249STATE SUPPLEMENTARY ASSISTANCE249.1Definitions.As used in this chapter:1“Department” means the department of health and human services.2“Director” means the director of health and human services.3“Federal supplemental security income” means cash payments made to individuals by the United States government under Tit. XVI of the Social Security Act as amended by Pub. L. No. 92-603, or any other amendments thereto.4“Previous categorical assistance programs” means the aid to the blind program authorized by chapter 241, the aid to the disabled program authorized by chapter 241A and the old-age assistance program authorized by chapter 249, Code 1973.5“State supplementary assistance” means cash payments made to individuals:aBy the United States government on behalf of the state of Iowa pursuant to section 249.2.bBy the state of Iowa directly pursuant to sections 249.3 through 249.5.[C35, §5926-f1; C39, §3684.01, 3828.001; C46, 50, 54, 58, §241.1, 249.1; C62, 66, 71, 73, §241.1, 241A.1, 249.1; C75, 77, 79, 81, §249.1]83 Acts, ch 96, §157, 159; 2005 Acts, ch 179, §122; 2006 Acts, ch 1010, §77; 2010 Acts, ch 1061, §180; 2021 Acts, ch 80, §132; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §790; 2024 Acts, ch 1170, §421249.2Agreement with federal authority.The director may enter into an agreement with the United States secretary of health and human services for federal administration of a program of state supplementary assistance to prescribed categories of persons who are, or would be except for the amount of income they receive from other sources, receiving federal supplemental security income. The agreement may authorize the secretary to make rules, in addition to and not in conflict with state laws and regulations, respecting eligibility for or the amount of state supplementary assistance paid under this section as the secretary finds necessary to achieve efficient and effective administration of both the basic federal supplemental security income program and the state supplementary assistance program administered by the secretary under the agreement. The agreement shall provide for the state of Iowa to reimburse the federal government, from funds appropriated for that purpose, for state supplementary assistance paid by the federal government pursuant to the agreement.[C35, §5296-f4, -f36; C39, §3684.04, 3828.003, 3828.045; C46, 50, 54, 58, §241.4, 249.2, 249.42; C62, 66, 71, 73, §241.4, 241A.4, 249.2, 249.42; C75, 77, 79, 81, §249.2]83 Acts, ch 101, §56249.3Eligibility.The persons eligible to receive state supplementary assistance under section 249.1, subsection 5, paragraph “b”, are all of the following:1Any person whose needs were taken into account in computing the grant of a recipient, who was eligible for and was receiving assistance under a previous categorical assistance program during the month of December 1973, because the person was deemed essential to the well-being of the recipient in maintaining a living arrangement in the recipient’s own home, so long as the person continues to act in the capacity of essential person to the former recipient and to be in financial need according to standards established by the department.2Any person who meets the criteria established by paragraphs “a”, “b”, and “c” of this subsection:aIs receiving either of the following:1Care in a licensed adult foster home, boarding home or custodial home, as defined by section 135C.1, or in another type of protective living arrangement as defined by the department.2Nursing care in the person’s own home, certified by a physician or physician assistant as being required, so long as the cost of the nursing care does not exceed standards established by the department.bIs in fact receiving or would, except for income in excess of applicable maximums, be receiving federal supplemental security income.cDoes not have sufficient income to meet the cost of care in one of the living arrangements defined in paragraph “a” of this subsection, which cost of care shall not exceed the amount established by the rules of the department for each of those living arrangements.3Any person living in any living arrangement other than as a patient or resident of a facility licensed under chapter 135C, who meets the criteria established by paragraphs “a”, “b”, and “c”:aLives with a dependent spouse, parent, child or adult child who is sharing the recipient’s living arrangement, so long as the person continues in the relationship of dependent spouse, parent, child or adult child to the recipient and to be in financial need according to standards established by the department.bIs in fact receiving or would, except for income in excess of applicable maximums, be receiving federal supplemental security income.cDoes not have sufficient income to meet the cost of providing for the dependent spouse, parent, child or adult child, according to standards established by the department.4At the discretion of the department, persons who meet the criteria listed in all of the following paragraphs:aAre either of the following:1Sixty-five years of age or older.2Disabled as defined by 42 U.S.C. §1382c(a)(3), except that being engaged in substantial gainful activity shall not preclude a determination of disability for the purpose of this subparagraph.bLive in one of the following:1The individual’s own home.2The home of another individual.3A group living arrangement.4A medical facility.cWould be eligible for supplemental security income benefits but for having excess income or but for being engaged in substantial gainful activity and having excess income.dAre not eligible for another state supplementary assistance group.eReceive full medical assistance benefits under chapter 249A and are not required to meet a spend-down or pay a premium to be eligible for such benefits.fAre currently eligible for Medicare part B.gHave income of at least one hundred twenty percent of the federal poverty level but not exceeding the medical assistance income limit for the eligibility group for the individual person’s living arrangement.[SS15, §2722-i, -j, -k; C24, 27, 31, §5379; C35, §5296-f9, -f12, 5379; C39, §3684.02, 3828.007, 3828.008; C46, 50, 54, 58, §241.2, 249.5, 249.6; C62, 66, 71, 73, §241.2, 241A.2, 249.5, 249.6; C75, 77, 79, 81, §249.3]2004 Acts, ch 1085, §4, 10, 11; 2005 Acts, ch 175, §108; 2022 Acts, ch 1021, §49; 2022 Acts, ch 1032, §46; 2022 Acts, ch 1066, §41; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §1358249.4Application — amount of grant — retroactive benefits.1Applications for state supplementary assistance shall be made in the form and manner prescribed by the director or the director’s designee pursuant to chapter 17A. Each person who applies and is found eligible under section 249.3 shall, so long as the person’s eligibility continues, receive state supplementary assistance on a monthly basis, from funds appropriated to the department for the purpose.2Any person who applies within fifteen months from the date of implementation of eligibility pursuant to section 249.3, subsection 4, and who would have been eligible under that subsection for any period on or after October 1, 2003, may be granted benefits retroactive to October 1, 2003.[SS15, §2722-m, -p; C24, 27, 31, §5382, 5384; C35, §5296-f17, -f18, 5382, 5384; C39, §3684.06, 3684.09, 3828.013, 3828.014; C46, 50, 54, 58, §241.6, 241.9, 249.10, 249.11; C62, 66, 71, 73, §241.6, 241.9, 241A.5, 241A.6, 249.10, 249.11; C75, 77, 79, 81, §249.4]83 Acts, ch 96, §157, 159; 2004 Acts, ch 1085, §5, 10, 112023 Acts, ch 19, §791; 2024 Acts, ch 1170, §422249.5Judicial review.If an application is not acted upon within a reasonable time, if it is denied in whole or in part, or if an award of assistance is modified, suspended, or canceled under a provision of this chapter, the applicant or recipient may appeal to the department, which shall request the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing to conduct a hearing. Upon completion of a hearing, the department of inspections, appeals, and licensing shall issue a decision which is subject to review by the department. Judicial review of the actions of the department may be sought in accordance with chapter 17A. Upon receipt of the petition for judicial review, the department shall furnish the petitioner with a copy of any papers filed by the petitioner in support of the petitioner’s position, a transcript of any testimony taken, and a copy of the department’s decision.[C35, §5296-f18; C39, §3684.11, 3828.014; C46, 50, 54, 58, §241.11, 249.11; C62, 66, 71, 73, §241.11, 241A.8, 249.11; C75, 77, 79, 81, §249.5]90 Acts, ch 1204, §592023 Acts, ch 19, §792, 1959249.6Charge for cashing warrant unlawful.It shall be unlawful for any person to charge a fee, service charge or exchange for the cashing of a warrant issued in payment of state supplementary assistance, or to discount or pay less than the face value of any warrant drawn in payment of such assistance, when cashing such a warrant or accepting it in payment of the purchase price of goods, services, rent, taxes or indebtedness.[C35, §5296-g4; C39, §3828.036; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §249.33; C75, 77, 79, 81, §249.6]249.7Assistance inalienable.All rights to state supplementary assistance shall be absolutely inalienable by any assignment, sale, execution or otherwise and, in case of bankruptcy, the assistance shall not pass to or through any trustees or other persons acting on behalf of creditors.[C35, §5296-f29; C39, §3684.10, 3828.037; C46, 50, 54, 58, §241.10, 249.34; C62, 66, 71, 73, §241.10, 241A.7, 249.34; C75, 77, 79, 81, §249.7]249.8Cancellation of warrants.The director of the department of administrative services, as of January, April, July, and October 1 of each year, shall stop payment on and issue duplicates of all state supplementary assistance warrants which have been outstanding and unredeemed by the treasurer of state for six months or longer. A bond of indemnity shall not be required for the issuance of the duplicate warrants which shall be canceled immediately by the director of the department of administrative services. If the original warrants are subsequently presented for payment, warrants in lieu of the original warrants shall be issued by the director of the department of administrative services at the discretion of and upon certification by the director or the director’s designee.[C39, §3828.044; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §249.41; C75, 77, 79, 81, §249.8]2003 Acts, ch 145, §286; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §793249.9Funeral expenses.The department may pay, from funds appropriated to it for the purpose, a maximum of four hundred dollars toward funeral expenses on the death of a person receiving state supplementary assistance or who received assistance under a previous categorical assistance program prior to January 1, 1974, provided:1The decedent does not leave an estate which may be probated with sufficient proceeds to allow for payment of the funeral claim.2Payments which are due the decedent’s estate or beneficiary by reason of the liability of a life insurance, death or funeral benefit company, association or society, or in the form of United States social security, railroad retirement, or veterans’ benefits upon the death of the decedent, are deducted from the department’s liability under this section.[C35, §5296-f25; C39, §3684.17, 3828.021; C46, 50, 54, 58, §241.17, 249.18; C62, 66, 71, 73, §241.17, 241A.11, 249.18; C75, 77, 79, 81, §249.9]83 Acts, ch 153, §11; 84 Acts, ch 1297, §1249.9APersonal needs allowance.1The department shall increase the personal needs allowance for residents of residential care facilities by the same percentage and at the same time as federal supplemental security income and federal social security benefits are increased due to a recognized increase in the cost of living.2If during a fiscal year, the department projects that state supplementary assistance expenditures for a calendar year will not meet the federal pass-through requirement specified in Tit. XVI of the federal Social Security Act, section 1618, as codified in 42 U.S.C. §1382g, the department may take actions including but not limited to increasing the personal needs allowance for residential care facility residents and making programmatic adjustments or upward adjustments of the residential care facility or in-home health-related care reimbursement rates to ensure compliance with federal requirements. In addition, the department may make other programmatic and rate adjustments necessary to remain within the funds appropriated for a fiscal year while ensuring compliance with federal requirements.3The department may adopt emergency rules under section 17A.4, subsection 3, and section 17A.5, subsection 2, paragraph “b”, to implement the provisions of this section and the rules shall be effective immediately upon filing unless a later date is specified in the rules. Any rules adopted in accordance with this section shall also be published as a notice of intended action as provided in section 17A.4.2024 Acts, ch 1157, §46249.10Prior liens, claims, and assignments.Any lien or claim against the estate of a decedent existing on January 1, 1974, which lien was perfected or which claim was filed under the provisions of section 249.19, 249.20, or 249.21, Code 1973, and prior Codes, and which liens or claims have not been satisfied, are void. Any assignment of personal property which was made under the provisions of chapter 249, Code 1973, and prior Codes, is void. The director may in furtherance of this section release any lien or claim created or existing under that chapter. Each release made pursuant to this section shall be executed and acknowledged by the director or the director’s authorized designee, and when recorded shall be conclusive in favor of any third person dealing with or concerning the property affected by the release in reliance upon such record.[C35, §5296-f15, -f16, -g1; C39, §3828.022, 3828.023, 3828.024; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §249.19, 249.20, 249.21; C75, 77, 79, 81, §249.10]2005 Acts, ch 179, §123249.11Fraud — investigations and audits.1Any person who obtains assistance under this chapter by misrepresentation or by failure with fraudulent intent to bring forth all of the facts required of an applicant for assistance under this chapter, or any person who shall knowingly make false statements concerning an applicant’s eligibility for assistance under this chapter, is guilty of a fraudulent practice.2The department of inspections, appeals, and licensing shall conduct investigations and audits as deemed necessary to ensure compliance with state supplementary assistance programs administered under this chapter. The department of inspections, appeals, and licensing shall cooperate with the department on the development of procedures relating to such investigations and audits to ensure compliance with federal and state single state agency requirements.[C35, §5296-f31, -f32; C39, §3684.19, 3828.049, 3828.050; C46, 50, 54, 58, §241.19, 249.46, 249.47; C62, 66, 71, 73, §241.19, 241A.12, 249.46, 249.47; C75, 77, 79, 81, §249.11]90 Acts, ch 1204, §602023 Acts, ch 19, §794, 1960249.12Cost-related system.1In order to assure that the necessary data is available to aid the general assembly to determine appropriate funding for the custodial care program, the department shall develop a cost-related system for financial supplementation to individuals who need custodial care and who have insufficient resources to purchase the care needed.2All privately operated licensed custodial facilities in Iowa shall cooperate with the department to develop the cost-related plan. 3Beginning July 1, 2017, privately operated licensed custodial facilities in Iowa shall be reimbursed based on the maximum per diem rates established by the general assembly through the appropriations process.[C35, §5296-f37; C39, §3828.046; C46, 50, 54, 58, 62, 66, 71, 73, §249.43; C75, 77, 79, 81, §249.12]83 Acts, ch 96, §157, 159; 2012 Acts, ch 1023, §157; 2017 Acts, ch 174, §108; 2023 Acts, ch 19, §795249.13County attorney to enforce.It is the intent of the general assembly that violations of law relating to the family investment program, medical assistance, and supplemental assistance shall be prosecuted by county attorneys. Area prosecutors of the office of the attorney general shall provide such assistance in prosecution as may be required. It is the intent of the general assembly that the first priority for investigation and prosecution for which funds are provided shall be for fraudulent claims or practices by health care vendors and providers.[C79, 81, §249.13]93 Acts, ch 97, §36249.14Old-age assistance revolving fund.The old-age assistance revolving fund shall remain in the state treasury until all property managed by the department and maintained by the fund is disposed of, at which time all money in the fund shall be transferred to the general fund of the state and the fund shall be closed. If the balance of the fund exceeds fifteen thousand dollars at the end of any calendar quarter, the excess over that amount shall be transferred to the general fund of the state.83 Acts, ch 191, §2, 27