426-7        CONVERTING INTERIM ASSISTANCE TO REGULAR ADULT PUBLIC ASSISTANCE

Interim Assistance payments end when Social Security makes its final SSI Supplemental Security Income eligibility decision and notifies the applicant.

426-7 A.   ELIGIBLE FOR SSI Supplemental Security Income - CLIENT HAS SIGNED IAR Interim Assistance Reimbursement AUTHORIZATION

If the client is found eligible for SSI, and has signed an IAR authorization, eligibility for Interim Assistance ends the month that SSA makes the SSI eligibility decision.  This will normally be the same month that SSA sends the initial SSI payment to the Claims Unit.  Regular APA benefits are approved beginning the first day of the month after SSA notifies the individual that he or she is eligible for SSI.

If, for some reason, the IA Interim Assistance case cannot be converted to regular APA the month following the SSI Supplemental Security Income decision, the case worker may convert the case beginning with the following month.  This situation may occur when IA Interim Assistance benefits are issued before the case worker learns of the SSI Supplemental Security Income decision.  The individual is still considered eligible for regular APA benefits beginning with the month following the SSI Supplemental Security Income decision, and if otherwise eligible, may receive APA and Medicaid benefits for the months following the SSI Supplemental Security Income decision.

426-7 B.   ELIGIBLE FOR SSA RSDI Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (Social Security) BENEFITS - NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SSI Supplemental Security Income

If, after going through the SSI application process, the client is eligible for Social Security Retirement, Survivor, or Disability Insurance benefits but not for SSI benefits, APA and Medicaid eligibility may exist depending upon the type and amount of the SSA benefit and other financial and non-financial APA eligibility criteria.  The case worker will make an eligibility decision based on the eligibility criteria of the APA program.

426-7 C.   NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SSI Supplemental Security Income SOLELY BECAUSE OF EXCESS INCOME

If SSI finds the client ineligible solely because of excess income, APA and Medicaid eligibility may exist.  The case worker will make an eligibility decision based on the eligibility criteria of the APA program.

Note:  If the applicant is applying for APA on the basis of blindness or disability, and SSA has not made a blindness or disability determination, the APA application must be pended for a state-only blindness or disability decision from the Disability Determination Service (DDS) before APA eligibility can be determined.  The individual is not eligible for IA benefits while waiting for a state-only DDS decision.  (See section  425-3C.)

426-7 D.   NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SSI Supplemental Security Income FOR ANY REASON EXCEPT EXCESS INCOME

If the SSI Supplemental Security Income decision is that the client is ineligible for any reason except excess income, the APA and Medicaid application is denied and the Interim Assistance case is closed.