124-3    SSI Supplemental Security Income CHILDREN AND YOUTH    

SSI Supplemental Security Income children are categorically eligible for Medicaid and are registered as Medicaid-only (ME Medicaid-AD Aid to the Disabled) cases in EIS Eligibility Information System. These Medicaid-only cases are normally handled by DPA Division of Public Assistance.  When an SSI Supplemental Security Income child is taken into OCS Office of Children's Services custody, the child’s DPA Division of Public Assistance Medicaid case must be closed and a separate Medicaid case established and handled by OCS Office of Children's Services Full Service Office 060.

A. SSI Supplemental Security Income CHILD TAKEN INTO OCS CUSTODY

1. When an SSI Supplemental Security Income child is taken into OCS Office of Children's Services custody, OCS Office of Children's Services will email DOST Division Operations Support Team at dpadost@alaska.gov to handle the SSI Supplemental Security Income child’s ME Medicaid-AD Aid to the Disabled case.  

2. DPA Division of Public Assistance will then take action to close the child’s existing ME Medicaid-AD Aid to the Disabled case as soon as possible, preferably by the end of the month in which the child entered OCS Office of Children's Services custody.  A 10-day adverse action notice is not required to close the DPA Division of Public Assistance ME Medicaid-AD Aid to the Disabled case, only adequate notice.  
   
   

3. OCS Office of Children's Services will then register a separate Medicaid case for the SSI Supplemental Security Income child in Full Service Office 060, with the child as the PI Primary Information Person.  The benefit start date may begin the first day of the month after the effective date of custody.  If the DPA Division of Public Assistance ME Medicaid-AD Aid to the Disabled case cannot be closed right away, the benefit start date may begin the first day of the month after the DPA Division of Public Assistance ME Medicaid-AD Aid to the Disabled case closes.

4. OCS Office of Children's Services should code the MERE Medical Resource Information screen on the OCS Office of Children's Services case with a DC Disable Child subtype and a 54 Medical Eligibility Code.

B. SSI Supplemental Security Income CHILD LEAVES OCS Office of Children's Services CUSTODY BEFORE REACHING AGE 18

When an SSI Supplemental Security Income child leaves OCS Office of Children's Services custody before reaching age 18, OCS Office of Children's Services will close the child’s Medicaid case in Full Service Office 060, and notify DPA Division of Public Assistance of the case closure by sending an email to DOST Division Operations Support Team at dpadost@alaska.gov. DPA Division of Public Assistance will then establish Medicaid for the SSI Supplemental Security Income child.

C. SSI Supplemental Security Income CHILD REACHES AGE 18 AND LEAVES OCS Office of Children's Services CUSTODY

When an SSI Supplemental Security Income child who receives Medicaid reaches age 18, the individual or authorized representative may apply for APA Adult Public Assistance. SSI Supplemental Security Income children who are eligible for Medicaid are not automatically eligible for Adult Public Assistance (APA Adult Public Assistance) upon reaching age 18. For APA Adult Public Assistance eligibility, the SSI Supplemental Security Income individual must complete and submit a new GEN 50 C Application for Services application (see Admin Manual MS 101-2 for acceptable application forms).  

When an SSI Supplemental Security Income individual reaches 18 and is released from OCS Office of Children's Services custody, a ME Medicaid-AD Aid to the Disabled case must be opened for these children beginning with the date the child reaches age 18 without an application. When an SSI Supplemental Security Income child is released from OCS Office of Children's Services custody upon reaching age 18, the following procedures apply:

Prior to closing out the OCS Office of Children's Services SSI Supplemental Security Income Case, OCS Office of Children's Services will:

• Petition the court to establish an adult guardian for the SSI Supplemental Security Income child if it is determined that a guardian is necessary. If the court has appointed an adult guardian, OCS Office of Children's Services will notify DPA Division of Public Assistance who the adult guardian is. If an adult guardian is not appointed, OCS Office of Children's Services will notify DPA Division of Public Assistance that an adult guardian has not been appointed;
  
  

• Establish a good physical mailing address for Medicaid coupons;

• Establish a good mailing address for APA Adult Public Assistance and potential SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits;

• If a Special Needs Trust is needed due to PFD Permanent Fund Dividend income or other monies, OCS Office of Children's Services will advise the youth, or the youth’s representative, about the possibility of continued SSI Supplemental Security Income, APA Adult Public Assistance, and Medicaid benefits through the use of a Special Needs Trust.  If a Special Needs Trust is established, OCS Office of Children's Services and/or the adult guardian will forward all trust paperwork to DPA Division of Public Assistance Policy in Juneau at dpapolicy@alaska.gov.
  
  

Only after all processes above are completed, OCS Office of Children's Services will:

• Close the case in Full Service office 060; and

• Email DOST Division Operations Support Team at dpadost@alaska.gov requesting a new ME Medicaid-AD Aid to the Disabled case to be established.  DPA Division of Public Assistance will register and authorize ME Medicaid-AD Aid to the Disabled on a new case number and then CARC Case Record Control the case to the appropriate field office.
  

• If a new GEN 50 C Application for Services application is submitted for APA Adult Public Assistance, the required interview will be completed by DPA Division of Public Assistance. If found eligible for APA Adult Public Assistance, DPA Division of Public Assistance will authorize APA Adult Public Assistance benefits on the open ME Medicaid-AD Aid to the Disabled case.

D. SSI Supplemental Security Income CHILD REACHES AGE 18 BUT REMAINS IN OCS CUSTODY

In some cases, an SSI Supplemental Security Income child may voluntarily remain in OCS Office of Children's Services custody beyond the age of 18.  In these situations, a separate ME Medicaid-AD Aid to the Disabled case must still be established by DPA Division of Public Assistance for the individual, but OCS Office of Children's Services remains responsible for reporting any changes and completing any paperwork requested by DPA Division of Public Assistance.  The following procedures apply:

1. OCS Office of Children's Services will close the child’s Medicaid case in Full Service Office 060, and notify DPA Division of Public Assistance of the case closure by sending an email to DPA Division of Public Assistance’s Division of Operations Support Team at dpadost@alaska.gov in Anchorage.

2. DPA Division of Public Assistance will CARC Case Record Control the case to a specialized caseload.

3. Once a separate ME Medicaid-AD Aid to the Disabled case is registered for the individual in EIS Eligibility Information System, DPA Division of Public Assistance will contact OCS Office of Children's Services to confirm the information needed to process and maintain the individual’s ME Medicaid-AD Aid to the Disabled cases with DPA Division of Public Assistance.  This information includes:
   
   

• APA Adult Public Assistance Payment.  To establish APA Adult Public Assistance eligibility and payments, a new application is required. Once DPA Division of Public Assistance receives a new application for APA Adult Public Assistance, the case will be registered to the open ME Medicaid-AD Aid to the Disabled case (Admin MS 103-3). While the individual remains in custody, OCS Office of Children's Services is the payee for the individual’s APA Adult Public Assistance payment.  A Protective Payee Agreement (APA Adult Public Assistance 14) is not needed because OCS Office of Children's Services is legally responsible for the individual while he or she remains in OCS Office of Children's Services custody.  The individual’s APA Adult Public Assistance payment must be issued to:

Office of Children’s Services

PO Box 110630

Juneau, AK 99811

• Notices.  Notices and requests for information should be sent to the mailing address used for the individual’s previous Medicaid case in Full Service Office 060.

• Medicaid Coupons.  Medicaid coupons should continue to be sent to the Medicaid benefit address used for the individual’s previous Medicaid case in Full Service Office 060.

4. When the individual is eventually released from OCS Office of Children's Services custody, OCS Office of Children's Services will:

1.  

   • Petition the court to establish an adult guardian for the SSI Supplemental Security Income youth if it is determined that a guardian is necessary.  If the court has appointed an adult guardian, OCS Office of Children's Services will notify DPA Division of Public Assistance who the adult guardian is. If an adult guardian is not appointed, OCS Office of Children's Services will notify DPA Division of Public Assistance that an adult guardian has not been appointed;
     
     

   • Establish a good physical mailing address for Medicaid coupons;
     
     

   • Establish a good mailing address for potential APA Adult Public Assistance and SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits;
     
     

   • If a Special Needs Trust is needed due to PFD Permanent Fund Dividend income or other monies, OCS Office of Children's Services will advise the youth, or the youth’s representative, about the possibility of continued SSI Supplemental Security Income, APA Adult Public Assistance and Medicaid benefits through the use of a Special Needs Trust.  If a Special Needs Trust is established, OCS Office of Children's Services and/or the adult guardian will forward all trust paperwork to DPA Division of Public Assistance Policy in Juneau at dpapolicy@alaska.gov.

After all processes in Step 4 are completed, OCS Office of Children's Services will notify DOST Division Operations Support Team so that all EIS Eligibility Information System screens can be updated.

E. SSI Supplemental Security Income YOUTH OVER AGE 18 RE-ENTERS OCS CUSTODY

In some cases, a youth who is receiving SSI Supplemental Security Income may re-enter OCS Office of Children's Services custody after their 18th birthday (or before their 18th birthday if they were emancipated).  In these situations, DPA Division of Public Assistance continues to maintain the ME Medicaid-AD Aid to the Disabled case, and OCS Office of Children's Services is responsible for reporting any changes and completing any paperwork requested by DPA Division of Public Assistance. The following procedures apply:

1. OCS Office of Children's Services will email DOST Division Operations Support Team and notify them that the youth has been taken into custody.  

2. DPA Division of Public Assistance will continue to maintain the Medicaid case.

3. To establish APA Adult Public Assistance eligibility and payments, an SSI Supplemental Security Income youth over the age of 18 or authorized representative must apply with a new application. Once DPA Division of Public Assistance receives a new application for APA Adult Public Assistance, the case will be registered to the open ME Medicaid-AD Aid to the Disabled case number (Admin MS 103-3).
   
   DPA Division of Public Assistance will contact OCS Office of Children's Services to confirm the information needed to process and maintain the individual’s APA Adult Public Assistance/ME Medicaid or ME Medicaid-AD Aid to the Disabled cases with DPA Division of Public Assistance.  This information includes:

• APA Adult Public Assistance Payment.  

• If OCS Office of Children's Services has cost of care for the youth, the OCS Office of Children's Services caseworker will ask the youth to sign a Protective Payee Agreement (APA Adult Public Assistance 14) naming OCS Office of Children's Services as the representative payee for APA Adult Public Assistance benefits.  OCS Office of Children's Services will forward the signed agreement to DPA Division of Public Assistance. When the signed agreement is received by DPA Division of Public Assistance, the individual’s APA Adult Public Assistance payment must be issued to:
  
  Office of Children’s Services
  PO Box 110630
  Juneau, AK 99811
  
  

• If OCS Office of Children's Services does not have cost of care for the youth, the individual’s APA Adult Public Assistance payment will be issued directly to the youth.

• Notices.  Notices and requests for information should be sent to the mailing address used for the individual’s previous Medicaid case in Full Service Office 060.

• Medicaid Coupons.  Medicaid coupons should continue to be sent to the Medicaid benefit address used for the individual’s previous Medicaid case in Full Service Office 060.

4. When the individual is eventually released from OCS Office of Children's Services custody, OCS Office of Children's Services will:

• Petition the court to establish an adult guardian for the SSI Supplemental Security Income youth if it is determined that a guardian is necessary.  If the court has appointed an adult guardian, OCS Office of Children's Services will notify DPA Division of Public Assistance who the adult guardian is.  If an adult guardian is not appointed, OCS Office of Children's Services will notify DPA Division of Public Assistance that an adult guardian has not been appointed;

• Establish a good physical mailing address for Medicaid coupons;
  
  

• Establish a good mailing address for potential APA Adult Public Assistance and SNAP Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits;

• If a Special Needs Trust is needed due to PFD Permanent Fund Dividend income or other monies, OCS Office of Children's Services will advise the youth, or the youth’s representative, about the possibility of continued SSI Supplemental Security Income, APA Adult Public Assistance, and Medicaid benefits through the use of a Special Needs Trust.  If a Special Needs Trust is established, OCS Office of Children's Services and/or the adult guardian will forward all trust paperwork to DPA Division of Public Assistance Policy in Juneau at dpapolicy@alaska.gov.

After all processes in Step 4 are completed, OCS Office of Children's Services will notify DOST Division Operations Support Team so that all EIS Eligibility Information System screens can be updated.

Refer to section 124-1 for children and youth not receiving SSI Supplemental Security Income.