2023 Connecticut General Statutes
Title 17b - Social Services
Chapter 319s - Financial Assistance
Section 17b-94. (Formerly Sec. 17-83f). - Claim of state against proceeds of cause of action. Assignment of interest in estate to the state. Recovery limitations.

(a) In the case of causes of action of beneficiaries of aid under the state supplement program, medical assistance program, aid to families with dependent children program, temporary family assistance program or state-administered general assistance program, subject to subsections (b) and (c) of section 17b-93, or of a parent liable to repay the state under the provisions of section 17b-93, the claim of the state shall be a lien against the proceeds therefrom in the amount of the assistance paid that the state is required to recover under federal law, or, in the case of a parent liable to repay the state under the provisions of section 17b-93, whose proceeds from the cause of action are not subject to recovery under federal law, fifty per cent of the proceeds received by such parent or the amount owed by such parent after payment of all expenses connected with the cause of action, whichever is less, for repayment under section 17b-93, and shall have priority over all other claims except attorney's fees for said causes, expenses of suit, costs of hospitalization connected with the cause of action by whomever paid over and above hospital insurance or other such benefits, and, for such period of hospitalization as was not paid for by the state, physicians' fees for services during any such period as are connected with the cause of action over and above medical insurance or other such benefits. The proceeds of such causes of action shall be assignable to the state for payment of the amount due under this section and section 17b-93, irrespective of any other provision of law. Upon presentation to the attorney for the beneficiary of an assignment of such proceeds executed by the beneficiary or his conservator or guardian, such assignment shall constitute an irrevocable direction to the attorney to pay the Commissioner of Administrative Services in accordance with its terms, except if, after settlement of the cause of action or judgment thereon, the Commissioner of Administrative Services does not inform the attorney for the beneficiary of the amount of lien which is to be paid to the Commissioner of Administrative Services within forty-five days of receipt of the written request of such attorney for such information, such attorney may distribute such proceeds to such beneficiary and shall not be liable for any loss the state may sustain thereby.

(b) In the case of an inheritance of an estate by a beneficiary of aid under the state supplement program, medical assistance program, aid to families with dependent children program, temporary family assistance program or state-administered general assistance program, subject to subsections (b) and (c) of section 17b-93, or by a parent liable to repay the state under the provisions of section 17b-93, the amount of such assets equal to the amount of assistance paid that the state is required to recover under federal law, or in the case of a parent liable to repay the state under the provisions of section 17b-93, whose inheritance is not subject to recovery under federal law, fifty per cent of the assets of the estate payable to such parent, or the amount owed by such parent, whichever is less, shall be assignable to the state for payment of the amount due under section 17b-93. The state shall have a lien against such assets in the applicable amount specified in this subsection. The Court of Probate shall accept any such assignment executed by the beneficiary or parent or any such lien notice if such assignment or lien notice is filed by the Commissioner of Administrative Services with the court prior to the distribution of such inheritance, and to the extent of such inheritance not already distributed, the court shall order distribution in accordance with such assignment or lien notice. If the Commissioner of Administrative Services receives any assets of an estate pursuant to any such assignment, the commissioner shall be subject to the same duties and liabilities concerning such assigned assets as the beneficiary or parent.

(c) On and after July 1, 2021, the state shall not recover cash assistance or medical assistance from a claim filed on any property, property interest, proceeds from a cause of action or estate, unless the state is required to recover such assistance under federal law or the provisions of section 17b-93. Any claim filed under this section by or on behalf of the state on such property, property interest, proceeds from a cause of action or estate prior to July 1, 2021, shall be released by the state if the recovery of such assistance is not required under federal law or the provisions of section 17b-93. As used in this subsection, “cash assistance” means payments made to a beneficiary of the aid to families with dependent children program, the state-administered general assistance program, the state supplement program or the temporary family assistance program.

(1969, P.A. 730, S. 29; 1971, P.A. 114; P.A. 77-263; 77-614, S. 70, 587, 610; P.A. 82-321; P.A. 84-455, S. 1; P.A. 85-564, S. 10, 12; P.A. 86-315, S. 2, 5; P.A. 87-339, S. 2; P.A. 96-62; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 41, 165; P.A. 04-234, S. 15; P.A. 11-44, S. 71; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2, S. 457.)

History: 1971 act required assignment of proceeds to state for payment of amount due, regardless of any other provision of law; P.A. 77-263 provided that if attorney not notified of lien amount within 30 days of attorney's request for information, lien of state held invalid; P.A. 77-614 replaced commissioner of finance and control with commissioner of administrative services; P.A. 82-321 added Subsec. (b) providing procedure for the assignment of interest in an estate by the beneficiary to the state and requiring acceptance of such assignment by the probate court; P.A. 84-455 amended section to apply to causes of action of parents of AFDC beneficiaries and to specify that state's lien limited to amount of assistance paid or 50% of proceeds, whichever is less; P.A. 85-564 specified that proceeds which state may impose lien against are those “received by such beneficiary or such parent after payment of all expenses connected with the cause of action” in Subsec. (a) and amended Subsec. (b) to limit amount assignable to state to 50% or amount equalizing the amount of assistance paid, whichever is less, where previously no limits were specified; P.A. 86-315 added references to Sec. 17-83e(b); P.A. 87-339 added the references to Sec. 17-83e(c); Sec. 17-83f transferred to Sec. 17b-94 in 1995; P.A. 96-62 amended Subsec. (a) by changing 30 days to 45 days as time limit for commissioner's notification of beneficiary's attorney of lien amount; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 04-234 amended Subsec. (b) to provide that the state shall have a lien against assets in the applicable amount specified and to require the Court of Probate to accept lien notice under the same conditions that it accepts assignment executed by a beneficiary, effective June 8, 2004; P.A. 11-44 amended Subsec. (a) by restating provision re parent's liability for repayment, amended Subsec. (b) by making existing provisions applicable to parent liable for repayment under Sec. 17b-93, and made technical changes, effective July 1, 2011; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 21-2 amended Subsec. (a) by deleting “or fifty per cent of the proceeds received by such beneficiary or such parent”, adding provision re lien amount the state is required to recover under federal law and for parent liable to repay state under Sec. 17b-93, deleting”; and such claim shall consist of the total assistance repayment for which claim may be made under said programs.”, adding a reference to this section and making a technical change, amended Subsec. (b) by deleting “fifty per cent of the assets of the estate payable to the beneficiary or such parent or” and adding provision re lien amount the state is required to recover under federal law and for parent liable to repay state under Sec. 17b-93, and added Subsec. (c) re limitations on state recovery on and after July 1, 2021, effective July 1, 2021.