ABD Clients Residing in Eastern or Western State Hospital

Revised on: December 11, 2023

Purpose 

Individuals residing in Eastern or Western State Hospital are potentially eligible for the Aged, Blind, or Disabled (ABD) program if they meet all other eligibility criteria per WAC 388-400-0060. If ABD is approved, individuals are eligible for a clothing, personal maintenance, and necessary incidentals (CPI) monthly grant up to $41.62. 

At Admission: Eastern and Western State Hospital staff help patients submit ABD cash applications after their admission. Hospital staff will only submit ABD applications for patients who are civilly committed or “not guilty by reason of insanity.” HCS and DDA staff process ABD applications (and recertifications) for patients age 20 or under and age 65 and over (Title 19). CSD staff process applications (and recertifications) for patients age 21-64.  

At Discharge or transfer: Eastern and Western State Hospital staff help patients submit food/cash applications at discharge. HCS and DDA staff process discharge applications (and ABD recertifications) for patients discharging to their services/care. Remaining discharge applications (and ABD recertifications) are processed by CSD staff.

NOTE: Patients who are discharged from Eastern or Western State Hospital and are placed in a civil treatment facility managed by the Behavioral Health Administration (such as Maple Lane, Oak Cottage, Olympic Heritage etc.), a contracted civil commitment facility, or return to the community and who want to keep their ABD grant and do not apply for food benefits will need to complete a financial eligibility review and provide medical evidence to be re-determined eligible. A financial interview is not required. Eastern and Western State Hospitals are the only facilities where ABD applicants can be considered for presumptive eligibility per WAC 388-434-0005. 

See the following WACs for additional information:

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

  • WAC 388-400-0070: Who is eligible for referral to the housing and essential needs (HEN) program?  

  • WAC 388-434-0005: How often does the department review my eligibility for benefits?  

  • WAC 388-449-0001: What are the disability requirements for the aged, blind, or disabled (ABD) program?  

  • WAC 388-449-0150: When does my eligibility for aged, blind, or disabled (ABD) cash benefits end?

  • WAC 388-449-0200: Am I eligible for cash assistance for aged, blind, or disabled (ABD) while waiting for supplemental security income (SSI)?  

  • WAC 388-452-0005: Do I have to be interviewed in order to get cash and basic food benefits? 

  • WAC 388-478-0006: The clothing, personal maintenance, and necessary incidentals (CPI) payment standard for cash assistance.  

  • WAC 388-478-0033: What are the payment standards for aged, blind, or disabled (ABD) cash assistance?  

Clarifying Information 

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

  1. You may be eligible for ABD if you reside in Eastern or Western State Hospital and meet all other eligibility requirements.
  2. You are not eligible for ABD if you are in the custody of or confined in a public correctional facility such as a state prison, or city, county or tribal jail, including placement in a work release program.
  3. Forensic patients are individuals who have been admitted to Eastern or Western State Hospitals through the criminal justice system. 
    1. Patients who have been determined “not guilty by reason of insanity” (NGRI) have had their competency restored, completed their court process, pleaded NGRI and have been adjudicated. These patients are potentially eligible for ABD. 
    2. Competency evaluation and restoration patients are committed under RCW 10.77. Competency is the ability of the person to understand and participate in the court process. This population have not had their crimes adjudicated and are considered in custody of or confined to a public correctional facility. These individuals are not eligible for ABD. 
  4. The following chart shows which Eastern and Western State Hospital “legal authorities” are potentially eligible for ABD. 

Legal Authority

RCW

Forensic or Civil Commitment

ABD Eligibility

Competency Evaluation 

 

10.77 

Forensic 

Not eligible 

 

Felony Competency Restoration 

10.77 

Forensic 

Not eligible 

 

Felony Dismissal 

10.77 

Forensic 

Not eligible 

 

Misdemeanor Competency Restoration 

10.77 

Forensic 

Not eligible 

 

Misdemeanor Dismissal 72-Hour Evaluation 

10.77 

Forensic 

Not eligible 

 

Not Guilty Reason of Insanity (NGRI)

10.77 

Forensic 

Potentially Eligible 

 

120 Hour Civil Authority 

71.05 

Civil 

Potentially Eligible 

 

72 Hour Evaluation & Treatment 

71.05 

Civil 

Potentially Eligible 

 

14-Day Court Commitment 

71.05 

Civil 

Potentially Eligible 

 

90-Day Court Commitment 

71.05 

Civil 

Potentially Eligible 

 

180-Day Court Commitment 

71.05 

Civil 

Potentially Eligible 

 

Voluntary 

71.05 

Civil 

Potentially Eligible 

 

WAC 388-434-0005: How often does the department review my eligibility for benefits?  

  1. Eligibility staff review financial eligibility for ABD recipients residing in Eastern or Western State Hospital every 24 months and at discharge. See CSD Procedures Handbook: ABD Inpatient Discharging from a State Hospital.

WAC 388-449-0001: What are the disability requirements for the aged, blind, or disabled (ABD) program?  

  1. We consider civilly committed Eastern or Western State Hospital patients as likely to be disabled. Initial civil commitment requires that a person has been determined to be an imminent danger to themselves, to others or meets the criteria for grave disability under RCW 71.05. BHA evaluates civil commitments at 90 and 180 days. 
  2. We consider Eastern or Western State Hospital patients who have been determined “not guilty by reason of insanity” (NGRI) as likely to be disabled. NGRI patients have had their competency restored, completed their court process, pleaded NGRI and have been adjudicated.
  3. Eligibility staff finalize applications for these patients without a disability determination from social services staff. See CSD Procedures Handbook: ABD for Inpatient Customers at State Hospitals.

WAC 388-449-0150: When does my eligibility for aged, blind, or disabled (ABD) cash benefits end?

  1. We review ABD financial and social services eligibility for recipients discharging from Eastern or Western State Hospital. Eligibility staff complete an early eligibility review. Social Services staff complete a disability determination. 
    1. Eligibility staff complete an early eligibility review. See CSD Procedures Handbook: ABD Inpatient Discharging from a State Hospital.
    2. Social Services staff complete a disability determination. See CSD Procedures Handbook:  ABD Referrals and Documents for Customers Discharging from Eastern or Western State Hospital.

WAC 388-449-0200: Am I eligible for cash assistance for aged, blind, or disabled (ABD) while waiting for supplemental security income (SSI)?

  1. ABD recipients who reside in Eastern or Western State Hospital are not required to sign an interim assistance reimbursement authorization.
  2. ABD recipients who reside in Eastern or Western State Hospital are not required to file an application for SSI.
  3. If the client remains eligible for ABD after discharge, social services staff work with the client to meet the above requirements at that time.

WAC 388-452-0005: Do I have to be interviewed in order to get cash and basic food benefits?

  1. Eligibility staff waive interviews for ABD cash applicants and recipients who reside in a public institution at application and eligibility review (ER). See CSD Procedures Handbook: ABD for Inpatient Customers at State Hospitals.
  2. Eligibility staff complete an ABD ER at discharge. See CSD Procedures Handbook: ABD Inpatient Discharging from a State Hospital.

Points of Contact (Staff Only)

Related Procedures (Staff Only)