What is the Aged, Blind or Disabled Cash Assistance Program?
ABD is a program that provides cash assistance and a referral to the Housing and Essential Needs program. This program is offered to eligible low-income individuals who are age 65 or older, blind, or determined likely to meet Supplemental Security Income disability criteria.
The ABD program offers these benefits:
- Monthly cash grant.
- Referral to the HEN program.
- Help applying for federal SSI and Social Security Disability Insurance benefits.
- Case management and support.
Who is eligible for ABD cash benefits?
People living in Washington state who:
- Are age 65 or older.
- Are blind.
- Are at least 18 years old and have a health condition that stops you from working at least 12 months in a row.
- Meet income and resource requirement found in WAC 388-478-0090.
- Meet citizenship or immigration status requirements.
You cannot get ABD cash assistance if you:
- Are eligible for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, State Family Assistance or Refugee Cash Assistance.
- You or your spouse are currently receiving SSI benefits.
- Don’t pursue federal aid assistance (e.g. Medicaid, SSI and SSDI) without good reason.
- Are required to work with a substance use disorder treatment program and don’t participate without good reason.
- Don’t follow through with the SSI application process without good reason.
- Don’t follow a Social Security Administration program rule.
- SSA denied or terminated your benefits.
How do you apply for ABD cash benefits?
1. Submit an application:
- In person at your local Community Services Office.
- Online at www.washingtonconnection.org.
- By fax at 888-338-7410.
- By mail at DSHS, P.O. Box 11699, Tacoma, WA 98411.
- By phone at 877-501-2233.
2. Complete a financial interview in person or by phone at 877-501-2233 between the hours of 8 a.m. – 2 p.m Monday – Friday.
3. If you meet financial eligibility, you will be referred to a social worker to begin the process to determine your medical eligibility.
What else should you know about the ABD cash program?
You may also be eligible for health care coverage through programs such as:
- Apple Health for Adults.
- Apple Health for Aged, Blind or Disabled Adults (Classic Medicaid).
- Medical Care Services program.
Note:
For more information on health care coverage please visit Washington State Health Care Authority.
How much money will you get?
ABD provides a maximum monthly cash grant of $450 for a single person or $570 for a married couple. ABD recipients will also get assistance applying for SSI benefits (SSI Facilitation).
When do I get my cash benefits?
Once approved, you get your cash benefits deposited on the first of each month.
How do I get my cash benefits?
You can choose to get your cash benefits by:
- Direct deposit to your Electronic Benefit Transfer - EBT card.
- Electronic funds transfer, which is a direct deposit into your own bank account.
- A check to an approved Authorized Representative.
- A check to a payee who is not approved for direct deposit.
Do EBT cash benefits expire?
Yes. If DSHS receives an alert that your EBT account has been inactive for 60 days, we will contact you to find out why you have not used your benefits.
- If you don't know how to use your EBT card, we will explain how to access your benefits.
- If you don’t need the benefits, we will ask if there is other income or resources available to you.
- We will explain that if you don’t use your account for a period of 274 days, the benefits in your EBT account are removed.
- Inactive benefits are automatically removed from your account after 274 days of not using your EBT card.
Once removed, the benefits are no longer available to you unless DSHS determines the benefits are eligible to be replaced.