CT SB00059

Disregards all federal Department of Veterans Affairs benefits administered to veterans and their surviving spouses when determining income eligibility for Medicare savings, medical assistance, energy assistance, and Supplemental Security Income programs effective July 1, 2023.

Expands income disregard provisions across multiple public assistance programs including temporary family assistance, Qualified Medicare Beneficiary, and Specified Low-Income Medicare Beneficiary programs to exclude federal VA benefits from income calculations.

Replaces narrow "Aid and Attendance pension" language with broader "all federal benefits administered by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs" to capture all VA-administered benefits.

Applies to applications filed on or after July 1, 2023, and amends seven sections of Connecticut general statutes governing social services eligibility determinations.

Also disregards tax refunds and advance refundable credit payments to the same extent disregarded under federal law in all affected programs.