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Adult Financial Services

Aid to the Blind

The Aid To The Blind (AB) program provides cash assistance to low-income Colorado residents who are under age 60 and who have at least a six-month total disability that precludes them from working.

What are the Benefits of the AB Program?

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

Financial Benefits: The AB 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 AB payment. The AB 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 AB program.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify to receive AB 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 under 60 years old to qualify for the AB 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 AB 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 AB 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 AB applicant/recipient may be eligible to receive up to $200.00 per month beginning January 2009. Other income may offset the maximum AB 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:
   1. Check Stubs
   2. Letter from Employer
   3. Tax Return
2. Unearned Income:
   1. Copy of Check
   2. Statement from Social Security
   3. Award Letter

5. Resources: An AB 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 cavings 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 AB 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 AB, you must complete an application. If you need assistance filling out the application, you can go to your local county department to have someone assist you. You can:

• Print an application and mail to your local county office;
• 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:
   • Less than a 10% visual acuity in the better eye with corrections; or
   • Not more than 20/200 central vision acuity in the better eye with correction.
   • You can print the doctor's form, which is called an AB-5 and take it to your doctor.
2. To receive AB benefits, you must sign an IM-14 form saying you will repay AB 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 AB program.