Victims Compensation payments made by any state are to be considered exempt income in the month of receipt and exempt property for nine months following the month of receipt. Applicants or beneficiaries who report the receipt of a Victims’ Compensation Program shall be required to provide verification sufficient to document the source of the payment. If anyone was adversely affected by receiving a victims compensation payment from another state, counties must rescind the incorrect decision and retroactively redetermine the eligibility or SOC. [Download]

In 2010, the community spouse resource allowance will remain the same as it was in 2009 at $109,560 and the new maximum spousal income allocation/minimum monthly maintenance need allowance will also remain at $2,739 per month under the MCCA. [Download]

Effective January 1, 2010 the property limits for QMB, SLMB, and QI-1 will increase to the LIS level. The current property limits are $4,000 for an individual and $6,000 for a couple (twice the SSI property limit). For 2010, the LIS and MSP property limits will be $6,600 for an individual and $9,910 for a couple (three times the SSI property limit plus an annual increase). The property limit may increase each year from now on but DHCS will not annually inform counties of the increase. [Download]

The standard allocation and the parent allocation will not increase as there is no COLA increase in 2010. The 2009 Medicare Part A premium will increase to $461 for those with fewer than 30 quarters of work and to $254 for those with 30-39 quarters of work. For most people the Part B premium will hold steady at $96.40 (it will increase for certain people for those the letter has a fact sheet with more details). The Part B deductible will rise to $155 and the Part A deductible to $1,100 for the first 60 days of inpatient care. [Download]

There will be no COLA for 2010. The 2010 Medicare Part B premium is $96.40. The letter gives instructions on how to calculate the 2010 share of cost for both those who do pay the Medicare Part B premium, and for those who do not, as well as Pickle specific instructions. Included with the letter are new charts and other information from the Pickle Handbook. [Download]