Social Security Disability Application Assistance

Aid to the needy disabled program - applications - navigation assistance - appropriation. The act creates a program to help persons with disabilities participating in the state aid to the needy disabled program navigate the application process for federal disability benefits, including supplemental security income and social security disability insurance. The program is provided by participating county departments of human or social services (county departments) and is administered by the state department of human services (state department).

Funding for the program is distributed to participating county departments pursuant to an allocation formula determined by state department rules after the state department receives input from counties, county representatives, and other relevant stakeholders.

The act describes the services that may be provided by county departments participating in the program, including assistance with compiling and drafting supporting documentation for the application for federal disability benefits and assistance in completing and submitting the application.

The state department shall evaluate the program pursuant to the time frame set forth in the act to determine if the program is meeting the program goals described in the act.

The act creates the disability benefits application assistance fund and requires the state treasurer and controller to annually transfer to the fund money appropriated for the aid to the needy disabled program that remains unencumbered and unexpended at the end of the fiscal year.

For the 2019-20 state fiscal year, the act appropriates $1,450,000 from the marijuana tax cash fund to the department of human services for adult assistance programs and disability benefit application program funding.

(Note: This summary applies to this bill as enacted.)