This letter transmits changes to the Disability Financial Assistance (DFA) rules 5101:1-5-01, 5101:1-5-10, and 5101:1-5-50. These rules are being proposed pursuant to the provisions set forth in Amended Substitute House Bill 66 (Am. Sub. H.B.66). Am. Sub. H.B.66 was recently signed by the governor and the changes contained in these rules are effective July 1, 2005. If there are any changes made to the rules contained in the CAMTL during the JCARR review period, corrected rules will be sent out in the next CAMTL.

CHAPTER 3000

5101:1-5-01 The disability financial assistance program: definitions and payments standards.

This rule was changed to comport with the budget bill language that removes individuals who are residing in a residential treatment center certified by the Ohio Department of Alcohol and Drug Addiction Services (ODADAS) as a covered group eligible for DFA. If an ODADAS resident meets another category of covered individuals, then eligibility for DFA may continue.

5101:1-5-10 DFA: nonfinancial eligibility requirements.

Reference to a residential treatment center certified by ODADAS was removed so that an individual residing in any residential treatment center meets the living arrangement for DFA purposes. However, in order to qualify for DFA, that individual must have met one of the covered categories for DFA, either disabled as determined by County Medical Services (CMS) or age 60 or over and received DFA in June 2003.

5101:1-5-50 DFA: payments.

There is no longer a covered group that receives DFA as a result of participation in an alcohol or drug addition program; this rule was modified to require a representative payee if a DFA eligible individual is participating in an alcohol or drug addiction treatment program.

CRIS-E: PROCESSING CHANGES TO DFA

The CRIS-E system is being modified to support the changes in the DFA program policy. The specific CRIS-E actions, activities and dates will be outlined in detail in a CRIS-E View Flash Bulletin. A description of the systems changes follows.

CRIS-E Mass Change: Current recipients

A mass change will be run prior to July cutoff to terminate or reduce DFA assistance groups (AGs) that contain an individual in receipt of DFA solely due to residence in a drug or alcohol treatment center certified by ODADAS. If the individual is in a drug and alcohol treatment center certified by ODADAS, the mass change program will explore if the recipient meets one of the following covered categories, prior to terminating or reducing the DFA:

• the individual is age 60 or older and received DFA in June 2003; or
• the individual has been determined to be disabled by CMS.

Reason Code 525 will be pre-displayed on AEWAA for the termination or reduction of the DFA. Special mass change notices (MC50T1 and MC50R1) will be sent to affected AGs notifying them of the termination or reduction of DFA benefits. The terminations and reductions will be effective 7/31/05. The provisions set forth in Chapter 5101:6 of the Administrative Code regarding timely requests for state hearings, and including continued benefits based on such requests, are applicable.

Recalculation of food stamp benefits

Recalculation of food stamp benefits for related Food Stamp AGs will not occur in the mass change.

New Applicants

Applications Submitted on or after July 1, 2005

Applications submitted on or after July 1, 2005 shall be processed in accordance with the DFA rules in effect as of July 1, 2005. Therefore, in order to qualify for DFA based on an application submitted on or after July 1, 2005, an individual must meet the two existing criteria: (1) disability as determined by CMS or (2) over 60 years of age and in receipt of DFA in June 2003. If an individual does not meet one of these requirements, the individual is ineligible for DFA, and CRIS-E will fail the individual. Reason code 528 is the appropriate code to use to deny the application.

Applications Submitted Prior to July 1, 2005 and Still Pending as of July 1, 2005

Applications submitted prior to July 1, 2005 and still pending as of July 1, 2005, must be processed using the DFA rules in effect through June 30, 2005 for eligibility periods prior to and including June 30, 2005. Eligibility for DFA benefits for the period beginning July 1, 2005 must be determined using the DFA rules in effect as of July 1. This means that an individual can meet all eligibility requirements for the period up to and including June 30, and will be eligible for DFA benefits for the prior period, but not meet the July 1, 2005 eligibility requirements for DFA. In this case, CRIS-E will fail the AG effective August 1, 2005, and the worker will need to fiat a retroactive benefit for prior months as appropriate.

Applications Submitted and Approved Prior to July 1, 2005

Applications submitted prior to July 1, 2005 and approved prior to July 1, 2005 based solely upon residence in an ODADAS facility, will be terminated during the mass change process.

Table Changes

TLAR

Living arrangement code 28 - ODADAS residential facility - is still a valid living arrangement code but CRIS-E will only check the two existing covered categories for potential DFA eligibility.

TSRC

TSRC changes have been made to support the DFA change. Reason codes 057 and 527 have been inactivated for DFA. Language on reason code 525 has been modified to reflect the current categories of eligibility for DFA.

INSTRUCTIONS: