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considered permanent under Section 221(I) of the Social Security Act ('entitled' as used in this definition refers to the veteran's surviving spouse and children who are receiving the compensation or pension benefits stated or have been approved for such payments but are not yet receiving them); or receives an annuity payment under Section 2(a)(I)(iv) of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974, is determined to be eligible to receive Medicare by the Railroad Retirement Board or Section 2(a)(I)(iv) of the Railroad Retirement Act of 1974, and is determined to be disabled based upon the criteria used under Title XVI of the Social Security Act.

DISABILITY/BLINDNESS DETERMINATIONS 9.4

MA AR: N/A AX: N/A SR: Disability/blindness determinations are made by the SSA, the Department's eye specialist, or MRT. Individuals receiving SSI are categorically eligible for Medicaid, and no further disability determination is required (see Chapter 12: Categorical Eligibility in this Part). Individuals receiving SSDI based on their own disability have met the disability requirement for disability-related Medicaid. The MRT does not make a separate disability determination in this case. If the SSDI recipient meets the other non-financial and financial eligibility requirements (see Part VI: Financial Eligibility), s/he will qualify for Medicaid. The disability determination for those individuals who do not receive SSI or SSDI (based on their own disability) who are applying for Medicaid based on disability will be made by the MRT unless the SSA has already made a disability determination and found that the individual does not meet the SSA disability standard (and no changes in the individual’s medical condition have occurred). Individuals for whom a final SSA disability/blindness determination has not been made are entitled to a disability/blindness determination by the MRT. An SSI/SSA determination that disability or blindness does not exist for SSI purposes is considered final for MA purposes if: • no further appeals may be made at SSA (see Exhibit IV-6: General Information About the SSA Appeals Process) or the applicant/recipient failed to file an appeal at any step within SSA's 60-day limit, and • the applicant/recipient is not claiming: o a totally different disabling condition than the condition SSA based its determination on, or o an additional impairment(s) or change of deterioration in his/her condition on which SSI has not made a determination. Once SSA's determination of ineligibility is final, eligibility for Medicaid based on disability or blindness does not exist, even if the MRT had determined the individual to be disabled or blind.