Section 17-658-7 - State financial assistance for aged, blind, and disabled individuals(a) State AABD benefits shall be provided to: (1) A person who is a beneficiary of SSI or RSDI as an aged, blind, or disabled person and who has insufficient income and assets, including the person's SSI and RSDI benefits, for the person's support based upon the department's applicable standard of assistance, under the financial assistance program. Further verification of age, blindness, or disability shall not be required for these SSI or RSDI beneficiaries.(2) Persons who are aged, blind, or disabled, who have been determined by the Supplemental Security Income office to be ineligible for SSI because of excessive income or assets although categorically eligible for SSI, and who have insufficient income and assets for the person's support based upon the department's applicable standards of assistance for state AABD. (A) Verification of age shall not be required for individuals found to be categorically eligible for SSI because of age.(B) Verification of blindness or disability shall be required of individuals found categorically eligible for SSI because of blindness or disability. The verification shall be required to enable the department to establish whether the blindness or disability is correctable, temporary, or permanent.(3) An individual who is essential to the eligible aged, blind, or disabled individual and who meets the requirements and definition of an essential person as specified in this chapter.(b) An individual who meets the definition and requirements of being aged, blind, or disabled, as specified in this chapter, shall be considered to be an applicant for state AABD and shall be required to apply for SSI, if the individual is not a current applicant or recipient of SSI. (1) If the individual refuses to apply for SSI, the individual shall be ineligible for state AABD.(2) If the individual is found ineligible for SSI because of the individual's failure to cooperate with the SSI office to establish the individual's eligibility, the individual shall be ineligible for state AABD.(3) If the individual applies for SSI, the individual shall be entitled to receive a state loan pending the SSI office's determination of eligibility. All the conditions required for a state loan, as documented in chapter 17-680, shall be met before a loan is granted.(c) An individual shall be required to obtain or receive medical treatment for a correctable medical condition. Refusal to comply with this requirement shall cause the individual to be ineligible for state AABD payments, unless: (1) The individual's mental illness or mental deficiency precludes the individual's understanding of the department's requirements; or(2) Treatment is contrary to the individual's religious beliefs. [Eff 03/19/93; am 3/14/94; comp 8/01/94; am 11/25/94; am 11/22/96] (Auth: HRS § 346-14) (Imp: HRS §§ 346-14, 346-29, 346-30, 346-52, 346-53)