Bratcher Benefits Analysis 2026

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← Command Center|📊 Finance 💰 Strategy 🏛 Benefits 💳 Credit

Choose scenario to see how each benefit changes

Household income used in calculations

Benefit 1 — Ben's SSI (child disability)

Ben's SSI — Supplemental Security Income

Age 6, disabled child. Parental deeming applies (under 18).

$994/mo

safe

How deeming works

SSA counts parental incomeYes — under 18

Two-parent living allowance$1,491/mo excluded

Allocation per non-SSI child$497/mo per child

General income exclusion$20/mo

Earned income exclusion$65 + half of rest

Max SSI payment 2026$994/mo

Deeming calculation (no job)

Benefit 2 — SNAP (food assistance)

SNAP — Supplemental Nutrition Assistance

Kentucky uses BBCE. Ben's disability status triggers disabled-household rules.

~$1,068/mo

Safe

Kentucky SNAP rules 2026

Gross income testWAIVED — disabled household

Net income limit (HH of 5)$2,685/mo

Asset testNone — Kentucky waived it

Max benefit (HH of 5)$1,155/mo

Earned income deduction20% of wages auto-applied

Standard deduction (HH 5)$261/mo

Shelter deduction capUncapped — disabled HH

Medical deductionBen's costs over $35/mo

Net income calculation

Benefit 3 — Medicaid / KCHIP

Medicaid & KCHIP — Health Coverage

Multiple pathways — adults, children, and disabled each have different limits.

$0 premium

Safe

Eligibility limits by person

Lauren (adult 19–64)138% FPL = ~$4,474/mo HH5

Matt (adult 19–64)138% FPL = ~$4,474/mo HH5

Colin (adult, disabled)138% FPL adult OR SSI path

Lily (child, age 13)218% FPL via KCHIP

Ben (child, SSI)Automatic — SSI recipient

No asset testCorrect — none for Medicaid

No premiumCorrect — $0

Your household vs limits

Our gross income (no job)$994/mo

Our gross income (with job)$2,944/mo

Adult Medicaid limit (HH5)~$4,474/mo

Margin with job$1,530 under limit

Lily KCHIP limitWay under — no risk

2027 warningWork requirements may change

✓ Safe under every scenario. Your household income stays well below the 138% FPL adult threshold even with Matt working full time. Ben is automatically covered as an SSI recipient. Lily qualifies through KCHIP at 218% FPL. Note: Federal policy changes may bring Medicaid work requirements for ACA expansion adults starting January 2027 — monitor this.

Benefit 4 — LIHEAP (energy assistance)

LIHEAP — Low Income Home Energy Assistance

Heating (Nov–Dec) and Cooling (Aug 3–Sept 11, 2026). Priority given to households with disabled members.

Up to $250

Likely eligible

Kentucky LIHEAP 2026

Income limit150% FPL

150% FPL (HH of 5)~$4,025/mo gross

Cooling benefit$41–$250 one-time

Heating benefit$15–$250 one-time

Crisis benefitUp to $400

Asset testNone

Priority groupYes — disabled in HH

Your eligibility

Our income (no job)$994 — well under

Our income (with job)$2,944 — still under

Cooling window NOWAug 3–Sept 11 — APPLY NOW

Heating windowNov 3–Dec 12, 2026

Where to applycapky.org — Warren County

First come first servedDon't wait

⚡ Action needed NOW: The Summer Cooling component closes September 11, 2026. You are eligible and Ben's disability gives you priority. Apply at capky.org immediately — this is free money toward your utility bill and it does not affect any other benefit.

Benefit 5 — Cost of working analysis

True Net Value of Walmart Job

$15.50/hr · 40hrs/wk · 11pm–7am · borrowed Ford F-150 Lariat

$1,350–$1,550

True monthly net

Income side

Gross wages$2,480/mo

Federal income tax (~10%)−$248

FICA (Social Security 6.2%)−$154

Medicare (1.45%)−$36

KY state tax (~4.5%)−$112

Net take-home pay~$1,930/mo

Cost of working (monthly)

Gas — F-150 ~16mpg, ~30mi/day−$180–$280

Truck wear/tear allocation−$100–$150

Work clothes / supplies−$30–$50

Food (meals/snacks at work)−$60–$80

Lauren's added burdenUnquantified but real

SNAP reduction (if any)Minimal — see below

Ben SSI reduction (if any)~$0–$200 risk

True monthly value calculation

Net take-home pay+$1,930

Gas cost (estimated midpoint)−$230

Truck wear/tear−$125

Food/clothes/supplies−$75

Possible Ben SSI reduction (worst case)−$150

True monthly net value~$1,350–$1,550

SNAP impact with Matt working — actual calculation

SNAP net income calculation (with Walmart job)

Matt gross wages$2,480

Ben SSI (unearned)$994

Total gross$3,474

20% earned income deduction on wages−$496

Standard deduction (HH of 5)−$261

Adjusted income$2,717

Shelter costs: $1,285.50 rent + ~$200 utilities = $1,485

50% of adjusted income$1,358

Excess shelter (uncapped — disabled HH)−$127

Net income after all deductions$2,590

Net income limit (HH 5)$2,685

Still under limit by$95 — SNAP preserved

Note: This is very close to the limit. Any income increase — additional VMP payments, etc. — could affect SNAP. Report changes promptly. Actual benefit reduces from ~$1,068 to approximately $900–$950/mo with Matt's wages counted.

The Walmart job is worth $1,350–$1,550/month in real terms after all costs. SNAP survives but drops slightly. Ben's SSI survives with minimal reduction. The job is still clearly worth taking given zero income right now — but the truck wear/tear is a real cost you're absorbing on someone else's asset.

Benefit 6 — Lauren's SSDI (in appeal)

Lauren's SSDI Appeal

Social Security Disability Insurance — appeal in progress, no hearing date yet.

Unknown

In appeal

Key facts

Program typeSSDI — based on work record

Current statusIn appeal

Hearing dateNone set yet

Average SSDI payment$1,200–$1,800/mo

Back pay if approvedFrom original claim date

Medicaid if approvedAutomatic after 24 months

Matt taking Walmart jobNo impact on Lauren's appeal

What to do now

Contact SSARequest hearing date

Consider attorneyNo fee unless you win

Document everythingMedical records, limitations

KY Disability Determination(502) 564-5550

If approved — impact+$1,200–1,800/mo family

Getting a hearing date scheduled should be a near-term priority. SSDI approval would be the single biggest financial change to your household — potentially adding $1,200–$1,800/month plus a lump sum backpay. Matt taking the Walmart job has zero effect on your SSDI appeal.

Benefit 7 — Benefits to pursue next

Pending & Upcoming Claims

Action needed

Colin — adult disability (SSI/SSDI)

ConditionsAutism, ADHD, PTSD

ProgramSSI (no work record) + Medicaid

Potential monthlyUp to $994/mo

DeemingStops at age 18 — not counted

Strong case?Yes — documented conditions

Caregiver pay?Possible via Medicaid waiver

Lily — child disability (SSI)

Age13 years old

ProgramChild SSI + KCHIP

Potential monthlyUp to $994/mo

Parental deemingApplies — under 18

File whenAfter Colin's claim — one at a time

Colin's claim is the priority — his deeming stopped at 18, so parental income doesn't affect his SSI calculation. If approved, that's up to $994/mo more. Then Lily. Each approved claim compounds your household's stability. Consider filing Colin's claim before Golden Door opens and income increases.

Full benefits picture — what you have and could have

Total monthly benefits value

Current (no Walmart job)

Ben's SSI$994

SNAP (estimated current)~$1,068

Medicaid (coverage value — not cash)~$600+ equivalent

LIHEAP cooling (one-time, apply now)$41–$250

Total monthly cash benefits~$2,062/mo

With Walmart job

Matt's true net take-home~$1,350–$1,550

Ben's SSI (minimal reduction)~$794–$994

SNAP (slight reduction)~$900–$950

Medicaid (unchanged)$0 premium

Total monthly value~$3,044–$3,494

Full potential (all claims approved + Golden Door)

Lauren SSDI (if approved)$1,200–$1,800

Colin SSI (if approved)$994

Ben SSI$994

VMP / Golden Door income~$5,300/mo

KY NORML contract$3,000/mo

Full potential monthly$11,488–$12,088+

You are not in a permanently broken situation. You are in a cash flow crisis with a clear path forward. Ben's SSI is confirmed. SNAP and Medicaid are protected. LIHEAP needs an immediate application. Lauren's SSDI appeal, Colin's claim, and Golden Door are the three things that most change your trajectory. Matt taking the Walmart job bridges the gap while those unfold.

Based on 2026 Kentucky and federal guidelines. Not legal or financial advice. Verify with DCBS, SSA, and capky.org. Generated August 22, 2026.

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Bratcher Family — Full Benefits Analysis