Colorado Financial Assistance For Disabled Individuals

What are the Benefits of the AND Program?

The Aid To The Needy Disabled (AND) program provides cash assistance to low-income Colorado residents, age 18 to 59, who have at least a six-month total disability that precludes them from working.

The goal of the program is to provide interim financial assistance while waiting for approval of Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Financial Benefits: The AND program provides financial benefits up to $200 per month beginning January 2009. Any other income such as wages, Social Security benefits (SSA), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Veteran's Assistance, etc. may reduce the amount of the AND payment. The AND benefits are prorated the first month of application based on the date all eligibility requirements are met.

Medical Benefits: There are no medical benefits provided by the AND program.

Aid to the Needy Disabled With a Primary Diagnosis of Alcoholism or Drug Abuse

• Recipient is limited to 12 cumulative months in a lifetime.
• Recipient must agree to and participate in treatment.
• Recipient must submit to random testing.
• If a recipient tests positive for alcohol or drugs two times in any three-month period, the recipient is to be notified and removed from State-Only AND.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify to receive AND benefits you must meet all eligibility criteria. The complete rules and eligibility requirements may be found in 9 CCR-2503-1 - Staff Manual Volume 3 at Section 3.400. The following is a summary of the eligibility requirements and some, but not all, acceptable verifications.

1. Age: You must be between 18 and 59 years old to qualify for the AND program.

Verifications accepted:

• Birth Certificate
• Baptismal Certificate
• Statement from Social Security
• Driver's License
• Picture Identification Card
• Military Discharge Papers
• Alien Registration Card
• Naturalization Papers

2. Residency: An AND applicant/recipient must be a Colorado resident.

Verification accepted:

• Client Statement
• Rent Receipt
• Lease Agreement
• Mortgage Statement
• Voter Registration
• Utility Bill
• Phone Bill

3. Citizenship: An AND applicant/recipient must meet the citizenship requirements. He/she must be a citizen of the United States, a naturalized citizen, or an eligible legal resident.

Verification accepted:

• Birth Certificate
• Baptismal Certificate
• Naturalization Papers
• Passport
• Alien Registration Papers

4. Income: An AND applicant/recipient may be eligible to receive up to $200.00 per month beginning January 2009. Other income may offset the maximum AND payment. Income is considered as anything that can be used to meet expenses such as for food, clothing, or shelter. Some types of income are Social Security benefits, SSI, Veteran's Assistance, retirement pension, disability benefits, wages, etc.

Verification accepted:

1. Earned Income:
   • Check Stubs
   • Letter from Employer
   • Tax Return
2. Unearned Income:
   • Copy of Check
   • Statement from Social Security
   • Award Letter

5. Resources: An AND applicant/recipient may have countable resources up to a maximum of $2,000.00 for an individual or $3,000.00 for a married couple. Some types of resources are cash (not spent in the month you receive it), checking or savings accounts, certificates of deposits, vehicles, boats, motor homes,stocks and bonds, life insurance, burial contracts or policies, and secondary property, etc.

Verification accepted:

1. Bank Statement or Letter from the Bank
2. Vehicle Registration
3. Letter from the Broker
4. Life Insurance Policy or Letter from Life Insurance Company
5. Burial Contract or Policy
6. Tax Return
7. Letter from the Assessor's Office

Some resources may not count toward the maximum resource limit. Do not wait to apply if you do not have all verifications needed. You can gather needed information after your application has been received.

6. Application of Supplemental Security Income: Applicants/recipients of AND must apply for Supplemental Security Income benefits. You must provide verification of your application. This can be a receipt or letter from Social Security stating you applied for SSI.

How to Apply

To apply for AND, you must complete an application. If you need assistance filling out the application, you can go to your local County Department of Social (Human) Services to have someone assist you. You can:

• Print an application and mail to your local county office; or
• Call your local County Department of Social (Human) Services to have the application mailed to you; or
• Go into your local County Department of Social (Human) Services to complete the application.

Other Requirements

1. You will need to provide a doctor's form verifying your disability will last at least 6-months and a statement that your disability precludes you from working any job. You can print the doctor's form, which is called a MED 9 and take it to your doctor.
2. To receive AND benefits, you must sign an IM-14 form saying you will repay AND benefits with the SSI benefits you are eligible to receive in the same month. Your lump sum SSI check will go to the county to repay the AND program.