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I. Personal Needs Allowance is the amount that is set aside from the individual’s income for his personal needs, such as clothing, toiletries and incidentals. The allowance, set by the Title XIX State agency for persons in certified medical facilities, varies according to the category of assistance for which the person qualifies. The appropriate personal needs allowance for each category of assistance is found in the Title XIX State Plan. J. Vendor Payment is the net payment made by the agency to a medical facility for an individual’s cost of care after deducting the individual’s recurring income, if any, from the South Carolina Medicaid rate of payment. K. Categorically Needy means aged, blind, or disabled individual or families and children who are otherwise eligible for Medicaid and who meet the financial eligibility requirements for Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), SSI, or an optional State supplement, or are considered under section 1619(b) of the Social Security Act to be SSI recipients; or whose categorical eligibility is protected by statute. L. Federal poverty level means the non-farm poverty level for the appropriate family size as published by the federal Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and revised yearly. M. Deleted. HISTORY: Amended by State Register Volume 16, Issue No. 2, eff February 28, 1992; State Register Volume 19, Issue No. 3, eff March 24, 1995. 126–355. Application Procedures. A. Any individual or family who is determined eligible for financial assistance under the Aid to Families with Dependent Children, Optional State Supplementation, Refugee Assistance, or Supple- mental Security Income programs is eligible for Medicaid without filing a separate application. B. If an individual who has been determined eligible for financial assistance dies before receiving an actual assistance payment, the date of application for financial assistance shall serve as the application for Medicaid. Medicaid coverage is available to the individual for the period of time for which he was determined eligible. C. All other individuals must file an application for Medicaid benefits with the Department of Social Services. D. The following time standards shall be used for determinations of eligibility: (1) Sixty (60) days for applicants who apply for Medicaid on the basis of disability and forty-five (45) days for all other applicants. (2) These time standards do not apply if unusual circumstances exist (e.g., the agency cannot reach a decision because the applicant or an examining physician delays or fails to take required action) or if there is an administrative or other emergency beyond the agency’s control and a determination of eligibility cannot be made within these time standards. 126–360. General Requirements. A. Medical assistance is available to residents of this State who meet the eligibility requirements of this chapter and who are United States citizens or who are aliens lawfully admitted for permanent residence or otherwise permanently residing in the United States under color of law. Residence is determined in accordance with Title XIX of the Social Security Act and the federal regulations promulgated in accordance therewith: B. Initial Date of Entitlement for Medicaid. (1) The initial date of entitlement for Medicaid benefits may be as early as the first day of the month in which the individual filed an application for financial or medical assistance, provided all eligibility requirements are met in the month of application. For initial date of entitlement by category reference is made to Title XIX State Plan. (2) If an individual meets the requirements of 126-360(C) below for retroactive Medicaid, the date of entitlement may be as early as the first day of the third month preceding the month of application. (3) As SSI recipient who moves into this State from another state shall be eligible for Medicaid beginning with the first day of the month in which he moves into the State.