Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Office of Medicaid
600 Washington Street
Boston, MA  02111
www.mass.gov/masshealth

	Eligibility Operations Memo 07-06
	March 15, 2007

TO:	MassHealth Eligibility Operations Staff

FROM:	Russ Kulp, Director, MassHealth Operations

RE:	2007 Social Security Benefit Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for 
MassHealth Waiver Cases on MA21

Introduction
Effective January 1, 2007, a Social Security cost-of-living adjustment 
(COLA) will increase monthly Social Security benefits for 
Retirement/Survivors/Disability Insurance (RSDI) beneficiaries by 3.3%.  
The new monthly Social Security RSDI benefit amounts are currently 
available through the SVES inquiry and BENDEX inquiry.

COLA Protection for Persons Who Were MassHealth Members on December 31, 2006
MassHealth regulations at 130 CMR 506.008 state, “Members whose income 
increases each January as the result of a COLA remain eligible until the 
subsequent federal-poverty-level adjustment.”  This adjustment occurs 
annually in April.  Therefore, when determining financial eligibility, 
regardless of the reason, from January 1 until the new federal-poverty-
levels (FPLs) are implemented in April 2007, use the 2006 Social Security 
RSDI benefit amounts to determine continued financial eligibility.  These 
amounts are found on the SVES, SSA Request Entry/Review screen by displaying 
the benefit history.  An alert message will be placed on the 
SVES/BENDEX Inquiry screen, indicating when the 2007 COLA amounts are being 
displayed.

This procedure applies to Social Security RSDI beneficiaries who were 
MassHealth members on December 31, 2006.

Approvals On or After January 1, 2007
The financial eligibility of RSDI beneficiaries who become MassHealth 
members on or after January 1, 2007, is based on the 2007 Social Security
RSDI benefit amounts.

Questions
If you have any questions about this memo please have your MEC 
designee contact the Policy Hotline.