249.1 Definitions.

As used in this chapter:

1. "Department" means the department of human services.

2. "Director" means the director of human services.

3. "Federal supplemental security income" means cash payments made to individuals by the United States government under Title XVI of the Social Security Act as amended by United States public law 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 of the Code of 1973.

5. "State supplementary assistance" means cash payments made to individuals:

a. By the United States government on behalf of the state of Iowa pursuant to section 249.2.

b. By the state of Iowa directly pursuant to sections 249.3 to 249.5.

249.10 Prior 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 as they appeared in the Code of 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 as it appeared in the Code of 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.

249.11 Fraud--investigations and audits.

Any 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.

The department of inspections and appeals shall conduct investigations and audits as deemed necessary to ensure compliance with state supplementary assistance programs administered under this chapter. The department of inspections and appeals shall cooperate with the department of human services on the development of procedures relating to such investigations and audits to ensure compliance with federal and state single state agency requirements.

249.12 Cost-related system.

In 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 of human services 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.

All privately operated licensed custodial facilities in Iowa shall co-operate with the department of human services to develop the cost-related plan. After the plan is implemented, state supplemental funds shall not be used for the care of any individual in facilities that have not submitted cost statements to the department of human services.

249.13 County 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.

249.14 Old-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.

249.2 Agreement 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.

249.3 Eligibility.

The persons eligible to receive state supplementary assistance under section 249.1, subsection 5, paragraph "b," are:

1. Any 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.

2. Any person who meets the criteria established by paragraphs "a," "b" and "c" of this subsection:

a. Is receiving either:

(1) Care 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; or

(2) Nursing care in the person's own home, certified by a physician as being required, so long as the cost of the nursing care does not exceed standards established by the department.

b. Is in fact receiving or would, except for income in excess of applicable maximums, be receiving federal supplemental security income.

c. Does 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.

3. Any 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":

a. Lives 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.

b. Is in fact receiving or would, except for income in excess of applicable maximums, be receiving federal supplemental security income.

c. Does 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.

249.4 Application--amount of grant.

Applications for state supplementary assistance shall be made in the form and manner prescribed by the director or the director's designee, with the approval of the council on human services, pursuant to chapter 17A. Each person who so 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.

249.5 Judicial 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 of human services, which shall request the department of inspections and appeals to conduct a hearing. Upon completion of a hearing, the department of inspections and appeals shall issue a decision which is subject to review by the department of human services. Judicial review of the actions of the department of human services may be sought in accordance with chapter 17A. Upon receipt of the petition for judicial review, the department of human services 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.

249.6 Charge 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.

249.7 Assistance 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.

249.8 Cancellation of warrants.

The director of revenue and finance, 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. No bond of indemnity shall be required for the issuance of such duplicate warrants which shall be canceled immediately by the director of revenue and finance. If the original warrants are subsequently presented for payment, warrants in lieu thereof shall be issued by the director of revenue and finance at the discretion of and upon certification by the director of human services or the director's designee.

249.9 Funeral 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:

1. The decedent does not leave an estate which may be probated with sufficient proceeds to allow for payment of the funeral claim.

2. Payments 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.