Code of Maine Rules
12 - DEPARTMENT OF LABOR
152 - BUREAU OF REHABILITATION SERVICES
Chapter 12 - RULES FOR THE COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT FUND PROGRAM FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Section 152-12-4 - ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION
Universal Citation: 12 ME Code Rules ยง 152-12-4
Current through 2024-13, March 27, 2024
1. Identification of Disability Eligibility
A.
Communication Equipment Fund Program
for People with Disabilities: Persons who are disabled to the extent
that they cannot use the telephone for expressive or receptive communications,
as verified by a signed form from any of the following licensed professionals:
physician, audiologist, optometrist, physical therapist, occupational
therapist, or speech pathologist are eligible for assistance from the fund. A
copy of a signed audiogram or a copy of a diploma from a school for the deaf or
blind or documentation of qualifying disability from another State program is
acceptable in place of a doctor's signature.
B.
Telecoil technology/hearing aid
Program disability eligibility: Persons whose hearing ability in both
ears is below 40 decibels pure tone average, as verified by a licensed
audiologist or copy of a signed audiogram and are age 65 or older.
2. Identification of Income Eligibility
A.
Lending
Program
1)
General Income
Guideline for Communication Equipment Fund Program for People with
Disabilities.The initial application for services will contain a section
for a declaration of reported family gross annual income. An applicant whose
family gross annual income is below 220% of U.S. Department of Agriculture
National Poverty Guidelines adjusted for family size will be eligible for the
Lending Program for equipment.
2)
Persons seeking telecoil technology/hearing aids through the
Communication Equipment Fund Program. An applicant whose family gross
annual income is below 135% of the U.S. Department of Agriculture National
Poverty Guidelines adjusted for family size will have first priority for
telecoil technology/hearing aids available at that time through the
Communication Equipment Fund Program.
B. For purposes of this Chapter, Family Gross
Annual Income is defined as the sum of all income of family members in the
household (not including dependent children), before taxes, received during the
12 month period prior to the date of application. Income shall include:
1) Wages, salaries, commissions or fees
before deductions;
2) Net earnings
from self-employment, partnership or business;
3) Net rental income;
4) Dividends;
5) Interest;
6) Contributions from persons outside the
household;
7) Pensions or
annuities;
8) Government benefits:
public assistance, welfare payments, social security, SSI,
unemployment;
9) Workers'
compensation;
10)
Alimony;
11) Child support; and
12) Other cash income withdrawn
from savings or investments and other resources available to the
family.
D. The following
items are not included in determining gross annual income:- proceeds from sale
of property, house or car, tax refunds, scholarships or training
stipends.
E. Consideration may be
given in special circumstances, including but not limited to, exorbitant
medical costs.
3. Certification of Eligibility or Ineligibility
A.
Notification of Eligibility.A
letter will be mailed to each individual determined eligible for services. The
letter will state their eligibility and be signed and dated by Program
staff.
B.
Notification of
Ineligibility.For all applications in which the Program staff determines
that an applicant for or recipient of services does not meet the requirements
for eligibility as listed in this Chapter, a letter stating the reasons for
ineligibility shall be mailed to each applicant found ineligible, dated and
signed by Program Staff, along with a statement of Rights of Appeal.
4. Order of Selection
A.
General Order of Selection.At
any time services cannot be provided to all eligible individuals, the Order of
Selection procedures must be implemented. Under these circumstances individuals
shall be served in the following priority order. Those eligible individuals who
are:
1) aged 62 or older living
alone;
2) living alone;
3) adults, with one family member under age
12;
4) adults, with one adult
family member;
5) teenagers or
children.
B.
Telecoil Technology/Hearing Aids Order of Selection.
1) Aged 75 or older living alone;
2) Aged 70-75 and living alone;
3) Aged 75 or older;
4) Aged 65-75.
C. For purposes of this regulation, "living
alone" means living without any roommate, spouse, child, or other assistance in
a housing unit, whether that housing unit is a private home, apartment,
assisted living facility, group housing or nursing home.
Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Maine may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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