How does the low-income benefit interact with my housing assistance?
Unlike food stamps, you cannot lose eligibility for housing assistance because you are receiving the prescription drug subsidy. Your rent may increase, however. CMS informs beneficiaries that if they receive “extra help,” their rental assistance may decrease, but the amount of drug costs covered by Part D is greater than the decrease in rental assistance. In other words, you will save more than you lose. Your rent may increase, but overall you will save money. Your rent should not increase until your next recertification. This rent increase occurs because the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) adjusts your income to take into account medical expenses over 3 percent of income. HUD does not consider these expenses as part of your income when it determines your rental assistance. However, once Part D starts paying your drug bills, the money saved will count as income for the calculation of your HUD assistance. Generally, as drug spending declines your available income incre
