Massachusetts General Law governing the Medical Security Program, Chapter 151A, Section 14 G (l), requires that the Division "shall establish and may operate a health insurance program for the benefit of persons who meet both the following criteria: (1) the person is receiving or is eligible to receive unemployment compensation benefits under this chapter, and (2) the gross income of the person and the person's spouse, if any, including any income received form unemployment benefits, extended benefits, or EUC benefits as provided in clause (1), is less than or equal to four times the non-farm poverty guidelines of the United States Office of Management and Budget."
Regulations at 430 CMR 7.03 (d) 1., 2., and 3. further state that for MSP eligibility: "Gross family income is calculated as the gross income of the applicant and the applicant's spouse, if any, in the six months prior to application, and a projection of the gross income of the applicant and the applicant's spouse, if any, including a calculation of the maximum benefits payable to the applicant and the applicant's spouse, if any, from unemployment benefits, extended benefits or EUC benefits for the six months after application." and "For purposes of determining total family income under the hardship provisions as defined in 430 CMR 7.02, total family income shall be calculated as the gross income of the applicant and the applicant's spouse, if any, in the 6 months prior to the request for a hardship determination, plus the projected gross income of the applicant and the applicant's spouse, if any, for the 6 months following the request for a hardship determination."
Regulations at 430 CMR 7.02 define a "presumptive hardship" for Direct Coverage eligibility if "an applicant is receiving unemployment benefits and his or her actual available total gross family income is at or under 150% of the current federal non-farm poverty income guidelines."
Federal Non-Farm Poverty Income Guidelines effective February 6, 2013 (published annually by the U.S. Dept of Health and Human Services)
Find the size of your family in the left column, and look across that row to find whether your family income is within the 150% or 400% limit as appropriate.
2013 MSP Income Eligibility Guidelines
(FPIG) Federal Poverty Income Guidelines
| Family Size | FPIG | 133% | 150% | 200% | 250% | 400% |
| 1 | $11,490 | $15,282 | $17,235 | $22,980 | $28,725 | $45,960 |
| 2 | $15,510 | $20,628 | $23,265 | $31,020 | $38,775 | $62,040 |
| 3 | $19,530 | $25,975 | $29,295 | $39,060 | $48,825 | $78,120 |
| 4 | $23,550 | $31,322 | $35,325 | $47,100 | $58,875 | $94,200 |
| 5 | $27,570 | $36,668 | $41,355 | $55,140 | $68,925 | $110,280 |
| 6 | $31,590 | $42,015 | $47,385 | $63,180 | $78,975 | $126,360 |
| 7 | $35,610 | $47,361 | $53,415 | $71,220 | $89,025 | $142,440 |
| 8 | $39,630 | $52,708 | $59,445 | $79,260 | $99,075 | $158,520 |
| Each add'nal person | $4,020 | $5,347 | $6,030 | $8,040 | $10,050 | $16,080 |