State Assistance Programs for SSI Recipients, January 2004

Colorado

State Supplementation

Mandatory Minimum Supplementation

Administration: State Department of Human Services.

Optional State Supplementation

Administration: State Department of Human Services.

Effective date: January 1, 1974.

Statutory basis for payment: Colorado Revised Statutes 26-2, section 202-209, 1973, as amended.

Funding

Administration: 80 percent state funds, 20 percent local funds.

Assistance: 100 percent state funds for the aged; 80 percent state funds, 20 percent local funds for the blind and disabled.

Passalong method: Maintaining total expenditures.

Place of application: County offices of the state Department of Human Services.

Scope of coverage: Optional state supplement provided to all SSI recipients, including children, residing in the specified living arrangements (see Table 1). Persons living in the household of another are included under the living independently standard; state supplement is increased to offset the reduced federal payment. At age 65, a disabled recipient may elect to transfer to the aged category or remain in the disabled category.

Resource limitations: Federal SSI regulations apply. The net current market value of property (after deducting the amount of indebtedness or encumbrances) is considered in determining resources.

Income exclusions: Federal SSI regulations apply.

Recoveries, liens, and assignments: None.

Financial responsibility of relatives: Spouse for spouse.

Interim assistance: State participates.

Payment levels: See Table 1.

Table 1. Optional state supplementation payment levels, January 2004 (in dollars)
Living arrangement Combined federal
and state		 State supplementation
Individual Couple Individual Couple
Living independently or in the home of another a 601.00 1,193.00 37.00 347.00
Adult foster care 803.00 1,588.00 b 239.00 742.00 b
Receiving home care c 967.00 . . . 403.00 . . .
NOTE: . . . = not applicable.
a. State supplement is increased to offset the reduced federal payment for persons living in the home of another.
b. Couples are treated as two individuals starting with the month after leaving an independent living arrangement.
c. Represents maximum allowance. Lesser amounts may be paid according to the amount of home care needed.
DEFINITIONS:
Living independently or in the home of another
Includes recipients who reside in a federal Code A or B living arrangement, meet the state eligibility requirements, and do not qualify for other state arrangements.
Adult foster care
Includes recipients who reside in a federal Code A living arrangement and are residing in an approved supervised living facility known as an adult foster home.
Receiving home care
Includes recipients who receive care in their own home from qualified personnel and who would otherwise be in a nursing home if this care were unavailable.

Number of recipients: See Table 2.

Table 2. Number of persons receiving optional state supplementation, January 2002
Living arrangement Total Aged Blind Disabled
Adults Children a
All recipients 34,982 20,420 27 13,782 753
Living independently or in the home of another 29,238 17,548 15 11,278 397
Adult foster care 116 25 0 91 0
Home care 5,628 2,847 12 2,413 356
NOTE: Data shown are for 2002. The state did not provide data for 2004.
a. Includes blind children.

State Assistance for Special Needs

Administration

Colorado Department of Social Services.

Special Needs Circumstances

Funeral expenses: If cost of funeral home or cemetery does not exceed $2,500, the benefit maximum is $1,500. If cost exceeds $2,500, no assistance is provided.

Other: County social services boards may choose to provide optional supplementation for other special needs circumstances.

Medicaid

Eligibility

Criteria: SSI program guidelines (Title XVI).

Determined by: Social Security Administration.

Medically Needy Program

State does not provide a program for the medically needy.

Unpaid Medical Expenses

The Social Security Administration obtains this information.