426-1 OVERVIEW OF INTERIM ASSISTANCE

426-1 OVERVIEW OF INTERIM ASSISTANCE

Interim Assistance was established as a special subcategory of APA in order to provide for the basic needs of APA applicants who must concurrently apply for the SSI program. These applicants are not eligible for full APA and Medicaid benefits until they become eligible for SSI . Because the SSI program operates without mandatory processing timeframes, SSI applicants frequently must wait many weeks for a decision on their eligibility. In addition, many SSI applicants are initially denied SSI benefits and pursue a lengthy administrative appeal process before being found eligible. Interim Assistance provides a source of monthly income during the period of time while SSI eligibility is being determined.

Although IA payments are made from APA funds, IA benefits are different from regular APA benefits because receipt of IA does not convey automatic eligibility for Medicaid benefits. IA payments are made to individuals whose applications for APA and Medicaid are being held, pending a final decision on their eligibility for SSI benefits. The decision on the SSI application then forms the basis of the decision on the APA and Medicaid application.

Another aspect of Interim Assistance which differs from Alaska's other public assistance programs is that there is no specific IA application requirement. A client does not apply for IA benefits; instead, the client applies for APA and the case worker determines whether or not to place the applicant into the Interim Assistance program. Eligibility to receive Interim Assistance benefits is based on a number of factors which are explained in this chapter.

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