SI CHI00830.120 (OH) AFDC Payments

A. AFDC and Deeming

1. Stepparent's Income

Effective October 1, 1981, the stepparent's income is used in determining AFDC payments. Prior to that date, it was not. This should be taken into consideration in deeming situations.

2. AFDC Income of an Ineligible Spouse or Parent

In deeming situations, if verification is in file that the ineligible spouse or ineligible parent is receiving AFDC, it is not necessary to verify the amount of an ineligible spouse or ineligible parent's AFDC income. Therefore, when systems input is prepared, the amount of type "F" income is unknown. Enter zero money amounts for the ineligible spouse or ineligible parent's AFDC income on these cases. The same policy applies for ineligible parents.

B. Grant Amounts Not Readily Available

The method outlined in this section can be used when it has been determined that the grant amounts needed to determine the claimant's AFDC income are not readily available.

If the claimant has their current medical assistance card in their possession, ask to see it and make a copy (or certification) for the file. Use the card to determine the number of persons included in the grant. The medical card case number will display the following: xxxxxxxxxx 10 digit #/MA C/seq #. The program alpha code "C" reflects an AFDC grant. The program alpha code on the medical card must reflect a "C" in order to support the applicant's allegations of receipt of AFDC. If this alpha code does not appear, or if the claimant does not have their current medical card in their possession, follow B.2. (below) in verifying AFDC.

Obtain and document the applicant's allegation of the current AFDC payment amount, and the number of children and adults on the grant. Ascertain whether there are any recent additions to the family size.

1. Allegations Match Chart

If the claimant's allegations of family size and AFDC payment amount match the appropriate chart amounts, take the difference between the grant amount for that family size and the grant amount with the SSI applicant removed. (If more than one person is applying for SSI, see SI 00830.400D.11.) The amount determined by this method is unearned income for the SSI applicant. Document the file with a separate Report of Contact (RC) showing the computation. Verification may be done postadjudicatively .

The Ohio Department of Human Service pays a flat grant amount regardless of grant composition. The AFDC grant does not differentiate between children on the grant and parent(s) on the grant. A grant amount for three could be for children and adults or for children only. The money amount of the grant will be the same. In determining the AFDC income of the SSI applicant, take the grant amount with the applicant removed and subtract it from the AFDC grant amount as if the applicant was still included. For example, if an assistance group currently includes one parent and two children, the current grant amount would be the payment standard for three. If the applicant is removed, the assistance group becomes two and the grant amount, the payment standard for two. The AFDC income of the applicant would be the difference between the two payment standards.

2. Allegations Do Not Match the Chart

If the applicant's allegations of family size and AFDC payment amount do not agree with the chart, the SSI applicant's share of the AFDC grant must be verified with the paying agency prior to adjudication.

C. AFDC Payments During Pregnancy

Prior to the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1981 (P.L. 97-35), AFDC could make payments for an unborn child. Such payments were considered the income of the unborn child, not the income of the SSI claimant. P.L. 97-35 did not allow for payments to unborn children; however, it did permit pregnancy payments, including payments for special needs beginning with the sixth month of pregnancy. These payments are considered to be for the claimant, not the unborn child.

Effective October 1, 1981, AFDC in Ohio pays $20 per month during the last trimester for dietary needs. These payments are counted as the claimant's AFDC income for SSI purposes.

D. AFDC or Title IV-E Foster Care

The following regional procedures applies when the AFDC agency cannot or will not provide an AFDC termination date. The same procedure applies for Title IV-E foster care:

  • Input AFDC or foster care income with a "C" frequency code;

  • Diary the case to obtain the termination date postadjudicatively;

  • Document the file with an SSA-5002 (Report of Contact) stating whether the AFDC or Title IV-E foster care agency could not or would not provide the information, and that the case has been diaried to obtain the termination date postadjudicatively.

E. Special Procedures for Cuyahoga County

1. Referrals

In making referrals to SSI, Cuyahoga County Department of Human Services (CCDHS) uses the interagency referral form in Exhibit II. If the claimant has this referral form, assume CCDHS has advised them to file for SSI and take an application. If the claimant does not have a referral form, assume that CCDHS has not advised them to file for SSI. In addition to taking the oral inquiry or application, refer the claimant to CCDHS for advice regarding how receipt of SSI will affect payments made by the county. Also, send an interagency referral (Exhibit II) to CCDHS, Attention: Associate Director for Assistance Payments.

Send the referral to:

Cuyahoga County Department of Human Services
1641 Payne Avenue
Cleveland, Ohio 44114
Attention: Associate Director for Assistance Payments

2. Verification in Cuyahoga County

The instructions in this section supplement national instructions.

Verification of AFDC in Cuyahoga County should be done by FAX, using Exhibit III. Response time is usually 1 to 3 days.

Followups should be made to CCDHS by telephone at (216) 987-6724.

F. Exhibits

Exhibit I, or a letter or form similar to it, may be used to obtain written AFDC verification.

Exhibit II is the CCDHS interagency referral form.

Exhibit III is the CCDHS FAX verification form.

Exhibit IV is the table of AFDC monthly allowances.


To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0500830120CHI
SI CHI00830.120 - (OH) AFDC Payments - 10/05/2022
Batch run: 10/05/2022
Rev:10/05/2022