Q&A – Income for Temporarily Absent Member

Question:  I have a resident who has to spend less than 6 months in a nursing home.  The nursing home gets all of the resident’s social security benefit.   How do I handle the resident’s 50059?    Ruby in the Carolinas

Answer:  This is known as a resident being “temporarily absent”.  The gross SS income still counts on the 50059.  However, since all of it is a medical expense (because it’s all paid to the nursing home), the rent will decrease substantially.  An Interim should be done, effective the 1st of the month after s/he enters the nursing home.  The tenant is still responsible for a monthly rent payment, even while staying there.  Another IR should be done when the tenant returns, with a 30-day notice of rent increase.