When an SSI claimant receives adoption assistance from the State of Oklahoma, it is very important to determine the funding source of the payment. Further, an Oklahoma law now provides that for adoption assistance to continue past age 19, an individual must file an application for SSI before attaining age 19.

Adoption assistance payments from the State of Oklahoma are made from two funding sources.

In many cases, an individual receiving adoption assistance from the State of Oklahoma will not know the source of the payments (i.e., 100% State-funded or Title IVE). The local Department of Human Services office may not be able to provide reliable funding information. Therefore, the State has asked that DOs call the Adoption Assistance headquarters office in Oklahoma City at (405) 522-4487 to verify the source and amount of adoption assistance if the individual does not have the needed documentation. Explain that you are with Social Security and need to verify the amount and source of adoption assistance for an individual filing for SSI.

Oklahoma House Bill (HB) 1734 provides that for adoption assistance to continue past age 19, the individual must file for SSI no later than 60 days prior to attaining age 19. About 6 months prior to attaining age 19, the adoptive parent will receive a letter (see E below) from the State of Oklahoma explaining that for adoption assistance to continue, they must file an application for SSI. For these individuals, issuing an automated SSA-L991-U3 informal denial does not meet the provision of HB 1734 which requires an SSI application. The letter received from Oklahoma also provides the source of funding (see last bullet in letter) for the adoption assistance payments, and thus, the letter can be used as verification of the source of this income.

Exhibit – State of Oklahoma Letter to Adoption Assistance Recipients

OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

Sequoyah Memorial Office Building

P.O. Box 25352

Oklahoma City, Okla. 73125

www.okdhs.org

Month DD, YYYY

 

Dear Adoptive Parent(s):

Our records show that _________ will turn 19 on _______. Oklahoma State law provides that such assistance will terminate upon attainment of age 19 effective with the last day of the child's birth month except where (1) the child has applied for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) with the Social Security Administration (SSA); (2) the SSI application is pending or has been denied; and (3) if denied SSI, the child's needs, conditions, or behaviors meet the criteria for difficulty of care (DOC) IV or V. Not later than 60 days prior to the child reaching the age of 19, the adoptive parent(s) must provide OKDHS with the following.

• •

  Documentation that a formal application for SSI has been received by the SSA and is pending or has been denied; AND

• •

  If the SSI application is pending with SSA, the adoptive parent(s) must provide documentation monthly to OKDHS that demonstrates due diligence in providing to SSA the necessary information to timely process the child's SSI application (NOTE: SSA will provided an claims "receipt" when you file for SSI.  Keep this as evidence of "due diligence."); OR

• •

  If the SSI application has been denied by SSA, the adoptive parent(s) must provide medical or psychological evidence that demonstrates the child's needs, conditions, or behaviors meet the criteria for DOC IV or V.

When contacting SSA to file an application for SSI, the adoptive parent will need to make two things very clear:

• •

  Tell SSA that you must file a formal application for SSI; and

• •

  Tell the SSA representative that the adoption assistance for _______ is funded with _______ funds.

NOTE: The source of adoption assistance funding affects how SSA counts this assistance when determining SSI eligibility. If the SSA representative has any questions about why you must have a formal application or about the adoption assistance funding, tell them that there is a POMS operating instruction at SI DAL00830.415.

Failure to comply with these instructions results in termination of adoption assistance payments on the child's 19^th birthday or on the month following failure to provide documentation on a pending SSI application, whichever occurs first. Adoption Assistance payments terminate when SSI payments are approved. If SSI is denied, Adoption Assistance will continue only if the child's needs, conditions, or behaviors meet the criteria for DOC IV or V. However, in no event will Adoption Assistance continue after the child reaches the age of 21.

Should you have any questions please contact your subsidy worker .

Sincerely,

Margaret DeVault, LSW

Programs Manager, Adoption Assistance

E-Mail: Margaret.devault@okdhs.org