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IMA POLICY MANUAL
PART IX: SPECIAL LOCAL PROGRAMS
CHAPTER 2: INTERIM DISABILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Unless otherwise indicated all income types countable toward SR Medicaid that are listed in Part VI: Chapter 4, Financial Eligibility Requirements, Determining Countable Income, should be used to determine IDA benefits also. In addition, SSI presumptive payments must be counted. In-kind benefits are excluded when determining IDA eligibility.
IDA benefits will be issued through electronic benefit transfer (EBT) accounts. Rental vendor payments cannot be deducted from IDA benefits.
The household must meet the asset limits of an SR Medicaid unit of the same size.
PROCESSING APPLICATIONS 2.6
Applications for Interim Disability Assistance must be submitted in person at designated service centers, using the Combined Application that is used to apply for multiple programs. Every applicant has the right to file an application on the same day that s/he contacts IMA. An application is considered to be filed when it is received at the designated IMA service center and a face-to-face interview is completed. If a customer reports that s/he is unable to complete an in-person interview because of his/her disability and there is no one who can act as his/her authorized representative, IMA must complete a home visit to allow the customer an opportunity to participate. Unless otherwise stated, applications for IDA are processed in accordance with policies established for SR Medicaid in Part III: Chapter 1, Application Processing: Filing an Application.
Who May File the Application 2.6.1
Any individual or either spouse of a married couple may file the application for IDA. The applicant may designate an authorized representative to act on his/her behalf. See Part III: Chapter 1, Application Processing: Filing An Application, for additional information on designating an authorized representative.
Applications Filed in Person 2.6.2
Applications filed in person will be processed by designated staff at selected IMA locations. If an individual who wishes to apply for IDA benefits is currently receiving or applying for other benefits at an IMA location that does not provide IDA services, the individual will be directed to apply for IDA at the appropriate IDA location.
Except as indicated below, if the individual is currently receiving or applying for other program benefits, his/her case record should be forwarded to the appropriate IDA unit within one day of notification that the customer has applied for IDA. If the originating center has all information to approve benefits for a non-IDA program, such as Food Stamps or Medicaid, non-IDA benefits must be approved prior to forwarding the case record. The originating center must forward the case record, including the newly-approved non-IDA application, within 2 days.
Application Requests Received by Mail 2.6.3
Application requests received by mail will be forwarded, if necessary, to the appropriate IMA location, however the application will not be considered as filed until the customer or his/her authorized representative is interviewed in person. IMA will attempt to contact customers who send applications to advise them that they need to complete an in-person interview to officially file the application.
A face-to-face interview with the applicant or his/her authorized representative is required for all applications for Interim Disability Assistance. During the application interview, the SSR will:
- Inform the applicant of his/her rights and responsibilities.
- Explain the program and related services.
- Outline the conditions of eligibility and indicate what verification and information are necessary to determine eligibility.
- Advise the applicant of the opportunity to register to vote.
- Notify the applicant that information s/he provides will be matched by computer with information from other local, state and federal agencies
- Complete the Authorization for Reimbursement of Interim Assistance, Form 340.
- Complete SSA Form 1696-U4, Appointment of Representative, authorizing an IMA-designated organization, to act as the applicant's representative to SSA
- Issue medical report forms, as needed.
- Complete social information form.
- Explore and resolve any unclear or incomplete information.
Application Timeframes 2.6.5
Applications for Interim Disability Assistance must be processed within 60 days, counting from the day after the application was filed. A verification checklist, listing all information or actions still needed to determine eligibility must be issued through ACEDS and given to the applicant at the time the application is filed. The checklist and the date the application was filed are essential for the timely issuance of all application notices and timely disposition of the application.
If an applicant fails to provide all necessary verification by the tenth day following the application date, ACEDS will issue a Ten-Day Notice that lists the information or actions needed to complete the eligibility determination . If the applicant still has not provided all necessary verifications by the 30th day following the application date, ACEDS will issue a 30-Day notice that also reports what is needed to complete the eligibility determination
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If by the 60th day following date of application, the applicant has not provided all verifications, ACEDS will issue a denial notice and deny the application.
It is IMA's goal to complete the eligibility determination within ten days from the date that all information necessary to determine eligibility has been submitted.
Application Approvals 2.6.6
If all financial and non-financial conditions of eligibility are met , and funds are currently available, the SSR will approve benefits.
Period of Eligibility 2.6.7
An applicant's period of eligibility for IDA benefits begins on the first of the month following the month in which the application for IDA benefits was filed, or the month following the month that his/her application for SSI was filed with SSA, whichever is later.
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Ms. Hamilton applies for IDA benefits on February 2, and brings proof that
she filed for SSI on February 12. She establishes eligibility for IDA.
Ms Hamilton is approved for IDA benefits effective March 1. |
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Mr. O'Brien applies for IDA benefits on March 23, and brings proof that he
filed for SSI on April 3. He establishes eligibility for IDA. Mr O’Brien is
approved for IDA benefits effective May 1.
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The period of eligibility will end either at the end of the month in which SSA makes a final decision on the application for SSI benefits, if the decision is to deny the application, or at the end of the month in which SSA begins payment of benefits, if the decision is to approve benefits.
| Mr. Boyd's initial SSI payment is sent on March 3. His IDA benefits end effective March 31. |
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MSSA makes it final decision on August 7 to deny SSI benefits for Mrs. Campbell.
Mrs. Campbell’s IDA benefits end effective August 31. |
The final decision of SSA is the decision by the Appeals Council of the Office of Hearings and Appeals, or the denial by the Disability Determination Division or Administrative Law Judge, if the IDA recipient fails, without good cause, to file a timely appeal from that decision.
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