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1. Receipt of Social Security Disability or SSI.

2. A determination by Disability Determination Services (DDS).

a. If an HCWD applicant is not receiving Retirement, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (RSDI)/SSI and has not been determined disabled by DDS or a Hearing Officer, he must be referred to DDS for a determination to ensure that he meets the definition of disability. Use the DDS referral form, DHB-4037, Disability Determination Transmittal. Refer to MA-2525, Disability policy, for instructions.

(1) Refer the applicant to the local SSA office to apply for RSDI and suggest that the applicant also apply for SSI. (2) If the applicant is found to be disabled by DDS but is later denied SSI/RSDI, the DDS disability approval remains valid for HCWD eligibility purposes. Do not terminate an HCWD recipient for having been denied SSI/RSDI.

(3) If prior to receiving a disability determination from DDS the local county determines that the applicant is ineligible for MAD or HCWD, immediately contact DDS and tell them of this determination and that a disability determination is no longer necessary. Denying the application which updates the DDS data screen is not sufficient. Refer to MA-2525 Disability policy for DDS contact numbers.

b. If an HCWD applicant is not receiving RSDI/SSI but was previously determined to be disabled by SSA, DDS or a Hearing Officer, they still may be considered disabled for HCWD purposes. The case manager must consider the reason for the termination as well as the length of time between termination of RSDI or SSI benefits, the DDS decision, or the Hearing Officer’s decision and application for HCWD.

(1) If the termination of RSDI or SSI benefits, or the DDS decision or the Hearing Officer’s decision occurred 12 months or less prior to the date of application and the termination was for non-medical reasons, a DDS determination of disability is not necessary.

Example: The month of application for HCWD is November 2024. SSI was terminated for non-medical reasons in November 2025. This is 12 months prior to the month of application and therefore the requirement is met (November 1, 2024 – October 31, 2025).

Docusign Envelope ID: B8C63DC7-7367-4210-853E-B7B004802EE4