Section 441.75.56. Resources.

         75.56(1) Limitation. Unless otherwise specified, a client may have the following resources and be eligible for the family medical assistance program (FMAP) or FMAP-related programs. Any resource not specifically exempted shall be counted toward the applicable resource limit when determining eligibility for adults. All resources shall be disregarded when determining eligibility for children.

            a.               A homestead without regard to its value. A mobile home or similar shelter shall be considered as a homestead when it is occupied by the client. Temporary absence from the homestead with a defined purpose for the absence and with intent to return when the purpose of the absence has been accomplished shall not be considered to have altered the exempt status of the homestead. Except as described at paragraph 75.56(1)“n” or “o,” the net market value of any other real property shall be considered with personal property.

            b.               Household goods and personal effects without regard to their value. Personal effects are personal or intimate tangible belongings of an individual, especially those that are worn or carried on the person, which are maintained in one’s home, and include clothing, books, grooming aids, jewelry, hobby equipment, and similar items.

            c.               Life insurance which has no cash surrender value. The owner of the life insurance policy is the individual paying the premium on the policy with the right to change the policy as the individual sees fit.

            d.               One motor vehicle per household. If the household includes more than one adult or working teenaged child whose resources must be considered as described in subrule 75.56(2), an equity not to exceed a value of $3,000 in one additional motor vehicle shall be disregarded for each additional adult or working teenaged child.

             (1)             The disregard for an additional motor vehicle shall be allowed when a working teenager is temporarily absent from work.

             (2)             The equity value of any additional motor vehicle in excess of $3,000 shall be counted toward the resource limit in paragraph 75.56(1)“e.” When a motor vehicle is modified with special equipment for the handicapped, the special equipment shall not increase the value of the motor vehicle.

             (3)             Beginning July 1, 1994, and continuing in succeeding state fiscal years, the motor vehicle equity value to be disregarded shall be increased by the latest increase in the consumer price index for used vehicles during the previous state fiscal year.

            e.               A reserve of other property, real or personal, not to exceed $2,000 for applicant assistance units and $5,000 for member assistance units. Exception: Applicant assistance units that contain at least one person who was a Medicaid member in Iowa in the month before the month of application are subject to the $5,000 limit. Resources of the assistance unit shall be determined in accordance with persons considered, as described at subrule 75.56(2).

            f.                Money which is counted as income for the month and that part of lump-sum income defined at paragraph 75.57(9)“c” reserved for the current or future month’s income.

            g.               Payments which are exempted for consideration as income and resources under subrule 75.57(6).

            h.               An equity not to exceed $1,500 in one funeral contract or burial trust for each member of the eligible group. Any amount in excess of $1,500 shall be counted toward resource limits unless it is established that the funeral contract or burial trust is irrevocable.

            i.                One burial plot for each member of the eligible group. A burial plot is defined as a conventional gravesite, crypt, mausoleum, urn, or other repository which is customarily and traditionally used for the remains of a deceased person.

            j.                Settlements for payment of medical expenses.

            k.               Life estates.

            l.                Federal or state earned income tax credit payments in the month of receipt and the following month, regardless of whether these payments are received with the regular paychecks or as a lump sum with the federal or state income tax refund.

            m.              The balance in an individual development account (IDA), including interest earned on the IDA.

            n.               An equity not to exceed $10,000 for tools of the trade or capital assets of self-employed households.

When the value of any resource is exempted in part, that portion of the value which exceeds the exemption shall be considered in calculating whether the eligible group’s property is within the reserve defined in paragraph “e.”

            o.               Nonhomestead property that produces income consistent with the property’s fair market value.

         75.56(2) Persons considered.

            a.               Resources of persons in the eligible group shall be considered in establishing property limits.

            b.               Resources of the parent who is living in the home with the eligible children but who is not eligible for Medicaid shall be considered in the same manner as if the parent were eligible for Medicaid.

            c.               Resources of the stepparent living in the home shall not be considered when determining eligibility of the eligible group, with one exception: The resources of a stepparent included in the eligible group shall be considered in the same manner as a parent.

            d.               The resources of supplemental security income (SSI) members shall not be counted in establishing property limitations. When property is owned by both the SSI beneficiary and a Medicaid member in another eligible group, each shall be considered as having a half interest in order to determine the value of the resource, unless the terms of the deed or purchase contract clearly establish ownership on a different proportional basis.

            e.               The resources of a nonparental specified relative who elects to be included in the eligible group shall be considered in the same manner as a parent.

         75.56(3) Homestead defined. The homestead consists of the house, used as a home, and may contain one or more contiguous lots or tracts of land, including buildings and appurtenances. When within a city plat, it shall not exceed ½ acre in area. When outside a city plat it shall not contain, in the aggregate, more than 40 acres. When property used as a home exceeds these limitations, the equity value of the excess property shall be determined in accordance with subrule 75.56(5).

         75.56(4) Liquidation. When proceeds from the sale of resources or conversion of a resource to cash, together with other nonexempted resources, exceed the property limitations, the member is ineligible to receive assistance until the amount in excess of the resource limitation has been expended unless immediately used to purchase a homestead, or reduce the mortgage on a homestead.

            a.               Property settlements. Property settlements which are part of a legal action in a dissolution of marriage or palimony suit are considered as resources upon receipt.

            b.               Property sold under installment contract. Property sold under an installment contract or held as security in exchange for a price consistent with its fair market value is exempt as a resource. If the price is not consistent with the contract’s fair market value, the resource value of the installment contract is the gross price for which it can be sold or discounted on the open market, less any legal debts, claims, or liens against the installment contract.

Payments from property sold under an installment contract are exempt as income as specified in paragraphs 75.57(1)“d” and 75.57(7)“ag.” The portion of any payment received representing principal is considered a resource upon receipt. The interest portion of the payment is considered a resource the month following the month of receipt.

         75.56(5) Net market value defined. Net market value is the gross price for which property or an item can currently be sold on the open market, less any legal debts, claims, or liens against the property or item.

         75.56(6) Availability.

            a.               A resource must be available in order for it to be counted toward resource limitations. A resource is considered available under the following circumstances:

             (1)             The applicant or member owns the property in part or in full and has control over it. That is, it can be occupied, rented, leased, sold, or otherwise used or disposed of at the individual’s discretion.

             (2)             The applicant or member has a legal interest in a liquidated sum and has the legal ability to make the sum available for support and maintenance.

            b.               Rescinded IAB 6/30/99, effective 9/1/99.

            c.               When property is owned by more than one person, unless otherwise established, it is assumed that all persons hold equal shares in the property.

            d.               When the applicant or member owns nonhomestead property, the property shall be considered exempt for so long as the property is publicly advertised for sale at an asking price that is consistent with its fair market value.

         75.56(7) Damage judgments and insurance settlements.

            a.               Payment resulting from damage to or destruction of an exempt resource shall be considered a resource to the applicant or member the month following the month the payment was received. When the applicant or member signs a legal binding commitment no later than the month after the month the payment was received, the funds shall be considered exempt for the duration of the commitment providing the terms of the commitment are met within eight months from the date of commitment.

            b.               Payment resulting from damage to or destruction of a nonexempt resource shall be considered a resource in the month following the month in which payment was received.

         75.56(8) Conservatorships.

            a.               Conservatorships established prior to February 9, 1994. The department shall determine whether assets from a conservatorship, except one established solely for the payment of medical expenses, are available by examining the language of the order establishing the conservatorship.

             (1)             Funds clearly conserved and available for care, support, or maintenance shall be considered toward resource or income limitations.

             (2)             When the department worker questions whether the funds in a conservatorship are available, the worker shall refer the conservatorship to the central office. When assets in the conservatorship are not clearly available, central office staff may contact the conservator and request that the funds in the conservatorship be made available for current support and maintenance. When the conservator chooses not to make the funds available, the department may petition the court to have the funds released either partially or in their entirety or as periodic income payments.

             (3)             Funds in a conservatorship that are not clearly available shall be considered unavailable until the conservator or court actually makes the funds available.

             (4)             Payments received from the conservatorship for basic or special needs are considered income.

            b.               Conservatorships established on or after February 9, 1994. Conservatorships established on or after February 9, 1994, shall be treated according to the provisions of paragraphs 75.24(1)“e” and 75.24(2)“b.”

         75.56(9) Not considered a resource. Inventories and supplies, exclusive of capital assets, that are required for self-employment shall not be considered a resource. Inventory is defined as all unsold items, whether raised or purchased, that are held for sale or use and shall include, but not be limited to, merchandise, grain held in storage and livestock raised for sale. Supplies are items necessary for the operation of the enterprise, such as lumber, paint, and seed. Capital assets are those assets which, if sold at a later date, could be used to claim capital gains or losses for federal income tax purposes. When self-employment is temporarily interrupted due to circumstances beyond the control of the household, such as illness, inventory or supplies retained by the household shall not be considered a resource.