Aged, Blind or Disabled (ABD) Cash

Revised on: November 1, 2022 

Purpose

The Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD) program provides cash assistance to eligible low-income adults who are age 65 or older, blind, or determined likely to meet Supplemental Security Income (SSI) disability criteria based on a physical or mental impairment that is expected to last at least 12 consecutive months.

WAC 388-400-0060 Who is eligible for aged, blind or disabled (ABD) cash assistance?

Clarifying Information - WAC 388-400-0060

  1. Persons who are currently ineligible for TANF due to the non-compliance sanction in WAC 388-310-1600 are not eligible for ABD cash per WAC 388-400-0060.
  2. Persons who are currently ineligible for TANF due to the 60-month time limit are potentially eligible for ABD cash if they meet all other requirements outlined in WAC 388-400-0060.
  3. Persons eligible for another federal cash program (TANF/RCA) must be determined for those priority programs prior to ABD eligibility. A person eligible for RCA is ineligible for ABD until their RCA eligibility ends. At that time eligibility for ABD may be determined.
  4. Former TANF recipients who are determined to be disabled may be eligible for a TANF Time Limit Extension.  See WorkFirst Handbook 3.7.1 If a person is eligible for a TANF time limit extension, they are not eligible for ABD cash.
  5. Members of a married couple and legally emancipated persons under age 18 meet the minimum age requirement for ABD cash assistance under WAC 388-400-0060 (1)(b).
  6. Persons who apply in the month of their 65th birthday are considered Aged. For processing information please see Desk Aid "Approving ABD in the Month of a Person's 65th Birthday."
NOTE: Persons, who are not eligible for another federally funded categorically needy (CN) Washington Apple Health program ​may qualify for health care through the Medical Care Services (MCS) program, when eligible for the ABD or HEN Referral programs. Please refer to the Apple Health (Medicaid) Manual for MCS program summary information.