(a) To the extent permissible by federal law, the Commissioner of Social Services shall disregard federal Aid and Attendance pension benefits granted to a veteran or the surviving spouse of such veteran when determining income eligibility for the state's Medicare savings, medical assistance and energy assistance programs administered under section 17b-2. As used in this subsection, “veteran” means any person (1) honorably discharged from, or released under honorable conditions from active service in, the armed forces, as defined in section 27-103, or (2) with a qualifying condition, as defined in said section, who has received a discharge other than bad conduct or dishonorable from active service in the armed forces.
(b) The Commissioner of Social Services may seek approval of an amendment to the state Medicaid plan or a waiver from federal law, if necessary, to exempt such benefits from income eligibility criteria.
(P.A. 12-208, S. 1; P.A. 18-47, S. 19.)
History: P.A. 12-208 effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 18-47 amended Subsec. (a) to add definition of “veteran”.