State Assistance Programs for SSI Recipients, January 2005

Washington

State Supplementation

Mandatory Minimum Supplementation

Administration: State administration.

Optional State Supplementation

Administration: State Department of Social and Health Services.

Effective date: January 1, 1974.

Statutory basis for payment: State law in Revised Code of Washington 74.04.600-74.04.630 and state policy in Washington Administrative Code 388-474.

Funding

Administration: State funds.

Assistance: State funds.

Passalong method: Maintaining total expenditures.

Place of application: Social Security Administration field offices.

Scope of coverage: Optional state supplement provided to all needy aged, blind, and disabled persons, including children.

Resource limitations: Federal SSI regulations apply.

Income exclusions: Federal SSI regulations apply.

Recoveries, liens, and assignments: None.

Financial responsibility of relatives: None.

Interim assistance: State participates.

Payment levels: See Table 1.

Table 1. Optional state supplementation payment levels, January 2005 (in dollars)
Living arrangement Combined federal and state State supplementation
Individual Couple Individual Couple
Living independently a
Area 1 604.90 888.90 25.90 19.90
Area 2 584.45 . . . 5.45 . . .
Living with an ineligible spouse b
Area 1 745.10 . . . 166.10 . . .
Area 2 715.15 . . . 136.15 . . .
Living in the household of another 389.71 583.54 3.71 4.20
Living in the household of another with an ineligible spouse 487.66 . . . 101.66 . . .
Medicaid facility 41.62 83.24 11.62 23.24
NOTES: Area 1 includes King, Kitsap, Pierce, Snohomish, and Thurston counties. Area 2 includes all other counties.
. . . = not applicable.
a. Includes persons in congregate care group facilities.
b. Applies only to cases converted from former state assistance programs.
DEFINITIONS:
Living independently
Applies to recipients residing in a federal Code A or C living arrangement unless they are living with an ineligible spouse or temporarily residing in a medical institution.
Living with an ineligible spouse
Applies to recipients who are living independently with a spouse who does not qualify for SSI payments.
Living in the household of another
Applies to recipients residing in a federal Code B living arrangement unless they are living with an ineligible spouse or temporarily residing in a medical institution.
Living in the household of another with an ineligible spouse
Includes recipients residing in a federal Code B living arrangement who have an ineligible spouse.
Medicaid facility
Includes recipients residing in a federal Code D living arrangement.

Number of recipients: See Table 2.

Table 2. Number of persons receiving optional state supplementation, January 2005
Living arrangement Total Aged Blind Disabled
All recipients -- -- -- --
Living independently -- -- -- --
Living with an ineligible spouse 4,610 -- -- --
Living in the household of another -- -- -- --
Living in the household of another with an ineligible spouse -- -- -- --
Medicaid facility -- -- -- --
NOTE: -- = not available.

State Assistance for Special Needs

Administration

State Department of Social and Health Services, Economic Services Administration, Division of Employment and Assistance Programs.

Special Needs Circumstances

Guide dog: Food for service animal at the rate of $33.66 per month.

Other utility charges

Telephone: Amount varies according to need and location.

Laundry: $11.13 per month.

Meals

Restaurant meals: $187.09 per month; $6.04 per day.

Home-delivered meals: The amount charged by the agency delivering the service.

Medicaid

Eligibility

Criteria: SSI program guidelines (Title XVI).

Determined by: Social Security Administration.

Medically Needy Program

State provides a program for the aged, blind, and disabled medically needy.

Unpaid Medical Expenses

The Social Security Administration obtains this information.