Repository navigation
Maryland PAA: drop spouse deeming and cap the imputed SSI for citizens (COMAR 07.03.07.07, .09A) #10544
Description
Problem
Maryland Public Assistance to Adults counts the individual's own income and pays allowable needs less net countable income (COMAR 07.03.07.07, 07.03.07.09 A). Neither section has a spouse-deeming rule. For citizens and SSI qualified noncitizens, the model does two things wrong:
md_paa_countable_incomeadds SSI's deemed spouse income (ssi_income_deemed_from_ineligible_spouse).md_paa_imputed_federal_ssiimputesssi_amount_if_eligibleless that income. Under deeming, that is the couple rate with no 20 CFR 416.1163(e)(2) cap.
Example (MD, January 2025, CARE Home Level D)
An aged citizen with $500 a month of survivor benefits is married to a spouse aged 60 who earns $1,000 a month. The allowable need is $1,376 + $102 = $1,478.
| Model | COMAR and SSA | |
|---|---|---|
| PAA countable income | 480 + 467.50 deemed = 947.50 | 480 (own income) |
| Imputed SSI | 1,450 − 947.50 = 502.50 | min(1,450 − 947.50, 967 − 480) = 487 |
| PAA | 1,478 − 947.50 − 502.50 = 28 | 1,478 − 480 − 487 = 511 |
#10240 already gives $511 to a person who fails SSI's noncitizen test but reports SSI receipt (md_paa.yaml Case 13).
Proposed fix
- Count own income only in
md_paa_countable_income. - Impute the SSI that SSA pays, capped under deeming, as Count income of aged, blind, or disabled people who fail SSI's noncitizen test #10240 does for SSI reporters. Alternatively, take the cap from Apply 416.1163(e)(2) to deemed SSI and identify SSI couples by marriage, not tax roles #10141 once it lands.
Activity