An applicant may retain personal or real property owned by him or in combination with any other person without reference to its value if it serves to provide the applicant with a home. Real property owned by the applicant or in combination with his spouse which is producing income, reasonably consistent with its value, which is used for the support of the applicant, may be retained in an amount not to exceed an assessed valuation of $5,000.00 as assessed by the county assessor, less any encumbrances thereon of record. The applicant may retain as a reserve for future contingencies any combination of personal or real property not to exceed a total net value of $1,200.00. The value of the following property shall be excluded in determining eligibility under this chapter:

(1) Personal jewelry, personal effects, home furnishings and other property used to provide, equip and maintain a home for the applicant;

Terms Used In Alabama Code 38-5-4

  • following: means next after. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • person: includes a corporation as well as a natural person. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • property: includes both real and personal property. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • real property: includes lands, tenements and hereditaments. See Alabama Code 1-1-1
(2) Such additional income and resources by those recipients who have a plan for self-support as may be found necessary to carry out such plan for up to a period of 12 months, or so long as may be permitted under the regulations of the Federal Department of Health, Education and Welfare;
(3) Motor vehicles needed for transportation;
(4) Any property right which is essential to land use or which is not available for the use of or expenditure by or in behalf of the applicant to meet a current or future need of said applicant.