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IMA POLICY MANUAL
PART IX: SPECIAL LOCAL PROGRAMS
CHAPTER 2: INTERIM DISABILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
To qualify for program benefits, the Medical Review Team (MRT) must find that the person is permanently and totally disabled, based on the criteria used by the Social Security Administration in determining eligibility for SSI. A person is considered disabled under the guidelines of the SSI program when:
- She/he has a medically determined physical or mental impairment;
- His/her impairment prevents him/her from engaging in any substantial gainful employment; and
- His/her impairment
- can be expected to result in imminent death,
- has lasted at least 12 consecutive months, or
- is expected to last at least 12 consecutive months.
IDA applicants and recipients must provide a current medical report from a certified medical professional, or authorize release of current medical information, in order to make the disability determination. Whenever possible a Social Information form should also be completed. IMA may request additional medical information, when necessary to determine eligibility or to establish the eligibility period. See Part IV: Chapter 9, Non-Financial Eligibility Requirements, Disability/Blindness for additional information on determining disability.
If an applicant for IDA has previously been determined by SSA as not meeting the disability requirements of SSI, the applicant may resubmit medical information. The applicant will be ineligible however, unless s/he:
- Claims to have a disabling condition different from, or in addition to, that considered by SSA in making its determination;
- Alleges more than 12 months after that most recent SSA determination denying disability, that his/her condition has changed or deteriorated since that SSA determination, alleges a new period of disability which meets the durational requirements of the Social Security Act (comprising or expecting to comprise twelve months or more), and has not applied to SSA for a determination with respect to these conditions; or
- alleges less than 12 months after the most recent SSA determination denying disability, that his/her condition has changed or deteriorated since that SSA determination, alleges a new period of disability that meets the durational requirements of the Social Security Act, and has applied to SSA for reconsideration or reopening of its decision.
Application for Supplemental Security Income 2.4.6
Applicants for IDA must also apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and provide proof of the date of the SSI application. IDA must be terminated when SSA makes a final decision on the IDA recipient's SSI eligibility. If SSA denies the initial SSI claim and the IDA recipient files a timely appeal, benefits will be continued until the appeals process is exhausted.
Reimbursement for IDA Payments 2.4.7
Applicants for IDA must sign a DHS 340 , Authorization for Reimbursement of Interim Assistance, agreeing to reimburse IMA for the cost of their IDA payments. The reimbursements will be deducted from their retroactive SSI benefit payment. No reimbursement is required for any month for which SSI is not approved. The IDA recipient will repay the entire amount of the IDA assistance payments received if the SSI benefits received for the same period equals or exceeds the IDA payments. If the SSI benefits are less than the IDA payments for the same period the SSI benefits were received, the recipient will repay that portion of the IDA payments that equals the amount of SSI benefits.
Cooperation in Case Management 2.4.8
Recipients of IDA must cooperate in case management services.
This includes:
- Providing materials needed to pursue the SSI application, including medical reports,
- Keeping appointments with medical providers,
- Keeping appointments with his/her disability advocate,
- Keeping appointments with SSA and its representatives, and
- Participating in treatment programs, as required.
Failure to cooperate with the disability advocate/case manager may result in termination of IDA benefits, unless a good cause reason can be established for non-cooperation. Good cause for non-cooperation with case management includes circumstances that are beyond the recipient's control, such as, but not limited to the following:
- Personal illness,
- Illness of another household member requiring the presence or care of the recipient, and
- A household emergency such as a death in the family.
DETERMINING FINANCIAL ELIGIBILITY 2.5
Applicants and recipients of IDA must meet income and asset limits. Financial eligibility must be verified.
IDA payment levels match those for a TANF household of the same size.
There is no gross income limit for the household. The household's net income must be at least $10 less than
the TANF payment level for a family of the same size.
| Mrs. Jackson’s net income is $262. Since the TANF benefit amount for one person is $270, Mrs. Jackson’s net income is only $8 less than the corresponding TANF grant ($270 - $262 = $8). Mrs. Jackson is over income for IDA benefits. |
Determining Countable Income 2.5.3
Single Applicant/Recipient or Disabled Married Couple
No earned income or unearned income deductions are allowed, when calculating a household's countable income. Income is deducted dollar-for dollar from the payment level to determine the household's financial eligibility and benefit amount.
Applicant/Recipient with Non-Disabled Spouse
The income of the applicant/recipient is counted dollar-for-dollar like that of a single person or disabled couple.
The income of a spouse who lives with the applicant/recipient and is not included in the IDA household must be deemed using the following formula:
Total income of non-IDA spouse minus TANF payment level for one person equals net income deemed to IDA household.
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Ms. Campbell is single. She earns $150 a month babysitting for her daughter, and gets $60 in countable contributions. Her net countable income is $210. Ms. Campbell is eligible for a $60 IDA payment.
| Gross Earned Income |
= $150 |
IDA Payment Level |
= $270 |
| Gross Unearned Income |
= $ 60 |
Net Income |
= $210 |
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IDA Benefit |
= $ 60 |
| Net Countable Income |
= $150 |
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+ $ 60 |
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$210 |
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Example 2 |
Mrs. Hawkins is married and lives with her husband, who is not disabled, and is not included in the IDA household. Mrs. Hawkins has no income. Mr. Hawkins does odd jobs and earns an average of $400 a month. Mrs. Hawkins' net countable income is $130. Mrs. Hawkins is eligible for an IDA benefit of $140.
| Gross Earned Income |
= $0 |
IDA Payment Level |
= $270 |
| Gross Unearned |
= $0 |
- Net Income |
= $130 |
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IDA Benefit |
= $140 |
| Deemed Income |
= $400 |
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- $270 |
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$130 |
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