Bill Summary: SB 220 - Veterans' Public Assistance Eligibility

• Excludes federal Veterans Pension benefits, Housebound benefits, Survivors Pension benefits, and Aid and Attendance benefits from income calculations when determining eligibility for Medicare savings, medical assistance, energy assistance, and other public assistance programs.

• Applies exclusion to honorably discharged veterans and those with qualifying conditions who did not receive bad conduct or dishonorable discharges, as well as surviving spouses of eligible veterans.

• Extends benefit disregard to six state assistance programs: Medicare Savings Program, Supplemental Security Income state supplementation, Temporary Family Assistance, General Assistance, Medical Assistance, and state-appropriated fuel assistance.

• Effective date of July 1, 2020 for all amendments to Connecticut General Statutes sections 17b-28i, 17b-104, 17b-191, 17b-256f, 17b-261, 17b-342, and 17b-801.

• Permits Commissioner of Social Services to implement policies and procedures while regulations are being formally adopted, with public notice required within 20 days of implementation.