Family Composition 510-05-45-15

(Revised 01/03 ML #2833)

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  1. Families eligible under the Family Coverage group must contain a child, which can include an unborn, that is deprived of a natural or adoptive parent’s support or care. Deprivation is described at 05-35-10 and includes deprivation due to unemployment or underemployment of a parent

  2. The child described in subsection 1 must be:

  1. Living with a caretaker relative; and
  2. Under age 18, or age 18 and a student (full-time or part-time) in high school or an equivalent level of vocational/technical training if the student can reasonably be expected to complete the high school, GED, or vocational curriculum prior to or during the month the student turns age 19. A child who does not meet this age requirement is not included in any eligibility determinations for the Family Coverage group.

  1. The parents of a caretaker who is at least age 18, or if under age 18 is married or is not residing with the parent(s), cannot be included in the same family unit as the caretaker.

  2. In families where the only deprived child is age 18 (including disabled children in receipt of SSI benefits) and is a student who will graduate prior to or during the month of the child’s 19th birthday, the parent remains eligible under the Family Coverage group if all other criteria is met.

  3. An individual in receipt of Social Security or SSI disability or retirement benefits may choose to be eligible as a disabled or aged individual under the medically needy coverage group, or may choose to be considered a caretaker, or child, under the Family Coverage group. These individuals are included in the unit as follows:

  1. An individual in receipt of Social Security disability or retirement benefits is included in the family unit for determining income eligibility regardless of whether the disabled individual chooses Medicaid eligibility under the medically needy coverage group or the Family Coverage group.
  2. A SSI recipient who chooses to be eligible as aged, blind, or disabled is not eligible for coverage under the Family Coverage group. The SSI recipient, however, is considered part of the family unit as described below.

(1) A caretaker receiving SSI benefits is included in the family unit for budget purposes due to the caretaker’s financial responsibility for spouse and children; and

(2) A child receiving SSI benefits is not included in the family unit for budget purposes.

  1. A SSI recipient who chooses to be eligible as a caretaker or child may be eligible under the Family Coverage group, and the individual’s SSI income is considered other unearned income.