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167 (07/2026) Chapter 2:Eligibility • Section 3: Individual information Blindness as the basis of need Individuals meet blindness as the basis of need if any of the following is true: • They are receiving SSDI or SSI benefits based on blindness. Eligibility continues as long as their SSDI or SSI eligibility continues. • They were eligible for and received AB in Oregon in December 1973. These individuals continue to be eligible as long as they are continuously blind as defined by Oregon requirements that were in effect in 1973. • They are found by ODHS|OHA to meet the following OSIPM blindness criteria:
Vision of 20/200 or less in the better eye with a corrective lens, or
A limitation in vision field to an angle of 20 degrees or less. Old age as the basis of need Individuals meet old age as the basis of need if they are age 65 or over. Disability as the basis of need An individual meets the requirement to have a disability if one of the following requirements is met: • The individual is receiving SSDI or SSI based on disability. Eligibility continues as long as the individual remains eligible for SSDI or SSI. • The individual was eligible for and received Aid to the Disabled benefits in Oregon in December 1973. These individuals continue to be eligible as long as they are continuously disabled as defined by Oregon requirements that were in effect in 1973. • ODHS|OHA has determined the individual meets the SSA listing of impairments, meets the SSA medical vocational guidelines, or meets the SSA definition of disability. Individuals are referred to the Presumptive Medicaid Disability Determination Team (PMDDT) for disability determinations. Refer to PMDDT for more information. • SSA has determined the individual meets the listing of impairments, meets the medical vocational guidelines for SSI, or meets the definition of disability. If ODHS|OHA finds the individual eligible for OSIPM in the absence of a disability determination by SSA, the individual remains eligible, provided that the individual continues to meet the disability criteria for eligibility for OSIPM, until SSA denies the disability claim in a final administrative decision. If a binding SSA disability determination is not in place, the determination of disability to qualify for OSIPM is made by PMDDT. Refer to PMDDT for more information. Note: If a non-EPD individual lost SSDI due to earning over the SGA limit, they may still be considered medically disabled by the SSA. In this situation, workers may contact PMDDT to check whether a new referral and evaluation is needed.