1 November 2009 EAEDC Patricia Baker Mass. Law Reform Institute

2 November 2009 What is EAEDC?

3 November 2009 Emergency Aid to the Elderly, Disabled and Children

4 November 2009 EAEDC Is: State-funded cash assistance program (“general assistance”) Provides a small cash grant and MassHealth to specific categories of low-income people

5 November 2009 What Are the Categories? Disabled (the largest group) Elders Mass. Rehab. Commission (MRC) Participants Caring for Disabled Person Caretaker Families

6 November 2009 Disability Disability standards easier than SSI Disability must last 60 days (compared to 12 months for SSI) Legally present immigrants not SSI eligible may qualify for EAEDC

7 November 2009 Disability Process Doctor completes a Medical Report Form Applicant completes for him/herself a Disability Supplement Form Other medical records requested Review by Disability Evaluation Services of U.Mass. Medical Center Disabled person can get benefits while review is taking place! (unlike SSI)

8 November 2009 Disability Process (cont.) Disability Evaluation Services (DES) uses a 5-step process to decide disability DES reviews medical records DES can request a “consultative examination” with medical provider DES must consider medical condition, age, education and work experience

9 November 2009 Elderly Person age 65 or older not on SSI Benefits available while waiting for Social Security to start SSI Legally present immigrants who are not eligible for SSI may qualify

10 November 2009 Mass. Rehab Commission (MRC) Participants MRC provides training and rehabilitation services to persons with disabilities MRC has broader disability definition than EAEDC’s (or SSI’s) definition Must be an active participant in an MRC program

11 November 2009 Caring for Incapacitated Caretakers of disabled people who need constant care and are at risk of being institutionalized can be eligible Doctor must certify disabled person at risk of institutionalization without care Disabled person must meet separate financial rules for caretaker to qualify

12 November 2009 Caretaker Families Adult caring for an unrelated child (“god child”) or distantly related child (must be ineligible for TAFDC due to the TAFDC relationship rules) Child and adult may both qualify for aid Adult caretaker must get legal guardianship or custody within 6 months (unless good cause)

13 November 2009 Other Eligibility Rules All EAEDC applicants must: Be a Mass. resident (can be homeless) Provide or apply for SSN Have no outstanding default or arrest warrants Apply for other available benefits (Unemployment, fed/state Vets) Apply for SSI if elderly or disabled

14 November 2009 EAEDC & Immigrants Legal permanent residents, refugees, asylees, Cuban/Haitian entrants, parolees and Immigrants “permanently residing under color of law” or PRUCOL (DHS is aware of, not intend to deport) No counting of sponsor income No 5-year bar for EAEDC, may help jump 5-year bar in FS if severely disabled LPR Some disabled immigrants in families may qualify for EAEDC if not eligible for TAFDC

15 November 2009 Financial Eligibility Rules Income Rules: $ for $ unearned income counts against grant Spousal income above $ /mo counts Countable Assets: $250 for individuals, $500 for two or more Equity value of car over $1500 counts

16 November 2009 EAEDC Grant Amounts Maximum for individual: $303.70/mo. Homeless/no shelter costs: $92.80/mo. Spouses on EAEDC (each):$202.50/mo BUT……. NO rent allowance, like TAFDC NO clothing allowance for adults or kids

17 November 2009 EAEDC Grant Amounts Individual “living alone” Couples both on EAEDC Homeless/ no shelter costs Rest home/ other institutional setting $303.70/mo.$202.50/mo. (each spouse) $92.60/mo.$72.80 PNA Personal Needs Allowance

18 November 2009 Rest Home Benefit EAEDC pays the rest home if person cannot afford monthly rate $1500/month currently) Resident keeps $72.80 for PNA, pays the balance of his/her income to rest home; EAEDC pays the rest up to the total rate If no income, EAEDC pays rest home and pays the resident $72.80 PNA

19 November 2009 EAEDC – Basic Rights For all DTA programs, including EAEDC: Right to file an application Right to get help with verifications Right to interpreter services if LEP Right to reasonable accommodation of disabilities Right to appeal to a hearing officer