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Title 8: Medicaid Page 60 Iowa Department of Health and Human Services Employees’ Manual Chapter C: Nonfinancial Eligibility Nonfinancial Non-MAGI-Related Eligibility Revised October 10, 2025 Presence of Age, Blindness, or Disability Comment: The Social Security Administration (SSA) determines disability for claimants for SSI and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). SSA makes no distinction between blindness and other disabilities when approving benefits. The Department has a contract with the Disability Determination Services (DDS) Bureau of the Iowa Department of Education to determine disability using the same criteria as SSA uses to determine eligibility for SSI or SSDI. Procedure: When the person is applying for benefits on the basis of age: 1. Check for verification of age through receipt of federal benefits as follows:

Situation Action The applicant is over 65 and has social security income. Accept the Social Security Administration’s verification that the person is age 65 or older. The applicant claims to be at least 65 and has not applied for social security or SSI. Refer the person to the Social Security district office to apply for benefits and give the person form 470-0383, Notice Regarding Acceptance of Other Benefits. 2. If age is verified, process the application. When the person is applying for benefits on the basis of blindness or disability: 1. Make sure the applicant’s coverage group requires a disability determination. (Determination of blindness is not necessary if both eyes are missing.)

Groups that do require disability determination include:  Medically Needy (if applying as disabled)  Medicaid for Employed People with Disabilities  Medicaid for Kids with Special Needs  Ill and handicapped waiver  Physical disability waiver  Persons applying for the following HCBS waivers under non-MAGI-related eligibility • AIDS/HIV waiver • Brain injury waiver • Children’s mental health waiver • Intellectual disabilities waiver Groups that do not require a disability determination include children under 21 in the 300% group applying for the following HCBS waivers:  AIDS/HIV waiver  Brain injury waiver  Children’s mental health waiver  Intellectual disabilities waiver