Requirements

The Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996 changed the definition of disability for children. As a result, a number of children were terminated from SSI. The Balanced budget Act of 1997 mandated that for any child who became ineligible for SSI due to the new definition of disability, the State must redetermine Medicaid eligibility using the previous definition of disability. The Act further specified that the disability status of the child must be protected as long as the child remains eligible for SSI but for the change in definition of disability.