meet the December 1973 OAA, PTD, or AB eligibility requirements.

The SP payment may be increased or decreased to maintain the EIL. It cannot be decreased because of Social Security cost of living adjustments received in July 1975 or later.

EXAMPLE: Mrs. Reeves was receiving an OASDI benefit under her husband's account number. In November, she began to receive an OASDI benefit under her own Social Security number. The entire monthly amount she received for November under her own OASDI number is counted in determining her SP grant. Any subsequent increases are disregarded.

0720.005.00 ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION FOR SP-ONLY CASES

Determine eligibility based on the eligibility factors in effect for OAA, PTD, or AB in December 1973 (see December 1973 Manual) In most instances, the eligibility requirements used to determine the claimant's continued eligibility are those on which the assistance payments were based in December 1973. However it may be advantageous to the claimant to determine continued eligibility using other program's (December 1973 OAA, PTD, or AB) eligibility requirements. It is of primary importance that if the individual received OAA, PTD, or AB payments in December 1973 and is currently eligible for SP, the individual remains eligible for SP so long as:

  1. the individual meets the eligibility requirements for either OAA, PTD, or AB in effect in December 1973; and
  2. the individual's income (excluding Social Security cost of living adjustments from July 1975 forward) does not meet or exceed the individual's EIL.

0720.010.00 DETERMINATION OF THE SP AMOUNT

The program (either OAA, PTA, or AB) from which the SP-Only claimant was ORIGINALLY converted dictates how the claimant's SP amount is determined.

Compute the amount amount of supplemental payment using only the individual's income. Exclude income listed in Section 0725.000.00.

Compute the amount of payment to the nearest dollar. If the income is equal to or greater than the EIL, the claimant is not eligible for SP. Close the SP-Only case, following adverse action figures.

0720.010.05 SP GRANT DETERMINATION FOR OAA/PTD SP-ONLY RECIPIENTS

For OAA or PTD SP-Only recipients, determine the grant by as follows:

  1. Add the earned income; use the gross earned income from:
    1. wages, and
    2. self employment minus OVERHEAD expenses.
  2. Add any unearned income (excluding Social Security cost of living adjustments received July 1975 or later). When the recipient initially receives OASDI, count the entire amount of the benefit and disregard any subsequent cost of living increases.

    In addition to the situation in which the recipient initially receives a social security benefit, ANY increase in a social security benefit other than the cost of living adjustments beginning July 1985, is treated as income.

    EXAMPLE: Mrs. Reeves was receiving an OASDI benefit under her own account number. In November, she received an increase in benefits due to the death of her spouse. The increase is paid out of her husband's account; however, Mrs. Reeves continues to receive under her own account number. The increase received due to her husband's death is identifiable and is added to the countable OASDI previously received by Mrs. Reeves. Exclude any subsequent cost of living increases added to the full countable amount.

    NOTE: Retroactive payments by DFS or Social Security (SSA/SSI) are not considered an available resource for six (6) months from the date of receipt of such benefits.

  3. Add any payment(s) received as the result of TPL overages. Consider theses payments as income for the month in which they are received. (See Medicaid Procedures Manual; Third Party Liability; Distribution of Collections.)
  4. Subtract the totals of (1), (2), and (3) from the December 1973 EIL, to obtain the grant amount.

0720.010.10 SP GRANT DETERMINATION FOR AB SP-ONLY RECIPIENTS

For AB SP-Only recipients, determine the grant by using one of the following computation methods:

  1. Follow Steps 1-3 of SP Grant Determination for OAA/PTD SP-Only to calculate income and subtract the totals from the December 1973 EIL;

    OR

  2. Complete an SAB need determination; and if there is need, grant the BP maximum.

    Use the computation which is most beneficial to the recipient.

    NOTE: If there is no need on the budget but the claimant meets all other AB eligibility factors, transfer the claimant to Blind Pension if it is more beneficial than restoring SP-Only conversion status. Use the computation which most benefits the recipient.

0720.015.00 OAA/PTD SP-ONLY MEETS SAB CRITERIA

If it is determined that an OAA or PTD SP-Only conversion recipient currently meets the SAB eligibility factors, it may be to the claimant's advantage to transfer to SAB. Use the following procedure:

  1. take and process an SAB application,
  2. close the SP-Only case, and
  3. approve SAB.

NOTE: If, at a later date, the claimant becomes ineligible for SAB OR it is no longer a benefit to use the BP maximum, determine if the recipient continues to meet the December 1973 OAA, PTD, or AB eligibility factors and the claimant's countable income does not equal or exceed his EIL. If so, recompute the claimant's SP grant, restore the SP-Only conversion status by cancel closing, and close the SAB case.

If the claimant becomes ineligible for SAB due only to need, consider a BP application if it benefits the claimant more than restoring the SP-Only conversion status.