The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) offers programs for people with disabilities. Some of these programs require proof of disability. There are two ways to be determined disabled:
Option 1: Social Security Administration (SSA) Determines Disability
- If you apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the SSA will review your medical records and decide if you meet its disability rules.
- If SSA approves you, Iowa HHS will also accept that decision for certain programs.
Option 2: Iowa HHS Determines Disability
- If you are not applying for SSI or SSDI, you may choose to have Iowa HHS determine your disability.
- Iowa HHS looks at your medical records and other information to decide if you meet disability requirements. Iowa HHS uses the same definition of disability as SSA.
- This option only decides if you qualify for specific Medicaid coverage groups. It does not provide monthly cash benefits, like SSI or SSDI.
What You Need To Do
When applying for a program that requires disability, you will be asked to choose SSA or Iowa HHS to make the disability decision.
If choosing to have SSA determine disability, you will need to complete an application for SSDI or SSI with SSA. Please inform HHS once an application has been submitted to SSA.
- For more information on how to apply for SSDI, go to Apply for Social Security Benefits.
- For more information on how to apply for SSI, go to Apply for Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
When choosing HHS to determine disability, you will need to complete the following paperwork:
- Disability Report for Children (if individual is under 18)
- Disability Report for Adults (if individual is over 18)
- Authorization to Disclose Information, (Spanish), to the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services. This form must be signed and dated by the applicant or their representative.
- Including any available information may help HHS determine your disability. This can include:
- Vocational rehabilitation reports
- Evidence of work activity for adults
- Information from Social Security
- School information about a child’s disability
- Medical records in your possession
- Activity with other social services
Important to Know
- You only need to pick one option.
- If you are already approved for disability through SSA, you do not need an HHS decision.