The General Assembly Raised Bill No. 1151 seeks to amend the income eligibility criteria for certain public assistance programs, specifically targeting veterans and their surviving spouses. The bill proposes to disregard all United States Department of Veterans Affairs-administered non-service-connected pension benefits, Aid and Attendance pension benefits, and Housebound pension benefits when assessing income for state-administered programs such as Medicare savings, medical assistance, and energy assistance. This adjustment aims to prevent veterans and their families from being disadvantaged in their eligibility for assistance due to the receipt of these specific benefits. Furthermore, the bill modifies the administration of the state supplementation to the Supplemental Security Income Program and other public assistance programs by allowing the Commissioner of Social Services to disregard the same types of veterans' benefits in income calculations. It also eliminates the asset test for the Medicare Savings Program and increases income disregards for various Medicare beneficiary programs. Additional provisions include establishing eligibility standards for medical assistance at 159% of the benefit amount for a household of equal size with no income under the temporary family assistance program, and ensuring that applicants receive written information about property disposition implications on eligibility. These changes are set to take effect on July 1, 2025, for applications filed on or after that date.

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