Where or by whom should accumulated income be retained to preserve its use for reintegration?
DPA has not identified a simple answer to this question, as retained income must be counted as an asset under federal law and is subject to the asset limits for eligibility. IDAs were explored as possible mechanisms but DPA has found the federal laws addressing IDAs to be too limited to assist in reintegration. It might be more efficient and simpler for the state to pay certain transition costs directly. What criteria could DPA use to identify individuals who would be permitted to retain income while residing in an institution? Establishing criteria to limit a change in income retention to persons who actually will move out of institutions is necessary to meet the goals of such a change and to keep additional costs to a minimum. Nonetheless, advocates and consumers were also divided on this question. Many individuals took the position that DPA should not establish any criteria or require that individuals identify the specific goal of deinstitutionalization before being permitted to ret
