Title 42 — The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73
§1202 State plans for aid to blind
Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 7— - SOCIAL SECURITY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER X— - GRANTS TO STATES FOR AID TO BLIND › § 1202
Summary
Require each state to make a plan to help people who are blind. The plan must apply across the whole state and include state money. The state must pick one agency to run or to oversee the plan. People denied aid must be able to ask for a fair hearing. Local agencies that hold hearings can put their decisions into effect right away. The plan must use good administration methods (including personnel rules after January 1, 1940), train and use paid subprofessional staff and volunteers, and try to hire recipients and low-income people as community service aides. The state must report information the Secretary asks for and protect applicants’ records so they are only shared with public officials or people who need the information to run the plan. No aid can be paid for any time a person is getting old-age assistance under the State plan approved under section 302 or help under a State program funded under part A of subchapter IV. To decide need, the plan must count other income and resources but must ignore the first $85 of earned income each month and half of earned income over $85, may ignore extra income for up to 12 months (and up to 36 months in some cases) for an approved self-support plan, and may first ignore up to $7.50 of any income. The plan must require an eye exam by a qualified eye doctor or optometrist chosen by the person, make applications available and prompt as of July 1, 1951, set institution standards if it pays institutions as of July 1, 1953, describe services to help people become self-supporting, and use income and eligibility checks that meet section 1320b–7. The Secretary must approve any plan that meets these rules. The Secretary cannot approve a plan that bars someone who has lived in the State five of the last nine years and continuously for one year before applying, or that excludes any U.S. citizen.
Full Legal Text
Title 42, §1202
The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC
(a)A State plan for aid to the blind must (1) except to the extent permitted by the Secretary with respect to services, provide that it shall be in effect in all political subdivisions of the State, and, if administered by them, be mandatory upon them; (2) provide for financial participation by the State; (3) either provide for the establishment or designation of a single State agency to administer the plan, or provide for the establishment or designation of a single State agency to supervise the administration of the plan; (4) provide (A) for granting an opportunity for a fair hearing before the State agency to any individual whose claim for aid to the blind is denied or is not acted upon with reasonable promptness, and (B) that if the State plan is administered in each of the political subdivisions of the State by a local agency and such local agency provides a hearing at which evidence may be presented prior to a hearing before the State agency, such local agency may put into effect immediately upon issuance its decision upon the matter considered at such hearing; (5) provide (A) such methods of administration (including after January 1, 1940, methods relating to the establishment and maintenance of personnel standards on a merit basis, except that the Secretary shall exercise no authority with respect to the selection, tenure of office, and compensation of any individual employed in accordance with such methods) as are found by the Secretary to be necessary for the proper and efficient operation of the plan, and (B) for the training and effective use of paid subprofessional staff, with particular emphasis on the full-time or part-time employment of recipients and other persons of low-income, as community service aides, in the administration of the plan and for the use of nonpaid or partially paid volunteers in a social service volunteer program in providing services to applicants and recipients and in assisting any advisory committees established by the State agency; (6) provide that the State agency will make such reports, in such form and containing such information, as the Secretary may from time to time require, and comply with such provisions as the Secretary may from time to time find necessary to assure the correctness and verification of such reports; and 11 So in original. The word “and” probably should not appear. (7) provide that no aid will be furnished any individual under the plan with respect to any period with respect to which he is receiving old-age assistance under the State plan approved under section 302 of this title or assistance under a State program funded under part A of subchapter IV; (8) provide that the State agency shall, in determining need, take into consideration any other income and resources of the individual claiming aid to the blind, as well as any expenses reasonably attributable to the earning of any such income, except that, in making such determination, the State agency (A) shall disregard the first $85 per month of earned income, plus one-half of earned income in excess of $85 per month, (B) shall, for a period not in excess of twelve months, and may, for a period not in excess of thirty-six months, disregard such additional amounts of other income and resources, in the case of an individual who has a plan for achieving self-support approved by the State agency, as may be necessary for the fulfillment of such plan, and (C) may, before disregarding the amounts referred to in clauses (A) and (B), disregard not more than $7.50 of any income; (9) provide safeguards which permit the use or disclosure of information concerning applicants or recipients only (A) to public officials who require such information in connection with their official duties, or (B) to other persons for purposes directly connected with the administration of the State plan; (10) provide that, in determining whether an individual is blind, there shall be an examination by a physician skilled in diseases of the eye or by an optometrist, whichever the individual may select; (11) effective July 1, 1951, provide that all individuals wishing to make application for aid to the blind shall have opportunity to do so, and that aid to the blind shall be furnished with reasonable promptness to all eligible individuals; (12) effective July 1, 1953, provide, if the plan includes payments to individuals in private or public institutions, for the establishment or designation of a State authority or authorities which shall be responsible for establishing and maintaining standards for such institutions; (13) provide a description of the services (if any) which the State agency makes available (using whatever internal organizational arrangement it finds appropriate for this purpose) to applicants for and recipients of aid to the blind to help them attain self-support or self-care, including a description of the steps taken to assure, in the provision of such services, maximum utilization of other agencies providing similar or related services; and (14) provide that information is requested and exchanged for purposes of income and eligibility verification in accordance with a State system which meets the requirements of section 1320b–7 of this title.
(b)The Secretary shall approve any plan which fulfills the conditions specified in subsection (a), except that he shall not approve any plan which imposes, as a condition of eligibility for aid to the blind under the plan—
(1)Any residence requirement which excludes any resident of the State who has resided therein five years during the nine years immediately preceding the application for aid and has resided therein continuously for one year immediately preceding the application; or
(2)Any citizenship requirement which excludes any citizen of the United States.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Repeal of Section Pub. L. 92–603, title III, § 303(a), (b), Oct. 30, 1972, 86 Stat. 1484, provided that this section is repealed effective Jan. 1, 1974, except with respect to Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.
Editorial Notes
Amendments
1996—Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 104–193 substituted “assistance under a State program funded under part A of subchapter IV” for “aid to families with dependent children under the State plan approved under section 602 of this title”. 1984—Subsec. (a)(14). Pub. L. 98–369 added cl. (14). 1972—Subsec. (a)(1). Pub. L. 92–603, § 410(b), inserted “except to the extent permitted by the Secretary with respect to services,” before “provide”. Subsec. (a)(4). Pub. L. 92–603, § 407(b), designated existing provisions as subcl. (A) and added subcl. (B). Subsec. (a)(9). Pub. L. 92–603, § 413(b), substituted provisions permitting the use or disclosure of information concerning applicants or recipients to public officials requiring such information in connection with their official duties and to other persons for purposes directly connected with the administration of the State plan, for provisions restricting the use or disclosure of such information to purposes directly connected with the administration of aid to the blind. Subsec. (a)(13). Pub. L. 92–603, § 405(b), inserted provision relating to the use of whatever internal organizational arrangement found appropriate. Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 92–603, § 406(b), inserted provision relating to the furnishing of manuals and other policy issuances to persons without charge and at the option of the State. 1968—Subsec. (a)(5). Pub. L. 90–248, § 210(a)(3), designated existing provisions as subcl. (A) and added subcl. (B). Subsec. (a)(8)(C). Pub. L. 90–248, § 213(a)(2), increased from $5 to $7.50 limitation on amount of any income which the State may disregard in making its determination of need. 1965—Subsec. (a)(8)(C). Pub. L. 89–97 added subcl. (C). 1964—Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 88–650 permitted the State agency, for a period not in excess of thirty-six months to disregard such additional amounts of other income and resources. 1962—Subsec. (a)(7). Pub. L. 87–543, § 104(a)(3)(H), substituted “aid to families with dependent children” for “aid to dependent children”. Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 87–543, §§ 106(a)(2), 154, inserted “, as well as any expenses reasonably attributable to the earning of any such income”, and amended the exception provision by striking out “either (i) the first $50 per month of earned income, or” after “disregard”, redesignating subcl. (ii) as (A) and adding subcl. (B). Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 87–543, § 136(a), provided for approval of certain plans of States, without an approved plan on Jan. 1, 1949, meeting all but income and resources requirements, and payment of certain expenditures under such plans. 1960—Subsec. (a)(8). Pub. L. 86–778, § 710(b), struck out provision that required the State agency to disregard, alternatively, the first $50 per month of earned income in considering claimant’s income and resources in determining need. Pub. L. 86–778, § 710(a), inserted provision that required the State agency to disregard, alternatively, the first $85 per month of earned income plus one-half of earned income in excess of $85 per month in considering claimant’s income and resources in determining need. 1956—Subsec. (a)(13). Act Aug. 1, 1956, added cl. (13). 1950—Subsec. (a)(4). Act Aug. 28, 1950, § 341(a), substituted “provide for granting an opportunity for a fair hearing before the State agency to any individual whose claim for aid to the blind is denied or is not acted upon with reasonable promptness” for “provide for granting to any individual, whose claim for aid is denied, an opportunity for a fair hearing before such State agency”. Subsec. (a)(7). Act Aug. 28, 1950, § 341(b), inserted “or aid to dependent children under the State plan approved under section 302 of this title”. Subsec. (a)(8). Act Aug. 28, 1950, § 341(c)(2), (d), amended cl. (8) generally, effective
July 1, 1952, and struck out “and” preceding cl. (9). Act Aug. 28, 1950, § 341(c)(1), amended cl. (8) generally for period beginning Oct. 1, 1950, and ending
June 30, 1952. Subsec. (a)(9). Act Aug. 28, 1950, § 341(d), substituted comma for period at end. Subsec. (a)(10). Act Aug. 28, 1950, § 341(e), amended cl. (10) generally. Prior to amendment, cl. (10) read as follows: “provide that, in determining whether an individual is blind, there shall be an examination by a physician skilled in diseases of the eye or by an optometrist;”. Act Aug. 28, 1950, § 341(d), added cl. (10). Subsec. (a)(11), (12). Act Aug. 28, 1950, § 341(d), added cls. (11) and (12). Subsec. (b). Act Aug. 28, 1950, § 361(c), (d), substituted “Administrator” for “Board” and “he” for “it”. 1939—Subsec. (a)(5). Act Aug. 10, 1939, § 701(a), inserted “(including after
January 1, 1940, methods relating to the establishment and maintenance of personnel standards on a merit basis, except that the Board shall exercise no authority with respect)” after “methods of administration” and “proper” before “and efficient operation of the plan”. Subsec. (a)(8), (9). Act Aug. 10, 1939, § 701(b), added cls. (8) and (9).
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Change of Name
“Secretary of Health and Human Services” substituted in text for “Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare” pursuant to section 509(b) of Pub. L. 96–88, which is classified to section 3508(b) of Title 20, Education.
Effective Date
of 1996 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 104–193 effective July 1, 1997, with transition rules relating to State options to accelerate such date, rules relating to claims, actions, and proceedings commenced before such date, rules relating to closing out of accounts for terminated or substantially modified programs and continuance in office of Assistant Secretary for Family Support, and provisions relating to termination of entitlement under AFDC program, see section 116 of Pub. L. 104–193, as amended, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 601 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1984 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 98–369 effective Apr. 1, 1985, except as otherwise provided, see section 2651(l)(2) of Pub. L. 98–369, set out as an
Effective Date
note under section 1320b–7 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1968 AmendmentAmendment by section 210(a)(3) of Pub. L. 90–248 effective July 1, 1969, or, if earlier (with respect to a State’s plan approved under this subchapter) on the date as of which the modification of the State plan to comply with such amendment is approved, see section 210(b) of Pub. L. 90–248, set out as a note under section 302 of this title.
Effective Date
of 1965 Amendment Pub. L. 89–97, title IV, § 403(c), July 30, 1965, 79 Stat. 418, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective Oct. 1, 1965.
Effective Date
of 1962 AmendmentAmendment by section 106(a)(2) of Pub. L. 87–543 effective
July 1, 1963, see section 202(a) of Pub. L. 87–543, set out as a note under section 302 of this title. Pub. L. 87–543, title I, § 154,
July 25, 1962, 76 Stat. 206, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective
July 1, 1963.
Effective Date
of 1960 Amendment Pub. L. 86–778, title VII, § 710(a), Sept. 13, 1960, 74 Stat. 997, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective for the period beginning with first day of calendar quarter which begins after Sept. 13, 1960, and ending with close of
June 30, 1962. Pub. L. 86–778, title VII, § 710(b), Sept. 13, 1960, 74 Stat. 997, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective
July 1, 1962.
Effective Date
of 1956 AmendmentAmendment by act Aug. 1, 1956, effective
July 1, 1957, see section 314 [315] of act Aug. 1, 1956, set out as a note under section 302 of this title. Effective and Termination Dates of 1950 AmendmentAct Aug. 28, 1950, ch. 809, title III, § 341(c)(1), 64 Stat. 553, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective for the period beginning Oct. 1, 1950, and ending
June 30, 1952. Act Aug. 28, 1950, ch. 809, title III, § 341(c)(2), 64 Stat. 553, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective
July 1, 1952. Act Aug. 28, 1950, ch. 809, title III, § 341(e), 64 Stat. 553, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective
July 1, 1952. Act Aug. 28, 1950, ch. 809, title III, § 341(f), 64 Stat. 553, provided that: “The
Amendments
made by subsections (b) and (d) [amending this section] shall take effect
October 1, 1950; and the amendment made by subsection (a) [amending this section] shall take effect
July 1, 1951.”
Effective Date
of 1939 AmendmentAct Aug. 10, 1939, ch. 666, title VII, § 701(b), 53 Stat. 1397, provided that the amendment made by that section is effective July 1, 1941.
Transfer of Functions
Functions, powers, and duties of Secretary under subsec. (a)(5)(A) of this section, insofar as relates to the prescription of personnel standards on a merit basis, transferred to Office of Personnel Management, see section 4728(a)(3)(D) of this title. Public Access to State Disbursement RecordsPublic access to State records of disbursements of funds and payments under this subchapter, see note set out under section 302 of this title.
Executive Documents
Transfer of Functions
Functions of Federal Security Administrator transferred to Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare and agencies of Federal Security Agency transferred to Department of Health, Education, and Welfare by section 5 of Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1953, set out as a note under section 3501 of this title. Federal Security Agency and office of Administrator abolished by section 8 of Reorg. Plan No. 1 of 1953.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
42 U.S.C. § 1202
Title 42 — The Public Health and Welfare
Last Updated
Apr 6, 2026
Release point: 119-73