Changes in Marital Status – Aged, Blind and Disabled (ABD) Programs

Changes in Marital Status – Aged, Blind and Disabled (ABD) Programs. A. A couple are married for a month if they meet any of the criteria for a marital relationship within the month. B. When a change occurs and an individual marries, resumes living with a spouse, enters a “holding out” relationship, etc., couple budgeting is applicable beginning the month of the change in relationship status. 1. An increase in benefits can be effective immediately if policy otherwise allows it. 2. Adverse action rules apply when ineligibility or a decrease in benefits results for a recipient. Termination of marriage is effective the month after the month of a death, divorce, annulment or separation. C. For spousal impoverishment purposes applicable to institutionalization, the couple must be legally married under state law or in a common-law marriage that began prior to April 1, 1956. The spousal impoverishment provision is not applicable to couples in “holding-out” situations that began on or after April 1, 1956.