Title 42The Public Health and WelfareRelease 119-73

§1355 Definitions

Title 42 › Chapter CHAPTER 7— - SOCIAL SECURITY › Subchapter SUBCHAPTER XIV— - GRANTS TO STATES FOR AID TO PERMANENTLY AND TOTALLY DISABLED › § 1355

Last updated Apr 6, 2026|Official source

Summary

Pays money to needy people age 18 or older who are permanently and totally disabled. It does not cover money or care for people who are inmates of a public institution (unless they are a patient in a medical hospital) or for people who are patients in hospitals for tuberculosis or mental diseases. Also covers payments made to another person for the needy disabled person (someone the Secretary says cares about that person), but only in States whose approved plan includes five rules: a State finding that the person cannot manage money because of their condition; paying only when those payments meet the person’s full need under the State’s rules; special efforts to protect the person and help them care for themselves and handle money; regular reviews and ending payments if the finding no longer applies, and seeking a guardian under section 1311 when needed; and a chance for a fair hearing on the State’s finding.

Full Legal Text

Title 42, §1355

The Public Health and Welfare — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

For the purposes of this subchapter, the term “aid to the permanently and totally disabled” means money payments to needy individuals eighteen years of age or older who are permanently and totally disabled, but does not include any such payments to or care in behalf of any individual who is an inmate of a public institution (except as a patient in a medical institution) or any individual who is a patient in an institution for tuberculosis or mental diseases. Such term also includes payments which are not included within the meaning of such term under the preceding sentence, but which would be so included except that they are made on behalf of such a needy individual to another individual who (as determined in accordance with standards prescribed by the Secretary) is interested in or concerned with the welfare of such needy individual, but only with respect to a State whose State plan approved under section 1352 of this title includes provision for— (1)
(2)making such payments only in cases in which such payments will, under the rules otherwise applicable under the State plan for determining need and the amount of aid to the permanently and totally disabled to be paid (and in conjunction with other income and resources), meet all the need 11 So in original. Probably should be “needs”. of the individuals with respect to whom such payments are made;
(3)undertaking and continuing special efforts to protect the welfare of such individual and to improve, to the extent possible, his capacity for self-care and to manage funds;
(4)periodic review by such State agency of the determination under paragraph (1) to ascertain whether conditions justifying such determination still exist, with provision for termination of such payments if they do not and for seeking judicial appointment of a guardian or other legal representative, as described in section 1311 of this title, if and when it appears that such action will best serve the interests of such needy individual; and
(5)opportunity for a fair hearing before the State agency on the determination referred to in paragraph (1) for any individual with respect to whom it is made.

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

1981—Pub. L. 97–35 struck out in provision preceding par. (1) “, or (if provided on or after the third month before the month in which the recipient makes application for aid) medical care in behalf of, or any type of remedial care recognized under State law in behalf of,” after “money payments to”. 1972—Pub. L. 92–603 authorized the State, at its option, to include within “aid to the permanently and totally disabled” provisions relating to money payments to an individual absent from such State for more than 90 consecutive days, and provisions relating to rent payments made directly to a public housing agency. 1965—Pub. L. 89–97 struck out from definition of “aid to the permanently and totally disabled” the exclusion of payments to or medical care in behalf of any individual who has been diagnosed as having tuberculosis or psychosis and is a patient in a medical institution as a result thereof; and extended definition of “aid to the permanently and totally disabled” to include payments made on behalf of the needy individual to another individual who (as determined in accordance with standards determined by the Secretary) is interested in or concerned with the welfare of such needy individual and enumerated the five characteristics required of state plans under which such payments can be made, including provision for finding of inability to manage funds, payment to meet all needs of the individual, special efforts to protect welfare, periodic review, and opportunity for fair hearing, respectively. 1962—Pub. L. 87–543 inserted “(if provided in or after the third month before the month in which the recipient makes application for aid)” before “medical care”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

of 1965 AmendmentAmendment by section 221(c) of Pub. L. 89–97 applicable in the case of expenditures made after Dec. 31, 1965, under a State plan approved under this subchapter, see section 221(e) of Pub. L. 89–97, set out as a note under section 303 of this title. Amendment by section 402(d) of Pub. L. 89–97 applicable in the case of expenditures made after Dec. 31, 1965, under a state plan approved under subchapter I, X, XIV, or XVI of this chapter, see section 402(e) of Pub. L. 89–97, set out as a note under section 306 of this title.

Effective Date

of 1962 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 87–543 applicable in the case of applications made after Sept. 30, 1962, under a State plan approved under subchapter I, IV, X, or XIV of this chapter, see section 156(e) of Pub. L. 87–543, set out as a note under section 306 of this title.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

42 U.S.C. § 1355

Title 42The Public Health and Welfare

Last Updated

Apr 6, 2026

Release point: 119-73