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Obsolete Policy |
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Who Meets Disability
Clients meet the definition of blindness or disability when they have:
Been approved for or receive SSI because of blindness or disability.
Been approved for or receive SSDI, i.e. Social Security Disability insurance. (Individuals age 62-65 may receive Early Retirement while applying for disability benefits. If the person has applied for disability benefits, the SSA match record may show an estimated date of disability onset. This does not mean the client has been determined disabled. Request verification that disability has been approved before authorizing Disability Medicaid for these individuals.)
1619(a) or 1619(b) status. See Section 329-1
Been approved for or receives survivor’s benefits such as Childhood Disability Benefits (for adults) (331), or Disabled Widow/Widower Benefits (337).
Protected SSI child status as described in section 334.
Been determined blind or disabled by the State Medicaid Disability Office. Receipt of unemployment benefits does not preclude someone from being determined disabled. See section 303-3.
Died. People are disabled for this reason only in the month they die.
Clients continue to meet the definition of blindness or disability when:
The SSI or SSDI payment stopped only because the client made false or misleading statements to SSA.
The SSI payment stopped only because the client transferred assets for less than fair market value.
SSA Working Disabled. SSDI benefits have stopped but these persons continue to be eligible for Medicare.
If the client was determined disabled before or after entering an IMD or a public institution, has not left the IMD or public institution for 30 continuous days or more, and has not received a disability denial from Social Security after such approval date. (See Sec. 303-10)
SSI or SSDI Benefits Stop
Clients continue to meet the definition of blindness or disability without requiring a new disability determination for 12 months after SSI or SSDI benefits stop for a reason other than no longer being blind or disabled.
Some examples of when SSI or SSDI benefits may stop are:
The client had too much income.
The client entered a nursing home.
The client entered a public institution.
The client is a qualified alien, has exhausted the time-limited SSI benefit period, and does not meet at least one of the additional SSI eligibility criteria for aliens required by various public laws.
The client refused to accept vocational rehabilitation.
The client’s whereabouts are unknown to SSA.
The SSI status is "eligible but not paid".