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Ohio Laws and Rules
Chapter 5115: DISABILITY ASSISTANCE
5115.01
Disability assistance program - eligibility.
(A) The director of job and family services shall establish the disability financial assistance program.
(B) Subject to all other eligibility requirements established by this chapter and the rules adopted under it for the disability financial assistance program, a person may be eligible for disability financial assistance only if one of the following applies:
(1) The person is unable to do any substantial or gainful activity by reason of a medically determinable physical or mental impairment that can be expected to result in death or has lasted or can be expected to last for not less than nine months;
(2) On the day before the effective date of this amendment, the person was sixty years of age or older and one of the following is the case:
(a) The person was receiving or was scheduled to begin receiving financial assistance under this chapter on the basis of being sixty years of age or older;
(b) An eligibility determination was pending regarding the person's application to receive financial assistance under this chapter on the basis of being sixty years of age or older and, on or after the effective date of this amendment, the person receives a determination of eligibility based on that application.
Effective Date: 06-26-2003
Effective Date: 09-26-2003
Effective Date: 09-26-2003
5115.02
Eligibility for disability financial assistance.
(A) An individual is not eligible for disability financial assistance under this chapter if any of the following apply:
(1) The individual is eligible to participate in the Ohio works first program established under Chapter 5107. of the Revised Code; eligible to receive supplemental security income provided pursuant to Title XVI of the "Social Security Act," 86 Stat. 1475 (1972), 42 U.S.C. 1383, as amended; or eligible to participate in or receive assistance through another state or federal program that provides financial assistance similar to disability financial assistance, as determined by the director of job and family services;
(2) The individual is ineligible to participate in the Ohio works first program because of any of the following:
(a) The time limit established by section 5107.18 of the Revised Code;
(b) Failure to comply with an application or verification procedure;
(c) The fraud control provisions of section 5101.83 of the Revised Code or the fraud control program established pursuant to 45 C.F.R. 235.112, as in effect July 1, 1996;
(d) The self-sufficiency contract provisions of sections 5107.14 and 5107.16 of the Revised Code;
(e) The minor parent provisions of section 5107.24 of the Revised Code;
(f) The provisions of section 5107.26 of the Revised Code regarding termination of employment without just cause.
(3) The individual, or any of the other individuals included in determining the individual's eligibility, is involved in a strike, as defined in section 5107.10 of the Revised Code;
(4) For the purpose of avoiding consideration of property in determinations of the individual's eligibility for disability financial assistance or a greater amount of assistance, the individual has transferred property during the two years preceding application for or most recent redetermination of eligibility for disability assistance;
(5) The individual is a child and does not live with the child's parents, guardians, or other persons standing in place of parents, unless the child is emancipated by being married, by serving in the armed forces, or by court order;
(6) The individual reside in a county home, city infirmary, jail, or public institution;
(7) The individual is a fugitive felon as defined in section 5101.26 of the Revised Code;
(8) The individual is violating a condition of probation, a community control sanction, parole, or a post-release control sanction imposed under federal or state law.
(B)
(1) As used in division (B)(2) of this section, "assistance group" has the same meaning as in section 5107.02 of the Revised Code.
(2) Ineligibility under division (A)(2)(c) or (d) of this section applies as follows:
(a) In the case of an individual who is under eighteen years of age, the individual is ineligible only if the individual caused the assistance group to be ineligible to participate in the Ohio works first program or resides with an individual eighteen years of age or older who was a member of the same ineligible assistance group.
(b) In the case of an individual who is eighteen years of age or older, the individual is ineligible regardless of whether the individual caused the assistance group to be ineligible to participate in the Ohio works first program.
Effective Date: 06-26-2003
5115.03
Adoption of rules - investigations.
(A) The director of job and family services shall adopt rules in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code governing the disability financial assistance program. The rules may establish or specify any or all of the following:
(1) Maximum payment amounts under the disability financial assistance program, based on state appropriations for the program;
(2) Limits on the length of time an individual may receive disability financial assistance;
(3) Limits on the total number of individuals in the state who may receive disability financial assistance;
(4) Income, resource, citizenship, age, residence, living arrangement, and other eligibility requirements for disability financial assistance;
(5) Procedures for disregarding amounts of earned and unearned income for the purpose of determining eligibility for disability financial assistance and the amount of assistance to be provided;
(6) Procedures for including the income and resources, or a certain amount of the income and resources, of a member of an individual's family when determining eligibility for disability financial assistance and the amount of assistance to be provided.
(B) In establishing or specifying eligibility requirements for disability financial assistance, the director shall exclude the value of any tuition payment contract entered into under section 3334.09 of the Revised Code or any scholarship awarded under section 3334.18 of the Revised Code and the amount of payments made by the Ohio tuition trust authority under section 3334.09 of the Revised Code pursuant to the contract or scholarship. The director shall not require any individual to terminate a tuition payment contract entered into under Chapter 3334. of the Revised Code as a condition of eligibility for disability financial assistance. The director shall consider as income any refund paid under section 3334.10 of the Revised Code.
(C) Notwithstanding section 3109.01 of the Revised Code, when a disability financial assistance applicant or recipient who is at least eighteen but under twenty-two years of age resides with the applicant's or recipient's parents, the income of the parents shall be taken into account in determining the applicant's or recipient's financial eligibility. In the rules adopted under this section, the director shall specify procedures for determining the amount of income to be attributed to applicants and recipients in this age category.
(D) For purposes of limiting the cost of the disability financial assistance program, the director may do either or both of the following:
(1) Adopt rules in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code that revise the program's eligibility requirements, the maximum payment amounts, or any other requirement or standard established or specified in the rules adopted by the director;
(2) Suspend acceptance of applications for disability financial assistance. While a suspension is in effect, no person shall receive a determination or redetermination of eligibility for disability financial assistance unless the person was receiving the assistance during the month immediately preceding the suspension's effective date or the person submitted an application prior to the suspension's effective date and receives a determination of eligibility based on that application. The director may adopt rules in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code establishing requirements and specifying procedures applicable to the suspension of acceptance of applications.
Effective Date: 09-26-2003
5115.04
Disability financial assistance program.
(A) The department of job and family services shall supervise and administer the disability financial assistance program, except that the department may require county departments of job and family services to perform any administrative function specified in rules adopted by the director of job and family services.
(B) If the department requires county departments to perform administrative functions under this section, the director shall adopt rules in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code governing the performance of the functions to be performed by county departments. County departments shall perform the functions in accordance with the rules. The director shall conduct investigations to determine whether disability financial assistance is being administered in compliance with the Revised Code and rules adopted by the director.
(C) If disability financial assistance payments are made by the county department of job and family services, the department shall advance sufficient funds to provide the county treasurer with the amount estimated for the payments. Financial assistance payments shall be distributed in accordance with sections 126.35, 319.16, and 329.03 of the Revised Code.
Effective Date: 06-26-2003; 12-01-2006
(A) The director of job and family services shall adopt rules in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code establishing application and verification procedures, reapplication procedures, and other requirements the director considers necessary in the administration of the application process for disability financial assistance. The rules may require recipients of disability financial assistance to participate in a reapplication process two months after initial approval for assistance has been determined and at such other times as specified in the rules.
(B) Any person who applies for disability financial assistance shall receive a voter registration application under section 3503.10 of the Revised Code.
Effective Date: 06-26-2003
5115.06
Method of providing assistance under program.
Assistance under the disability financial assistance program may be given by warrant, direct deposit, or, if provided by the director of job and family services pursuant to section 5101.33 of the Revised Code, by electronic benefit transfer. It shall be inalienable whether by way of assignment, charge, or otherwise, and is exempt from attachment, garnishment, or other like process.
Any direct deposit shall be made to a financial institution and account designated by the recipient. If disability financial assistance is to be paid by the director of budget and management through direct deposit, the application for assistance shall be accompanied by information the director needs to make direct deposits.
The director of job and family services may adopt rules for designation of financial institutions and accounts.
No financial institution shall impose any charge for direct deposit of disability financial assistance payments that it does not charge all customers for similar services.
Effective Date: 09-26-2003; 2006 HB699 03-29-2007
Effective Date: 09-26-2003
5115.07
Acceptance of financial assistance constitutes an assignment of rights.
The acceptance of financial assistance under the disability financial assistance program constitutes an assignment to the department of job and family services of any rights an individual receiving the assistance has to financial support from any other person. The rights to support assigned to the department pursuant to this section constitute an obligation of the person responsible for providing the support to the state for the amount of disability financial assistance payments to the recipient or recipients whose needs are included in determining the amount of assistance received. Support payments assigned to the state pursuant to this section shall be collected by the county department of job and family services and reimbursements for disability financial assistance payments shall be credited to the state treasury.
Effective Date: 06-26-2003
Effective Date: 09-29-1999
Repealed by
128th General AssemblyFile
No.9,HB 1,
§105.01, eff.
10/16/2009.
Prior History: (Effective Date:
06-26-2003)
Repealed by
128th General AssemblyFile
No.9,HB 1,
§105.01, eff.
10/16/2009.
Prior History: (Effective Date:
06-26-2003)
Repealed by
128th General AssemblyFile
No.9,HB 1,
§105.01, eff.
10/16/2009.
Prior History: (Effective Date:
06-26-2003; 2007 HB119 09-29-2007)
Repealed by
128th General AssemblyFile
No.9,HB 1,
§105.01, eff.
10/16/2009.
Prior History: (Effective Date:
06-26-2003)
Repealed by
128th General AssemblyFile
No.9,HB 1,
§105.01, eff.
10/16/2009.
Prior History: (Effective Date:
06-26-2003)
5115.15
Amended and Renumbered RC 5115.23.
Effective Date: 06-26-2003
Effective Date: 10-01-1997
5115.20
Disability advocacy program.
(A) The department of job and family services shall establish a disability advocacy program and each county department of job and family services shall establish a disability advocacy program unit or join with other county departments of job and family services to establish a joint county disability advocacy program unit. Through the program the department and county departments shall cooperate in efforts to assist applicants for and recipients of assistance under the disability financial assistance program , who might be eligible for supplemental security income benefits under Title XVI of the "Social Security Act," 86 Stat. 1475 (1972), 42 U.S.C.A. 1383, as amended, in applying for those benefits.
As part of their disability advocacy programs, the state department and county departments may enter into contracts for the services of persons and government entities that in the judgment of the department or county department have demonstrated expertise in representing persons seeking supplemental security income benefits. Each contract shall require the person or entity with which a department contracts to assess each person referred to it by the department to determine whether the person appears to be eligible for supplemental security income benefits, and, if the person appears to be eligible, assist the person in applying and represent the person in any proceeding of the social security administration, including any appeal or reconsideration of a denial of benefits. The department or county department shall provide to the person or entity with which it contracts all records in its possession relevant to the application for supplemental security income benefits. The department shall require a county department with relevant records to submit them to the person or entity.
(B) Each applicant for or recipient of disability financial assistance who, in the judgment of the department or a county department might be eligible for supplemental security benefits, shall, as a condition of eligibility for assistance, apply for such benefits if directed to do so by the department or county department.
(C) With regard to applicants for and recipients of disability financial assistance , each county department of job and family services shall do all of the following:
(1) Identify applicants and recipients who might be eligible for supplemental security income benefits;
(2) Assist applicants and recipients in securing documentation of disabling conditions or refer them for such assistance to a person or government entity with which the department or county department has contracted under division (A) of this section;
(3) Inform applicants and recipients of available sources of representation, which may include a person or government entity with which the department or county department has contracted under division (A) of this section, and of their right to represent themselves in reconsiderations and appeals of social security administration decisions that deny them supplemental security income benefits. The county department may require the applicants and recipients, as a condition of eligibility for assistance, to pursue reconsiderations and appeals of social security administration decisions that deny them supplemental security income benefits, and shall assist applicants and recipients as necessary to obtain such benefits or refer them to a person or government entity with which the department or county department has contracted under division (A) of this section.
(4) Require applicants and recipients who, in the judgment of the county department, are or may be aged, blind, or disabled, to apply for medical assistance under Chapter 5111. of the Revised Code, make determinations when appropriate as to eligibility for medical assistance, and refer their applications when necessary to the disability determination unit established in accordance with division (F) of this section for expedited review;
(5) Require each applicant and recipient who in the judgment of the department or the county department might be eligible for supplemental security income benefits, as a condition of eligibility for disability financial assistance , to execute a written authorization for the secretary of health and human services to withhold benefits due that individual and pay to the director of job and family services or the director's designee an amount sufficient to reimburse the state and county shares of interim assistance furnished to the individual. For the purposes of division (C)(5) of this section, "benefits" and "interim assistance" have the meanings given in Title XVI of the "Social Security Act."
(D) The director of job and family services shall adopt rules in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code for the effective administration of the disability advocacy program. The rules shall include all of the following:
(1) Methods to be used in collecting information from and disseminating it to county departments, including the following:
(a) The number of individuals in the county who are disabled recipients of disability financial assistance ;
(b) The final decision made either by the social security administration or by a court for each application or reconsideration in which an individual was assisted pursuant to this section.
(2) The type and process of training to be provided by the department of job and family services to the employees of the county department of job and family services who perform duties under this section;
(3) Requirements for the written authorization required by division (C)(5) of this section.
(E) The department shall provide basic and continuing training to employees of the county department of job and family services who perform duties under this section. Training shall include but not be limited to all processes necessary to obtain federal disability benefits, and methods of advocacy.
(F) The department shall establish a disability determination unit and develop guidelines for expediting reviews of applications for medical assistance under Chapter 5111. of the Revised Code for persons who have been referred to the unit under division (C)(4) of this section. The department shall make determinations of eligibility for medical assistance for any such person within the time prescribed by federal regulations.
(G) The department may, under rules the director of job and family services adopts in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code, pay a portion of the federal reimbursement described in division (C)(5) of this section to persons or government entities that assist or represent assistance recipients in reconsiderations and appeals of social security administration decisions denying them supplemental security income benefits.
(H) The director shall conduct investigations to determine whether disability advocacy programs are being administered in compliance with the Revised Code and the rules adopted by the director pursuant to this section.
Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.9,HB 1, §101.01, eff. 10/16/2009.
Effective Date: 06-26-2003
5115.22
Change in recipient's eligiblity for assistance.
(A) If a recipient of disability financial assistance , or an individual whose income and resources are included in determining the recipient's eligibility for the assistance, becomes possessed of resources or income in excess of the amount allowed to retain eligibility, or if other changes occur that affect the recipient's eligibility or need for assistance, the recipient shall notify the state or county department of job and family services within the time limits specified in rules adopted by the director of job and family services in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code. Failure of a recipient to report possession of excess resources or income or a change affecting eligibility or need within those time limits shall be considered prima-facie evidence of intent to defraud under section 5115.23 of the Revised Code.
(B) As a condition of eligibility for disability financial assistance , and as a means of preventing or reducing the provision of assistance at public expense, each applicant for or recipient of the assistance shall make reasonable efforts to secure support from persons responsible for the applicant's or recipient's support, and from other sources, including any federal program designed to provide assistance to individuals with disabilities. The state or county department of job and family services may provide assistance to the applicant or recipient in securing other forms of financial assistance.
Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.9,HB 1, §101.01, eff. 10/16/2009.
Effective Date: 06-26-2003
5115.23
Recovery of erroneous payments.
As used in this section, "erroneous payments" means disability financial assistance payments made to persons who are not entitled to receive them, including payments made as a result of misrepresentation or fraud, and payments made due to an error by the recipient or by the county department of job and family services that made the payment.
The department of job and family services shall adopt rules in accordance with section 111.15 of the Revised Code specifying the circumstances under which action is to be taken under this section to recover erroneous payments. The department, or a county department of job and family services at the request of the department, shall take action to recover erroneous payments in the circumstances specified in the rules. The department or county department may institute a civil action to recover erroneous payments.
Whenever disability financial assistance has been furnished to a recipient for whose support another person is responsible, the other person shall, in addition to the liability otherwise imposed, as a consequence of failure to support the recipient, be liable for all assistance furnished the recipient. The value of the assistance so furnished may be recovered in a civil action brought by the county department of job and family services.
Each county department of job and family services shall retain fifty per cent of the erroneous payments it recovers under this section. The department of job and family services shall receive the remaining fifty per cent.
Amended by 128th General AssemblyFile No.9,HB 1, §101.01, eff. 10/16/2009.
Effective Date: 06-26-2003